Google Docs

I am writing my blog in Google Docs. The Discover 2.0 blog mentioned that some people see Google Docs as an alternative to using Microsoft Office, especially since, when you need to, you can invite other people into your document to view or edit it as necessary. I can see how this could be helpful for writers and editors and people who make spreadsheets and stuff. At first I didn't see how it was that different than wikis in serving small groups, but now I do. Google Docs seems to be an application for writing and editing information to be published elsewhere, and a wiki is a place for things to evolve where they are and be on display there.
But back to what I was saying about Microsoft Office. I recently purchased a new computer, and Microsoft has decided not to include Word in the Office package that comes with new computers. This makes moving my old documents to my new computer more time-consuming than I would like it to be. If I had all my documents on Google docs, certainly this wouldn't be a problem. In the same way that del.ici.ous makes it possible for people to access their bookmarks from any computer, Google docs makes it possible for people to access their documents from any computer. So will I start using Google Docs? Probably not. A potential breach of privacy doesn't really concern me, since that's a risk you take just having a computer with internet access. But, even though it is spreading rapidly, internet service is not yet available everywhere, and if you move your computer around with you, as I do, you will still need to access your documents sometimes when you're not able to be online. So Microsoft Office can breathe easy for a little while. It is more likely that it will work in conjunction with Google Docs than be competing with it.