Quote:
Originally Posted by LSainsbury
And all of the above costs money and time to implement.
I'm surprised that nobody has even mentioned stuff like Google Docs:
Job done - no need for a server or any understanding of routing / VPNs etc.
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Google Docs is poor compared to Microsoft's version over Live.com, but it really depends on a few other factors...just because something's free doesn't make it better!
Online cloud type services, at the moment, are fantastic for version 1, or beta. However, they're very limited compared to locally installed Office products. Limited in terms of functionality and features.
The other side is privacy and international storage of your files... both Google and MS both store your files in the US... you may have to register and acknowledge with the IC that you're exporting your files!...plus US government may take a look at your files too! Also, there's talk that online office providers will scan your files and deliver advertisements based on your file contents! cheeky!
Yes, your connection to the Internet and then the cloud and then the files now becomes the critical components, you're balancing your business/charity on your ISP's SLA, and then of Google's/MS' SLAs.
If you're ok with the risk of 'sometimes I won't have access to my files', and that the FBI can read all my documents, and that Google only allow me to format text and that's about it (
). Then go Cloud!...but until these things are sorted I wouldn't risk using it for business, waiting 1 to 2 years