Looking through the website that was linked to for SSuite, it seems that the software is only available for Windows. As far as I can tell, it’s also closed source, which puts it at another disadvantage.

At the end of the day, OpenOffice isn’t perfect, but it runs (mostly) perfectly on all major platforms, conforms to International Standards for document formats and is Open Source.

People don’t seem to know what it does but I just tell them “it’s the next version of email” and say that it’s a bit like incorporating IM, FaceBook and documents into a real-time next-generation email. This should be something they focus on really, incorporating emails so people have a smooth transition - as soon as sending something to someone’s hotmail inbox can be routed to a wave and vice versa nothing can stop it.

In the meantime, I sincerely hope it takes off. There have been plenty of times when emailing since I found about it when I thought “this would be so much easier as a Wave”. I’m spreading the word anyway. People were cynical luddites when email was introduced too - it took decades before your granny got one.

Anyhoo, add me bitches!

sonnywilliamson@googlewave.com

I am always weary of pointing people to software that I am not aware of - you do not know what nasty things it may contain inside. But, that is not to say that it is inherently bad.

So I should mention a few things I tend to do before I just go ahead and download, install and run software from the net.

== Download via a reputable channel as opposed to directly from publishers sites ==
Download.com, for example, tend to be a highly reputable download source and run more virus tests on potential software than i have time to do myself
e.g. visit
http://download.cnet.com and search for:
* “OpenOffice.org”
or
* “SSuite Office”

== Check Vulnerability Databases ==

secunia.com is a place where security experts share information about vulnerabilities in software. It is handy to check these kinds of databases against the software (and version) that you are running to keep up to date with any issues as they arise.

Bear in mind that:
When comparing software, the “total number of vulnerabilities” is not a metric that necessarily translates directly to “how secure the software is”. For example, the “number of vulnerabilities that are fixed promptly” may indicate a better software project than one that has fewer vulnerabilities listed.

Naturally, the ‘version name’ of the software is important. Good software publishers tend to fix vulnerabilities in later versions of the software. So, its less of a worry if you are running version 5 of some software and you read about a vulnerability that was discovered in, say, version 3, then fixed in version 4. As version 5 is later than 4, you can be pretty certain that ‘the fix’ was inherited by that later version.

Here are some example searches:
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=OpenOffice
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=SSuite+Office
* http://secunia.com/advisories/search/?search=Microsoft+Office

—-
Just thought i’d mention it.

http://www.ssuitesoft.com

In some ways, however, the change is relatively minor. Many of us are quite used to doing the things that Wave enables us to to do; organising events on facebook, sharing photos, commenting on blogs, instant messaging, etc.

But, these tend to be isolated services on ‘propriety-like’ systems. Wave gives anyone the tools to design their own system to group these features in one place and a protocol to share the content between systems. Without the published protocol this might be like any other service and Google would have a job convincing everyone to ‘move over’ to them.

Instead Google has, in effect, provided the means to move Wave into the old systems. Therefore, people won’t really need to change their ways much in order to benefit.

On the issue of “hyped pick me, pick me!” Yes it comes across as slightly elitist. But they really just want to ensure that it doesn’t get too big, too fast.

It turned out to be a reference from a book. Not an actual dairy product. It conveys the idea that as humans, we are generally opposed to change. And this describes how I feel about Google Wave.

The video above explains a situation where people seem to be incapable of managing and distributing their own information. Perhaps this scenario above applies to people who have become lazy, or lack organisational skills. But perhaps it will be beneficial. Until I start to use it, I’m not sure what it will be.

I’m a bit worried about the hype that surrounds this; Google Wave, Google Wave!!!! Send me an invite, pick me, pick me!!! Ooooh, I’m special. ..ok ok, so I’m being hypocritical by writing this comment, generating even more hype about a product I know very little about.

I like email. Despite it being developed 40 years ago, it still works for me. I’m pretty sure that the Wheel has been around for a long time, and my car is working just fine. If anyone feels the need to reinvent that, please send me an invite so I can test it out.