Google's Writely, and more

There is lots of conversation lately about is Google evil? What if Google decided to be evil (via Google Blogoscoped)?

But no one argues much about whether Google is useful.

I am a great fan of GMail, and have, one by one, abandoned all my other accounts. So simple, so efficient -- and I love search, don't sort. Some of you may have noticed that I now have email at my domain, which is thanks to GMail Domains Beta. I'm amazed that they let me in, this little one-person operation -- but I'm delighted. It's even better than regular GMail.

Do I mind the ads?

Could anyone who has ever used Yahoo Mail or Hotmail object to the unobtrusive -- and even sometimes interesting -- Google ads?

I signed onto Writely before Google bought it (I think someone at The Well pointed me to it) and now use it almost exclusively. When I first heard the prediction that one day we would do most of our work online, and our computers would be used mostly as terminals, I thought that was nuts -- of course I would want my own software on my own machine with all my own files. And if I were still working with client files and confidential information, I would no doubt still feel that way.

But now I'm at home, and have nothing that must be so guarded. I've experienced several hard drive crashes in the intervening years, and lost files due to my not-atypical haphazard backup practices. I've had TypePad crash repeatedly in the middle of preparing complicated posts.

Writely has never crashed on me, and when my browser has, the Writely document comes up exactly how I left it. Exactly how I left it, and accessible from any computer.

It was initially a bit buggy; less so every day. It offers direct publishing to some blog hosts -- not TypePad at present, which is not a problem for me. I prefer cut & paste and publish to draft in any case. Nice clean interface, all the usual bells & whistles, spellcheck, collaboration, and tagging! What more could one want in a word processor?

Only recently did I discover that I can offer it to you, even though it's currently not open for new registrations. The Writely Blog tells me:

No need to wait until Writely registration opens up again. When you have a Writely account, you have the power . . . Just add them as collaborators on a Writely document and click "OK" to email them. You can invite up to 50 new people by adding them as collaborators to Writely documents.

So, all 50 of you who would like a Writely account, drop me a comment or an email and tell me where to send the invitation. If GMail still requires invitations (surely not?) I can send you one of those, too.

[crossposted to Watermark]

Comments

[Tillerman]

Yes please - I'd like a Writely invitation. Please send it to tillermeister@gmail.com. Thanks

Please may I have a Writely invite too?

Thanks in advance.

White

(whitefiver at gmail dot com)

[John]

Hey,
I'd sure appreciate a Writely invitation if you still have one to spare!
johnilangille@gmail.com
Thanks a lot!
John

[Rich]

Hi,

Could you please send an invite to: richard.eid at gmail? Thank you.

Please send me a writely invite
wayne@aquaexperts.com

[Al]

Please send a writely invite to shapere at gmail dot com. Thanks!

[mamund]

i would very much like an invite to writely. i promise to also pass along my writely invites once i sign up.

tia

[Tina]

I would love a writely invitation to la8rga8r@gmail.com. Thanks so much!

[Joe]

Yo, I'd love a writely invite! I've never used Gmail and would be interested in trying that too if you can send an invite for that also.

apinksquash@msn.com

- Thanks, Joe

I'd like a Writely invitation. Could you please send it to: aceharris "at" gmail.com

[Mark Berry]

Hi, Can I have a writely invite?!! Thank you so much!! Your articles are great!!

Yours,
Coach Mark

[James Dasher]

Hey I would love an invite if possible, thanks!

James
jamesmdasher(at)gmail(dot)com

[Kathy]

I would love to have an invite to Writerly if you have any left! Thanks so much!

kj@good-enough.org

KJ

[kevin]

if you still have invites, I'd love one. Just got back from CTC in Boston and was quite impressed with Google's capabilities.

[MIKE]

Please send me an invitation - mikeiza17@yahoo.com ... thanks!!!

[Cory Kiser]

I would very much appreciate a writely invitation, I find it a hassle transporting files I'm working on between school and home and this would help me greatly. Thanks! - corydkiser(at)gmail(dot)com

[Vanessa]

I would love a writely invitation. I'm at mononoke24@yahoo.com

[allison]

would you send me an invite?
allisonalbrecht at hotmail dot com

thanks!

[dsdeis]

If anyone has anymore writely invites, please send me one at:

dsdeis@gmail.com

Thank you

[Poet]

could you please send me an invitation on my email: na.affan@gmail.com

[Ken Carter]

Hello,

If you have any writely invites left, I'd love to have one please.

Thanks

drkencarter@gmail.com

[mike]

Hi,

I'd really appreciate a writely account also.. Please share the love..

mickfromperth@gmail.com

[jojobu]

Please send me an invite to writely

jojobu@gmail.com

[Petr]

Please may I have a Writely invite too?

Thanks :-)

Petr

[Petr]

Please may I have a Writely invite too?

Thanks :-)

Petr

akbrno@gmail.com