Online Alternatives to Offline Tools

28
Jul/091

Online Alternatives to Offline Tools

I have discovered some amazing online alternatives to offline application over the past year and thought I would compile them and share them with all the people who don’t read my blog. So here is a side-by-side list of alternatives.

Offline Tool

Cloud Alternative

Microsoft Word - Zoho Writer is an online word processor with an amazing array of features. I currently use Google Docs instead of Zoho Writer but I might migrate soon.

Microsoft Excel – Zoho Sheet is a really neat web based spreadsheet software. I have never really needed to use any type of spreadsheet software but another web based spreadsheet software is offered by Google through Google Docs.

Digsby/Google Talk/AIM – Meebo is a IM client that allows you to sign into your Gtalk, AIM, Yahoo, Facebook, etc. account and chat from any of them in an interesting javascript window fashion. Meebo also has a Firefox extension.

Microsoft Outlook/Thunderbird – Roundcube Webmail is a nice little web based IMAP client that you can either set the incoming/outgoing mail servers or (here’s where it qualifies as an alternative to Outlook and Thunderbird) enter them in when you login, which with some custom PHP you could add a dropdown down menu with the severs entered in to make it easier. It also can store contact and gmail users should find it very easy to use. Please note that you have to install it on a webserver, All it requires is PHP Mysql and a few minor things, I got it to work on my computer running on a my desktop computer with a self assembeled LAMP. I still use Thunderbird though because I actively keep tabs on eight email accounts.

Microsoft Outlook/Thunderbird – Gmail + Google Apps if you have gmail plus email accounts on another domain you can have them all under one account but with special labels through gmail, if you already have an account, and Google Apps for you domain emails. Google Apps is a free service that allows you to setup gmail account with your domain name, e.g. you@yourdomainname.com. Along with Google Apps you can link together multiple gmail account into one easily and gmail can pull your emails from a POP3 server.

Browser bookmarks – del.icio.us is an online bookmarking site. What makes del.icio.us great is the firefox addon otherwise it would be kind of pointless for me.

DropBox^beta This is an amazing service that you install on you computers and set a folder up for it to use (i put mine on my desktop) and it will sync between computers. And you can get extra space by referring friends. Another great feature is folder sharing between users.