[Google Apps For Dummies] [Author: Teeter, Ryan] [April, 2008]

by Ryan Teeter

Google Apps For Dummies provides clear, easy-to-understand steps to help readers get up to speed on all the features and functions of the Google set of office applications. Google Apps is web-hosted, and the book explains how Google Apps users can access their applications and documents from any place that has a web connection. As business professionals are becoming increasingly mobile, the benefits of having their office applications and documents only a click away is a convenience that will draw many users to the Google suite. There's also information on how Google Apps can be used in conjunction with Microsoft Office to provide greater flexibility and collaboration in developing business documents.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Google Apps for Dummies is a fairly detailed guide to the suite of Google applications: gmail, chat and google talk, calendar, presentation, docs, notebook, page creator, and the site administrator tools. I read this concurrently with Google Apps: The Missing Manual, and the Dummies book is better. It is more task-focused, more concise, and covers much the same ground as The Missing Manual.

The google apps all have simple, intuitive, and easy to use interfaces, so it is tempting to think that a book like this is not of much value. But because of the sheer number of apps, and the somewhat strange relationship between the google apps suite and individual applications, I think this book might be useful to someone who is setting up google apps for a domain. In any case, it is all too easy to develop a sort of 'target fixation' when using an application, and not notice significant features. This book can help avoid that.

[Laura C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I qualify for a "dummy" when it comes to my computer knowledge, so this is the book for me. I do think the authors of these books have forgotten the helpless level of incompetence many of us start with. Though I had have to read very carefully, I am gettting some exciting stuff out of it. For instance, I now know what a gadget is, and how to add one to my blog. I am also much more likely to click a tab, any tab, just to see what wonderful options will be offered me.

[Yin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the chapters 3 through 13 as a "general user" (as defined in the book). It is a great introduction for people who would like to start using most Google on-line tools, such as Gmail, Calendar, Presentations, etc. But it seems a little too easy for people who have already got their hands on Google, since you could easily explore on your own most of the things covered in the book.

[Brian]

Read Google Apps the missing manual http://www.librarything.com/work/5305... for a more thorough guide.