Microsoft vs. Google Docs

2. Your school district is thinking about switching to google docs for their word processing and spreadsheet needs. Pick a side and justify your choice to the principal: Stay with Microsoft Word and Excel or switch to google docs.

Technology advances significantly every day.  The incoming trend of Google docs has the capability of altering the way in which communications and documents are processed.  It allows one to share documents and work with files from any computer.  Although the ease of sharing and creating documents with Google Docs is that to be desired, the education realm will, or should, continually choose Microsoft Word and Excel as its main resource for documentation.  

Servers, especially in a school setting, are often unreliable.  In my school, the internet and/or email is often down at least once or twice a week.  If Google docs were the only source used, one would be unable to obtain and create documents if servers were not working.  The Microsoft suite offers more 'bells and whistles' and is easier to use than Google docs.  Transition periods are the most difficult. If a switch were to be made, the majority of the complaints would be that people were just simply not used to the Google programs.  Once this period of time was overcome, people would learn to appreciate Google docs.  Until that time, Microsoft is here to stay.  

As long as one has a computer, one can create documents: with or without wi-fi. The buttons and format of the Microsoft programs are displayed in a way conducive to the user.  Time is saved when people understand how to make a program.  They know what needs to be done and are able to conduct it quickly.  Often times when using a different program, I know what I would like to happen, but need to spend 20 minutes in order to figure out how to make it happen.  By sticking to one well known program, employers will be able to save time for their employees.