Spreadsheets were the original killer app, programs and indeed programming languages were designed to generate reports in spreadsheet format. This saw the spreadsheet become dominant and the key uptake factor for computer use in the early days of Microsoft et al.
Microsoft Excel - the world's leading spreadsheet program - has evolved beyond simple accounting spreadsheets as demand for features has blossomed. But what does the announcement of the Google Spreadsheet mean to the spreadsheet world? - to excel lovers? - and what can we expect from the Google Spreadsheet or 'Google Excel'?
Google acquired Writely, a web based word processor back in March. Writely allows the live editing of documents on the web. Google Spreadsheets, which is currently to be found under Google Labs, is rumoured to be launched today at 2pm GMT, Tuesday 06-06-06. The Google Spreadsheet supports the transfer and basic operations of documents in the MSNHTML-xml format used in Excel. Additionally Google's spreadsheet and Microsoft Excel support comma-separated values; the 'csv' format.
Jonathan Rochelle, product manager for Google Spreadsheets says - "Google Spreadsheets, which will go live on Tuesday as part of Google Labs, supports the import and export of documents in the dot-xls format used in Excel and the dot-csv (comma-separated values) format."
Its unlikely the Google Spreadsheets is going to give the major spreadsheets a run for their money out of the gate. Spreadsheets are complex and in any current Microsoft Excel vs. Google Spreadsheets battle there could only be one winner...there are over 400 basic spreadsheet functions alone in the Excel Spreadsheet 2003 module, functions which have become vital to many a businessman, accountant and errant tech the world over.
Excel "version 13" is due for release soon and there are just four minutes to go as I write this for the beta release of the Google Spreadsheet. As bigmouth's resident Excel expert I can tell that I'll be spreading my sheets for the Google Spreadsheet, and can't wait to tally the scores between these two prize fighters.
