Further to Matthew Bradley’s comments on a previous post I have gone out and explored some more free software alternatives.

Google Docs is an easy to use office suite that you use online.

The documents you create are stored on Google’s servers but can be downloaded and saved too. As the access to your documents is tied to your Google email ID it means that those documents are available anywhere you can get internet access; libraries, cafes, someone else’s home etc. All you do is sign in to your Google account and you can see all you have stored.

Docs includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing capability, and form design. The tools are fairly basic but very functional and robust. The main benefit to all of them is that they can be worked on collaboratively. You can invite other to work on the documents and update them – more than one person can edit the documents at one time too.

Coupled with Google Mail and Calendar, Google Docs makes a great addition for small business, clubs, community groups and others. Take a look and see at Google Docs Tour.