It’s no secret that I think the whole idea of using web based applications such as word processors and the like is questionable on a lot of grounds. uncov gave one of the best tear downs I have seen over the whole thing when he threw Zoho into a cage match with reality and literally tore the whole online app process to pieces and left it scattered like the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. My feeling about using online apps within the confines of a browser are not much difference; whether it be from a practical and serious usage to the programming rational of them which again uncov gives no quarter over.

Then early this morning just before quitting for the day I saw a post by Tony Hung over at Deep Jive Interests where he waxed poetically; so to speak, about a new web based wordprocessor from Adobe and done in Flash. So I flagged it to have a look at today figuring at least I would have a good post to get my crankiness on over but as it turns out I have to a very large degree come away pretty amazed over Buzzword; the name given to the project by Adobe.

For the longest time I have always felt that a large segment of the computing market place was being missed entirely. That market in my mind is a whole section of multi-generational computers who are forever being daunted by programs they need to use but are so confusing that many new users run away in the other direction. The biggest application that I feel falls into this category has been the wordprocessor; regardless of who is marketing it. From an incredible number of menu items to even knowing how to start a document wordprocessor’s have proven to be incredibly daunting. Hell even myself I will use just about any ASCII text editor before firing up a wordprocessor.

The very first thing I noticed about Buzzword is a very simple command set and only the menu items you need for basic wordprocessing; or even note taking for that matter. That alone impressed me beyond anything else and see where something like this could be set up on Grandma’s simple computer she uses for email and the such and she wouldn’t need to look for another wordprocessor again. It should be stated as well that this is still a preview release so there is probably still a lot to be done with Buzzword. I just hope that they don’t lose sight of the simplicity the program already has because I think this could be one of the application’s biggest selling points.

That doesn’t mean all is rosy for me as with all web based apps the default action for saving your document is on the Buzzword servers in their own document format and that for me is almost a deal breaker because I don’t agree with saving my documents anywhere outside of my own system. I just don’t trust anyone’s security or promises of user privacy at all. However Buzzword does allow you to additionally save it as a Microsoft style document on your own hard drive.

The usability factor for me though totally falls flat on its face when it comes to wanting to upload an existing MS document to work on; or at least in my quick search of options this doesn’t seem to be an available feature. That all said though I have to admit that for the first time I have found a so-called Web 2.0 application that I could see myself using for unimportant quickie documents rather than firing up that oversized Microsoft Word program.

One good Web 2.0 program doesn’t prove validation for a whole silly Web 2.0 nomenclature but it does show that the occasional gem can be found in a pile of me-too uselessness. I have even added as an item in my Software Suggestions list in the sidebar to the right.

Nice work Buzzword and thanks to Tony for the link.

Listening to: Emilie Simon - Végétal - Opium

Conversation Tags: Web 2.0, wordprocessor, online wordprocessor, Adobe, Buzzword, Tony Hung