Comments on: The hidden cost of Google Apps http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/ FSB Features Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:30:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Richard http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-14375 Richard Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:19:31 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-14375 A catchy headline but little substance to back it up. Proper integration knocks out the "identity problem" as people merely log on to their company email. Single sign on makes it even smoother. As for productivity, my first hand experience is that Google Apps is more usable " search for one".."labelling for two" and "threading for 3" ...Further my small business customers adopt it real quickly and stiopp worrying about setting up IMAP clients etc.... A catchy headline but little substance to back it up. Proper integration knocks out the "identity problem" as people merely log on to their company email. Single sign on makes it even smoother. As for productivity, my first hand experience is that Google Apps is more usable " search for one".."labelling for two" and "threading for 3" …Further my small business customers adopt it real quickly and stiopp worrying about setting up IMAP clients etc….

]]> By: Hector, McAllen, Tx http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-14193 Hector, McAllen, Tx Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:26:34 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-14193 Office 2007 has a high learning curve also. Most people have been using office 2003 or earlier, which make the transition to google apps, much easier. Office 2007 has a high learning curve also. Most people have been using office 2003 or earlier, which make the transition to google apps, much easier.

]]> By: James, Pasadena, CA http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-13246 James, Pasadena, CA Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:53:03 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-13246 Apparently Seth, your web editor, doesn't know how to use basic web functions. Google Apps too complicated? It's very rare to hear that. I've also heard of people complaining about the training it requires to switch to Google Apps. I've always recommended that if someone couldn't figure out how to use Google Apps they should be fired for stupidity. Apparently Seth, your web editor, doesn't know how to use basic web functions.

Google Apps too complicated? It's very rare to hear that.

I've also heard of people complaining about the training it requires to switch to Google Apps. I've always recommended that if someone couldn't figure out how to use Google Apps they should be fired for stupidity.

]]> By: Erik Pomerantz Burlington, Vermont http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-13235 Erik Pomerantz Burlington, Vermont Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:27:18 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-13235 Wiping cache isn't even necessary. Google does make the one assumption that since you never signed out that you are still using their services. All it takes is clicking that one link and the next person that happens to hop on can sign in and use the service. When using any kind of service, there is always adjustment needed, just take a couple of seconds, remain calm and look around the program or web page for some clues to how you can solve the issues, If it cannot be resolved look on support pages. The key to using anything new is to act resourceful rather than falling back on old habits since most things aren't exactly alike. Wiping cache isn't even necessary. Google does make the one assumption that since you never signed out that you are still using their services. All it takes is clicking that one link and the next person that happens to hop on can sign in and use the service. When using any kind of service, there is always adjustment needed, just take a couple of seconds, remain calm and look around the program or web page for some clues to how you can solve the issues, If it cannot be resolved look on support pages. The key to using anything new is to act resourceful rather than falling back on old habits since most things aren't exactly alike.

]]> By: Charney Hoffmann, Phoenix AZ http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12968 Charney Hoffmann, Phoenix AZ Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:22:08 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12968 This article was hilarious. It kept talking about Google was confused. Clearly, the staff at his company were confused. "We had to clear out our entire cache just to get this thing to work". As if clearing your cache is like demolishing a house, or migrating an MS Exchange environment. It amazes me that he didn't just select the 'logout' button available on any Google page I've ever seen. He also claims that Google was sending him his colleagues invites after acknowledging that he had been logged in as the wrong user. Most amazing was the supposed confusion between personal Gmail accounts, and work accounts accessible with the /a at the end of the URL. If that's confusing to anyone, they shouldn't even have a job, let alone one that requires using a computer. This article was hilarious. It kept talking about Google was confused. Clearly, the staff at his company were confused. "We had to clear out our entire cache just to get this thing to work". As if clearing your cache is like demolishing a house, or migrating an MS Exchange environment. It amazes me that he didn't just select the 'logout' button available on any Google page I've ever seen.

