Now If Only Google Docs Was Any Good…

Almost two months ago now I left Outlook. Not because I hated it–in fact it was one of my favourite programs in the Microsoft Office suite–but because the allure of Google Mail and Google Calendar was just too strong. Having ubiquitous access to my mail and schedule (well, as ubiquitous as Softbank’s 3G network is) was just too strong and with Prism it seemed like I could have my cake and eat it, too. So, how did it go?

There were difficulties at the start. For about a week I hated threaded conversations. What were interesting side diversions on the occasion I would log in to Gmail in the past became an entangling mess. Or at least they seemed to be. After that first week was up I couldn’t quite work out what I didn’t like about them and after another week I think I’d find it difficult using a mail client that didn’t have them.

Similar issues cropped up with Google Calendar. The only way to add categories to my events seemed to be to create separate calendars. That wasn’t such a chore but the way Google Calendar indicates the difference between calendars by writing the event title in a different colour text just didn’t seem as easy to read as Outlook’s presentation (see image). The niggles about this haven’t departed quite as quickly as my Gmail gripes did. I still think Google should allow you to add categories, or at least tags, to events but it’s wasn’t enough to push me back into Redmond’s embrace.

And what of Prism? For the most part it works. When you consider it’s still a prototype (what we used to call a beta?) that’s pretty impressive. My main problems so far have been in relation to its occasional failure to properly detect whether a link should be opened in the system browser (ie. Firefox/IE) or whether to open it itself; and its broken download manager (it will download files, it just won’t let you save them anywhere other than the desktop). The former could be fixed by an option in the context menu to open the link in the system browser and the latter I’m sure will come in time. Neither are what I’d call deal breakers.

In short, I’m sorry Outlook but I think it’s time for us to see other people. We’ll always have the good times but it’s time for me to move on. No hard feelings?