Google office apps: To switch or not to switch?

We’ve all assisted Google launching the Premiere web applications package a few days ago. Some of us considered switching, some of us are still holding the grounds, but one thing is certain. There will be debates. Google is obviously trying to conquer Microsoft’s office suite market and they’re playing it rough. Let see a few reasons in favor or against the migration to the new service.

In favor:
* The price - Instead of paying ~$500 for the full Microsoft Office suite, you might as well pay $50/year to Google. I am not referring to the price per quality ratio right now. It’s strictly about the price. It’s cheaper, even on a long term basis.
* Remote accessibility - With Google, your documents will be accessible from almost everywhere. And you’ll see why I’m phrasing it like that a bit later. However, your data is accessible with every computer with an internet connection.
* Minimum computing power - Since everything is browser-based and you will not run any third-parties on your own machine, the computing power is reduced significantly, transforming even those old computers into something useful.

I am not going to discuss the so-called security advantages, since it’s all relative, but I am going to mention the fact that with Google office apps, you will get rid of those updating procedures you got used to with Microsoft, you won’t have to worry about license restrictions, and you won’t have to spend time and resources installing the suite when you feel like adding a few computers to the network.

Against:
* Security and privacy - Let’s face it. Since information is not stored on your own machine and circles through the Internet cloud, your data isn’t as secured as you’d want it to be. Supposing the board directors would be fine with it since we’re talking about Google here, but I’m not sure about your customers or investors.
* Where’s Powerpoint? - Now there’s something Google office apps misses. A Microsoft Powerpoint replacer. I won’t debate further upon this subject, but it’s clear that if I would need presentations software for my activity, I would stick to Microsoft’s Office suite.
* No internet, no nothing - With Google, your documents won’t be accessible while offline. You won’t be able to work on your letters while on a plane, for example, and that’s a major disadvantage. I know we live in an era of connectivity, but downtime happens, and when it does, your productivity will stagnate if your activity is based on Google office apps.
* Limited functionality - Even if everything is Web 2.0-ish, and filled with AJAX and other effects, it’s still not Office. No drag and drop functionality, and it might seem weird at the beginning, seeing a browser-based application replacing the suite you have worked with for years.

Afterall, you decide. The battle has just begun. I’m looking forward to know what you have in favor or against Google’s web-based office applications, so please share your opinion by leaving a comment.