He also claims that Google was sending him his colleagues invites after acknowledging that he had been logged in as the wrong user.

Most amazing was the supposed confusion between personal Gmail accounts, and work accounts accessible with the /a at the end of the URL. If that's confusing to anyone, they shouldn't even have a job, let alone one that requires using a computer.

]]> By: SWI http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12710 SWI Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:57:10 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12710 There's really no such thing as a perfect software, cloudware or whatever you call it. Adjustments has to be made either in budget or business process, or both. We are using Google apps, we have <a href="http://www.systems-and-websites.com/google-apps.html" rel="nofollow">integrated google apps for our clients</a>, some with more than a 100 accounts and we haven't had any major complains. There's really no such thing as a perfect software, cloudware or whatever you call it. Adjustments has to be made either in budget or business process, or both. We are using Google apps, we have integrated google apps for our clients, some with more than a 100 accounts and we haven't had any major complains.

]]> By: anonymous, somewhereville, somestate http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12567 anonymous, somewhereville, somestate Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:42:55 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12567 Change-fearing end users are the biggest problem with Google Apps. That and a big ol' gulp of the Microsoft kool-aid keeps users in abject fear of anything different. I tried to move a 400-seat company over to the Premier flavor of Google Apps once. The cost savings over other alternatives was ridiculous - getting the capital to complete that move was a HUGE win for an Exchange-weary IT department. Once we got everyone through the pilot program and had a good idea that this was going to work, we launched training initiatives, workshops, and other events to get the users excited about a very fundamental shift in communication strategy. What we failed to realize is how fundamental that change really was - despite significant training efforts, the users rebelled in the extreme. There were some advocates, but the much louder and angrier group of opponents got the most attention. The most telling argument I can recall from the entire fiasco has to be a conversation I had with a high-ranking executive. We were arguing about GApps, and the gist from the exec was that IT was very short-sighted in making this call and that we looked like idiots to our customers for choosing such a ridiculously risky solution for corporate mail. The exec went on to state that the pain of training users on Google Apps was both painful and costly. The exec ended the argument by stunning me with the statement that he would rather have spent FOUR TO FIVE TIMES MORE on Exchange over GApps. I had no response to that - I was literally rendered speechless by the short-sightedness of that. I left that company (thankfully) and understand that they have since reverted back to a hosted Exchange server. It's amazing to me how people can be so brainwashed - email is email is email...I can't fathom how two people can use the same product so vastly differently. Sure, there are shortcomings in Google Apps - I'll grant that willingly. I don't like everything about it, but the value of not hosting email locally on Exchange overshadows those shortcomings in a big way. It's a shame others are unwilling to see it the same way. Change-fearing end users are the biggest problem with Google Apps. That and a big ol' gulp of the Microsoft kool-aid keeps users in abject fear of anything different.

I tried to move a 400-seat company over to the Premier flavor of Google Apps once. The cost savings over other alternatives was ridiculous – getting the capital to complete that move was a HUGE win for an Exchange-weary IT department. Once we got everyone through the pilot program and had a good idea that this was going to work, we launched training initiatives, workshops, and other events to get the users excited about a very fundamental shift in communication strategy. What we failed to realize is how fundamental that change really was – despite significant training efforts, the users rebelled in the extreme. There were some advocates, but the much louder and angrier group of opponents got the most attention.

The most telling argument I can recall from the entire fiasco has to be a conversation I had with a high-ranking executive. We were arguing about GApps, and the gist from the exec was that IT was very short-sighted in making this call and that we looked like idiots to our customers for choosing such a ridiculously risky solution for corporate mail. The exec went on to state that the pain of training users on Google Apps was both painful and costly. The exec ended the argument by stunning me with the statement that he would rather have spent FOUR TO FIVE TIMES MORE on Exchange over GApps. I had no response to that – I was literally rendered speechless by the short-sightedness of that.

