So, I decided to try out Writely, and managed to get an invite for it today. Now I'm trying out this "Web 2.0" application. It's supposed to be able to post to my blog. I'm composing this post from Writely right now. If I've got my settings correct, this *should* post to my blog when I choose to publish it.
Well, so far the writely interface seems clean and simple. It's intuitive and easy enough to use. Anyone fairly familiar with MS Word or OpenOffice should be able to start using it right away. It may not have fancy shmancy editing features, but then, I never use those features. What I do miss, is spell check. Well, it looks like I'll just have to install spellcheck for my Firefox.
That said, being a modern web application gives Writely other advantages or features you would not find in client editors like MS Word. Such as online collaboration and the ability to use it from any connected PC with a browser.
The collaborative aspect is certainly of interest. I can imagine working together with multiple colleagues on a single document. No more sharing of Word documents and document versions lost in email. I'll definitely give this a spin. But first, I need to figure out how to invite my colleagues and convince them to give it a try. The word "Beta" might be a problem here...
I noticed the document auto saves itself as I type. Probably to counter the many problems that can arise due to the nature of the application. It does not seem to interfere with my typing. Maybe because my text is still small. But I see this as a Good Thing. Well, that's all for now. If you're interested, visit http://www.writely.com. Their registration is officially closed but members can invite others into the service. If you need an invite, drop me a line.
