Google Docs: What's the Deal?

Skepticism: you hear, “There is no such thing as a free lunch”; you read, “Buy 1 Get 1 Free”; and you learn, “You get what you pay for.” Americans raise their eyebrows in contempt whenever Free is offered--unless we’re at Costco, then it’s all easy-peezee.

I see Google Docs, but I can’t believe it. I still think it’s a scam, somehow. What’s their angle? How does Google expect to make money? How will the pre-MTV generations react to such generosity?

Google’s famous corporate motto, “Don‘t be evil,” appears to be a good place to start those three questions. I’ve been using PCs for a long time—since amber-lettering on a black background was considered a huge techno-leap from the previous milestone, green-lettering on a black background. I’m used to change. Sadly, change meant more power, and more power meant new paradigms. In other words, each change in hardware meant purchasing new software at great expense to me, the customer. Google might simply want to avoid the evil of forced purchases of expensive software, then the clouds gather. Are they trying to entice us with their suite, then offer a more elaborate platform and tools for a monthly or annual fee? See Zoho.com for a look at the future of Google Docs, maybe. Like guys on the corner say, “First time’s free.” Is that why they call us “users”?

Now we step into the ROI for Google Docs. We all know: licensing fees are ridiculously expensive. Productivity squanders because departmental budgets allow only one Adobe Acrobat license. Google Docs appears to overcome this obstacle but at what price? Other than ads, I can’t see how this captures money. Also, I’m certain many hand-wringing CIOs worry about security already but handing over corporate documents to one vendor would make anyone tread cautiously. This monolithic approach would initially save money; yet corporations, government offices, and organizations become beholden to one giant server at Google. O, I hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth in the distance.

Humans tend to be all too human. Trust can be cultivated when the pioneers return with tales. For example, Generation X mercilessly mocked parachute pants from the comfort of their acid-washed jeans. With 1 in 5 workplaces claiming to use Google Docs, it’s only a matter of time before everyone is riding the SaaS wave.