I left that company (thankfully) and understand that they have since reverted back to a hosted Exchange server. It's amazing to me how people can be so brainwashed – email is email is email…I can't fathom how two people can use the same product so vastly differently. Sure, there are shortcomings in Google Apps – I'll grant that willingly. I don't like everything about it, but the value of not hosting email locally on Exchange overshadows those shortcomings in a big way.

It's a shame others are unwilling to see it the same way.

]]> By: Jim http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12525 Jim Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:45:14 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12525 Adobe's suite is acrobat.com not acrobot.com. Acrobat's ConnectNow is quite possibly the greatest piece of free software, (that won't cause compatibility issues like Google Apps & Microsoft do) that has been offered. Oh, and where are your analysis of Skype, ooVoo, OpenOffice as free alternatives? Adobe's suite is acrobat.com not acrobot.com. Acrobat's ConnectNow is quite possibly the greatest piece of free software, (that won't cause compatibility issues like Google Apps & Microsoft do) that has been offered.

Oh, and where are your analysis of Skype, ooVoo, OpenOffice as free alternatives?

]]> By: SS Beck Clarksville, VA http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12513 SS Beck Clarksville, VA Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:04:24 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12513 I love Google Apps! Maybe his people have too much time to play and he needs to cut his staff and they would have to really get productive and stop whining. Wahh wahhh wahh...wahh Go back to MS. How about doing an article on how difficult it is for them to transition to Vista and MS Office 2007? If he thinks he has problems with Google, lets see how his team does with that change!! I love Google Apps! Maybe his people have too much time to play and he needs to cut his staff and they would have to really get productive and stop whining. Wahh wahhh wahh…wahh Go back to MS. How about doing an article on how difficult it is for them to transition to Vista and MS Office 2007? If he thinks he has problems with Google, lets see how his team does with that change!!

]]> By: JM Ibanez; Manila, Philippines http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12512 JM Ibanez; Manila, Philippines Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:03:30 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12512 We haven't had the problems the author posted because: a) we mapped all the Google Apps to subdomains on orangeandbronze.com (i.e. to access mail, you type in mail.orangeandbronze.com and not necessarily mail.google.com/a/orangeandbronze.com -- the hard parts have already been done behind the scenes for you); b) there is clear branding on our apps, as we configured apps to use our company logo (found under Domain Settings > Appearance), and we have a different color scheme for the sign in box color, visually different from Google's sign in box; and c) our workforce is more tech-savvy (we're a software consulting/development shop). We haven't had the problem of differentiating identity, as far as I can tell. And on the sysad side (who do the support for it), we haven't been spending time on fixing problems with Google Apps for more than an hour a month, at most (and this is a back-of-the-envelope estimate, I may be underestimating) I guess the problem with the author's set up is with branding their Google Apps instance. Just establish a strong branding for your instance. Essentially -- the preparation before roll-out of the service. However, again, I might be underestimating things, as I don't hear of any problems so far. We haven't had the problems the author posted because:

a) we mapped all the Google Apps to subdomains on orangeandbronze.com (i.e. to access mail, you type in mail.orangeandbronze.com and not necessarily mail.google.com/a/orangeandbronze.com — the hard parts have already been done behind the scenes for you);

b) there is clear branding on our apps, as we configured apps to use our company logo (found under Domain Settings > Appearance), and we have a different color scheme for the sign in box color, visually different from Google's sign in box; and

c) our workforce is more tech-savvy (we're a software consulting/development shop).

We haven't had the problem of differentiating identity, as far as I can tell. And on the sysad side (who do the support for it), we haven't been spending time on fixing problems with Google Apps for more than an hour a month, at most (and this is a back-of-the-envelope estimate, I may be underestimating)

I guess the problem with the author's set up is with branding their Google Apps instance. Just establish a strong branding for your instance. Essentially — the preparation before roll-out of the service.

However, again, I might be underestimating things, as I don't hear of
any problems so far.

