Google is now launching a new product called Google Spreadsheet. And if it is still available, you can get an invite to test it out....

I, of course, jumped all over it and now I'm testing it out.

You know why I'm so excited about this? It has to do with sharing and accessing spreadsheets on the Web. How many times did you wish you could access an Excel document that was on your work PC? It happens to me constantly. All you need to do is work from home on a semi-regular basis and you'll be in that spot of -- darn it, I left that on my home PC. Now, no problem.

I took a screen shot of the platform (see below) and it is pretty easy to use. The two things I have to get over are not double clicking on the column width to make text fit, and not using the right mouse button for a quick menu. Plus, I really Spideys_google haven't given it the once over and created a document from scratch so I can test the formulas out. (Look, it is one thing to load up an existing sheet and change it versus creating one from scratch.)

The file I uploaded is my list of Amazing Spider-man comics (yes, you need the hyphen) and you know why I uploaded it? Now I can get access to it anytime I want, and I don't have to buy doubles of an expensive book I already own. The next sheet I'll upload is the one I use to track my billable hours for my clients.

There are a ton of articles out there on this launch. What I find completely fascinating is the notion of an Excel killer. Sure it is clear now that Google is working on a complimentary and/or competing product with Microsoft Office, but the toolbar in Google Spreadsheet doesn't come close to what I can do with Excel. So, I'm not sure Excel's death is quickly approaching. What is clear is that Microsoft is still asleep at the wheel when it comes to sharing documents on the Web.

My one big concern is how private are these sheets. Sure people need an invite to view and edit (BTW - it is limited to Google customers right now), but it does sit on Google's servers. So...

As a tool to create complicated spreadsheets, the jury is still out and it needs some testing. As a method for sharing and keeping the most recent documents available, I thank Google for making my life a little easier and I can't wait for the new Writely or the inevitable Google Presentation product.

PardonMyFrench,

Eric