Google Apps For Dummies [Paperback]

Ryan Teeter (Author), Karl Barksdale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0470189584 | ISBN-13: 978-0470189580 | Edition: 1

Google Apps are Web-based, low-cost (or free!) office productivity tools that do everything those expensive applications do — and you can access them from any computer with an Internet connection. Google Apps For Dummies boosts your "app-titude" by giving you the low-down on choosing, setting up, and using these nifty and powerful gadgets for work or play.

Whether you're an individual who wants to take advantage of iGoogle or an organization looking for an enterprise-wide training solution for users at all levels, this comprehensive, practical guide brings you up to speed with all of the basic information and advanced tips and tricks you need to make good use of every Google Apps's tool and capability. Discover how to:

• Get productive fast with free or inexpensive Web-based apps
• Design your perfect Start Page layout
• Choose among the different editions
• Use Gmail and Google Talk
• Work with Google Docs and spreadsheet documents
• Create and collaborate on documents
• Import events into your calendar
• Build dazzling presentations
• Use Dashboard to create and manage user accounts
• Create a Web page with a unique domain setting

Google Apps are poised to shatter the primacy of the current way of working with PCs, saving businesses, schools, government agencies, and individuals big bucks on software, network infrastructure, and administration. Google Apps For Dummies is your key to making this revolutionary new approach work for you and your organization.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Get down to business with these online office tools

Create documents and spreadsheets, keep your calendar, use Gmail, and more

There's more than one way to do office stuff. Google Apps are Web-based, low-cost (or free!) office productivity tools that do everything those big guys do, and you can access them from any computer with an Internet connection. This book boosts your "app-titude" with the lowdown on choosing, setting up, and using them for work and play.

Discover how to:

• Choose among the different editions

• Register a new domain

• Use Gmail and Google Talk

• Create and collaborate on documents

• Import events into your calendar

• Build cool presentations

About the Author

Ryan Teeter is an accomplished writer and technology trainer. He has worked closely with business teachers throughout the country and consulted with the National Business Education Association, businesses, and school districts on Google Apps implementation. Ryan spent time working at Google in Mountain View, California, as an External Training Specialist, developing curriculum used for training Fortune 500 companies. When he’s not conducting training workshops or writing, Ryan’s pursuing his passion for teaching as a doctoral student at Rutgers University, where he’s completing a PhD in accounting information systems. (www.ryanteeter.com,www.technonerd.info)

Karl Barksdale was a former Development Manager for the Training and Certification team at WordPerfect Corporation and a Marketing Manager in the Consumer Products division. He was also the External Training Manager for Google’s Online Sales and Operations division. He’s best known for authoring and co-authoring 59 business and computer education textbooks. Albeit, the job he enjoys most is teaching at the Utah County Academy of Sciences, an early college high school on the Utah Valley University campus. (www.karlbarksdale.com)

Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470189584
• ISBN-13: 978-0470189580
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book to Learn the Ropes, May 3, 2008

By 

J. Kelly "GA Book Fan" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Google Apps For Dummies (Paperback)

Full Disclosure first: I was the tech editor for the book.

The authors have done a great job of introducing some of the best tools that Google has made available to the public for FREE. I will admit that I thought there was no way you could pull me away from my Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) but I'm a convert now.

The books covers:

* Gmail - Google's email application and one that I'm 100% switched over to now.
* Documents - the word document application that I'm using right now to collaborate on a writing project with 2 other authors.
* Google Spreadsheets - the spreadsheet application which, no surprise, gives Microsoft Excel a run for its money
* Google Presentations - a slideshow application similar to PowerPoint
* Google Page Creator - a webpage design tool
* Calendar - a full-fledged online calendar that you can share with others or keep private
* More - coverage of Chat, Administering your Google Apps, manipulating files, etc.

For me, I use Google Gmail, Calendar, and Spreadsheets exclusively. I still need Word occasionally, but with the ability to import and export to and from Google Documents, I really haven't had any major issues yet with moving back and forth.

One caveat - Google Apps is CONSTANTLY being updated; the Google Apps team of developers seems to release updates and new features almost weekly or monthly, so use the book as an introduction but don't be surprised if there are undocumented features you come across that aren't covered in the book - probably not the author's fault as they can't predict every new feature.

Recommendation - Try out Gmail and Calendar first... then Documents, Spreadsheets, and Presentations. Once you're comfortable using Gmail and Calendar, you'll start to understand how nice it is to have all your data available on any Internet-connected PC. I'm actually able to leave my laptop home when I visit family because I can use their PC to access my email, calendar, and most of my work documents.

Favorite Feature: The ability to text-message my Google Calendar with an appointment and the Calendar auto-updates. PLUS I've configured it to text me two reminders: 1 text message a week before the event, and 1 text message the day before. All covered in the book.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Book!!!!, June 12, 2008

By 

Ari - See all my reviews

This review is from: Google Apps For Dummies (Paperback)

I knew nothing about google applications before I read this book and now I learned everything. The book is very well written, detailed and covers all the things you need to know about Google.

The book is a great way to quickly get started with the google applications as opposed to wasting time trying to learn everything by experience.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in using Google Applications.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied, November 11, 2010

By 

AR Woods (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Google Apps For Dummies (Paperback)

This is a good starting place for learning about Google Apps.

It explained to me how to set-up a calendar. I previously used Outlook.

So for my situation I'm pleased.

Amazon Shipping /....Excellent as always !