]]> By: Todd Miller, MI http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12496 Todd Miller, MI Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:49:19 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12496 What software was used to write this piece? Apparently it doesn't have spelling or grammar checkers. What software was used to write this piece? Apparently it doesn't have spelling or grammar checkers.

]]> By: Kari Hofmann, Moline IL http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12493 Kari Hofmann, Moline IL Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:40:56 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12493 We have been using it for years....Not sure why the author of this article couldn't get past the "issues" that are really not issues if you are a tech or have a competent IT staff or consultant. We have been using it for years….Not sure why the author of this article couldn't get past the "issues" that are really not issues if you are a tech or have a competent IT staff or consultant.

]]> By: Ron Williams, Atlanta GA http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12485 Ron Williams, Atlanta GA Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:04:45 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12485 The key problem mentioned in this article is easliy mitigated by tying your company domain name to google apps. So you just access email at mail.company.com not mail.google.com/a This is a free service and easy to setup from Google. The key problem mentioned in this article is easliy mitigated by tying your company domain name to google apps. So you just access email at mail.company.com not mail.google.com/a

This is a free service and easy to setup from Google.

]]> By: Dustin, Washington, DC http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12480 Dustin, Washington, DC Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:56:18 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12480 Seriously?! This is SO FUNNY! My group was a part of this project before the beta testing started and I have to say, we have been using it for years AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS! hahahaha. I think it's funny that people still allow their browsers to hold cache, they log in with the same user names in their windows environment and they don't understand how to use a password manager (which also will save you from Key Loggers, etc.) My goodness! If you have no serious experience on the web, you have NO BUSINESS writing articles about Google! HAHAHAHA! This is a FUNNY article. I can't believe that people actually can find that many things to gripe about on a system that can be used for free and with so many options. My offices are completely virtual with over 45 staff. Google, Airset, Facebook and one other app for file storage do everything. I highly recommend Google, you have to be DUMB not to love a price point of FREE! hahahaha These guys need to give up on cloud computing and leave it to people who can actually see the future... d Seriously?! This is SO FUNNY! My group was a part of this project before the beta testing started and I have to say, we have been using it for years AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS! hahahaha. I think it's funny that people still allow their browsers to hold cache, they log in with the same user names in their windows environment and they don't understand how to use a password manager (which also will save you from Key Loggers, etc.)

My goodness! If you have no serious experience on the web, you have NO BUSINESS writing articles about Google! HAHAHAHA! This is a FUNNY article. I can't believe that people actually can find that many things to gripe about on a system that can be used for free and with so many options. My offices are completely virtual with over 45 staff. Google, Airset, Facebook and one other app for file storage do everything.

I highly recommend Google, you have to be DUMB not to love a price point of FREE!

hahahaha

These guys need to give up on cloud computing and leave it to people who can actually see the future…

d

]]> By: Abby. Montreal, Quebec http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12476 Abby. Montreal, Quebec Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:55:34 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12476 Who wrote this article? Have they just started using the internet. My office uses the free edition of Google and we have it branded with our logo, domain and even the email is hosted on google. If you have a look at our start page at http://start.bullzgroup.com it's hosted and run on google. My employees run it, they all have access from home, iPhone, at work. Google is god. Who wrote this article? Have they just started using the internet. My office uses the free edition of Google and we have it branded with our logo, domain and even the email is hosted on google. If you have a look at our start page at http://start.bullzgroup.com it's hosted and run on google. My employees run it, they all have access from home, iPhone, at work. Google is god.

]]> By: Jeff Judge, Chicago, IL http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12473 Jeff Judge, Chicago, IL Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:20:57 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12473 Not sure how Google Apps is too complicated. It does everything you need for business communication and coordination well: email and calendar. If URLs and identities are the issue, just bookmark them separately, or have employees add a quick link to the desktop.Docs is nice to use for viewing, quick editing and sharing, but I've found it's not critical to running a business and many times people we'll use OpenOffice or Office to work with documents. We've found combining Google Apps with tools like Dropbox (getdropbox.com) deliver everything we need. Not sure how Google Apps is too complicated. It does everything you need for business communication and coordination well: email and calendar. If URLs and identities are the issue, just bookmark them separately, or have employees add a quick link to the desktop.Docs is nice to use for viewing, quick editing and sharing, but I've found it's not critical to running a business and many times people we'll use OpenOffice or Office to work with documents. We've found combining Google Apps with tools like Dropbox (getdropbox.com) deliver everything we need.

