Yeah, I really do talk like this normally.
I've been using Google Docs and Spreadsheets for a short time now and well, no surprise, I think they're great. They are as convenient to access as a wiki page, yet they have the familiar format of Word and Excel, which means they are actually EASY to edit as well (no crazy wiki coding to be found here). Awesome.
So yesterday while I was setting up a Google spreadsheet for some work stuff, I got a bit curious about the share function and decided to try it out. It took only a minute to invite a coworker to view my document and also give him editing capability... and... to my surprise, not only could we both edit the document simultaneously, but Google provides dynamic updates AND allows anyone accessing the document to chat about it in the same window. I was annoying all of my coworkers (alright, maybe just John) with my screams of delight over this discovery. "Wow, isn't this SO COOL?!"
On a serious note, I can see that in many circumstances it would be an extremely useful tool to be able to chat while editing a live document -- people in completely different locations working together on a project and discussing it intelligently in the sidebar chat window. Of course, since it was me and Mike talking, the conversation pictured to the left ensued in lieu of intelligent conversation.
Even though Mike soon became uninterested in our conversation and abandoned me in our virtual document chatroom, I can't say the same for myself. I probably don't need to state the obvious, but I am a huge Google fan and it's moments like the one I had today with Google docs that ensure that I stay one. Google, I love you. Will you marry me?
