Here are some pros and cons of three of the most popular Cloud-Based servers.

Google

Pros

  • Free 15 GB of storage
  • Cost-effective ($2.79/month for 100 GB)
  • Expanding offices into Canada
  • Easy to navigate- categories, folders, recent (if forgotten to sort), search bar
  • Easy sharing/collaboration
  • Option to set sharing preferences (who can edit, only view, public or private file)
  • Commenting, chat in documents
  • Most versatile free platform
  • Databases around the world to back up & secure information
  • Documents can be modified without wifi
  • Easy access from almost any device
  • Google account can be used to sign into multiple websites, apps, and services

Cons

  • Databases around the world in countries with different privacy laws
  • Documents do not automatically save to device for offline use
  • The smartphone apps are more difficult to navigate
  • At risk of crashing & losing information (like any cloud-based system)

Microsoft

Below are the Pros and Cons for Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office has been around the longest and is still running so it’s safe to say Office is a successful software.

Pros

  • Applications for all needs: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, One Note
  • Other applications for more business services: Publisher, Project, Teams, Visio
  • SKYPE is a very popular microsoft application for video calls and conferences
  • Work on your documents from anywhere with access to the internet
  • Boosted productivity: easy to use, team collaboration (office co-authoring tool), regular automatic updates to the software
  • Reduced security risks: encrypted email, data loss prevention, mobile device management, advanced threat analytics
  • Around since 1988 and is most used cloud-based software (i.e. great reputation)
  • Multiple flexible plans catered to businesses of all sizes

Cons

  • Need a microsoft account to use the services
  • Subscription based payment (as a Uvic student we get these services for free)
  • If internet is down you cannot access your document from another device
  • Competition with other cloud-based services in schools ( SD63 is using google exclusively)

https://blog.goptg.com/blog/2016/03/31/the-pros-and-cons-of-office-365-for-business

Apple

Below are some of the Pros and Cons of Apple’s iWork system and the devices themselves. iWork was first introduced in 2005 and has grown since then.

Pros

  • Applications for all needs: Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and iCloud
  • Other applications on the Apple System include iMovie, Garageband and Photobooth
  • Free for all iOs and macOS customers
  • Applications are intuitive for beginners
  • Has started using peer-collaborating on documents (only for other mac users)
  • Apple works with educators to promote technology use in the classroom

Cons

  • iCloud storage space is limited (only 5GB for free)
  • iWork is not supported on other devices (such as Windows or Android)
  • Apple products can be pricey for schools/students

 

By Madeline, Catrina, and Kiya