]]> By: Rick Lebanon NH http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12471 Rick Lebanon NH Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:12:16 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12471 If his employees are having a hard time with getting the url's correct, it sounds like the Google Apps isn't set up correctly in the companies zone records. I've set this up for numerous schools to just go to mail.xxxschool.org and even teachers have been able to remember that. Tou can also set up docs/apps.xxxschool.org, calendar.xxxschool.org and others. It's a no brainer if it's set up correctly. Another suggestion would be to set up a web page with all the correct links on the company intranet or even on the individual computers as their home page. If his employees are having a hard time with getting the url's correct, it sounds like the Google Apps isn't set up correctly in the companies zone records. I've set this up for numerous schools to just go to mail.xxxschool.org and even teachers have been able to remember that. Tou can also set up docs/apps.xxxschool.org, calendar.xxxschool.org and others. It's a no brainer if it's set up correctly.
Another suggestion would be to set up a web page with all the correct links on the company intranet or even on the individual computers as their home page.

]]> By: Aaron, Baltimore, MD http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12468 Aaron, Baltimore, MD Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:20:23 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12468 <i> excel is the best program ever? my assistant and I share the same computer so our logins get messed up? </i> Are you serious? This is one the most uninformed articles I have read in a while.
excel is the best program ever?

my assistant and I share the same computer so our logins get messed up?

Are you serious? This is one the most uninformed articles I have read in a while.

]]> By: Ryan @ Appirio, San Mateo CA http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12466 Ryan @ Appirio, San Mateo CA Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:56:53 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12466 Appirio has executed successful Google Apps migrations for extremely large companies. The cost savings have been in the millions. So the question really is "what's different?" How did a company of thousands migrate users successfully while Blum had near rebellion with 12? The answer: a carefully planned rollout and an understanding that you are changing the game for your workers. Our customer took the time to identify champions and put forth a thoughtful communications and training campaign. They made change exciting and fun for their community. The results spoke for themselves. The support war room that had been planned to be open for several weeks after the deployment was closed because of lack of issues within 2 days. <a href="http://www.appirio.com/blog/2008/11/what-is-cost-of-google-apps.php"?Read the full story on our blog....</a> Appirio has executed successful Google Apps migrations for extremely large companies. The cost savings have been in the millions.

So the question really is "what's different?" How did a company of thousands migrate users successfully while Blum had near rebellion with 12?

The answer: a carefully planned rollout and an understanding that you are changing the game for your workers. Our customer took the time to identify champions and put forth a thoughtful communications and training campaign. They made change exciting and fun for their community. The results spoke for themselves. The support war room that had been planned to be open for several weeks after the deployment was closed because of lack of issues within 2 days.

<a href="http://www.appirio.com/blog/2008/11/what-is-cost-of-google-apps.php"?Read the full story on our blog….

]]> By: Anonymous http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/11/19/the-hidden-cost-of-google-apps/#comment-12464 Anonymous Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:12:03 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=455#comment-12464 The peopleover at blumsday may be confused in general and one would have to assume they are not intelligent enough to remember the difference between their personal and work passwords. They also dont understnad the first thing about working with computers if they cant figure out how to log in and out of chat. Basically this was a stupid "dig" at google apps for no good reason. The peopleover at blumsday may be confused in general and one would have to assume they are not intelligent enough to remember the difference between their personal and work passwords. They also dont understnad the first thing about working with computers if they cant figure out how to log in and out of chat. Basically this was a stupid "dig" at google apps for no good reason.

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