Adobe Buzzword Not That Hot a Topic
by Damian Burke
I’d heard Adobe Buzzword mentioned around the internet for some time, and I’m sure I’ve seen a QuirkStar or two using it. With bloggers and online opinion purveyors weighing up the pros and cons, I thought it may just hold time saving secrets and indispensable functions which would make my life just that much better.
In short, Buzzword is a web based Flash based word processor, allowing real time collaborations through multi-user remote access (in varying levels of user authority) and even conference abilities.
All that is required to use the browser based word processor is a registered account, and obviously an uninterrupted internet connection. Signing up is free, and it looks really pretty - but I have to say, I was expecting a bit more of a pioneering effort from our friends at Adobe.
It encompasses the traditional word processor elements and functions you've come to expect, such as Rich text formatting, images, tables, captions and user comment capabilities as well as a spell checker, but it does not offer the outgoing uniqueness I was hoping for – instead it comes across like a shy cousin; capable but hardly engaging.
File sharing abilities, PDF creation and an easy to access file version history timeline viewer are also part of the package, while importing and exporting processes from other popular processors such as Open Office and MS Office are seamless. While these functions are useful (or rather essential), it still doesn’t have those unique web based capabilities I was hoping for.
Although it has been active for almost a year, Buzzword is still in its beta infancy - but you wouldn't say so. The fluid and comprehensive management makes it easy to control.
Not without its charms, Adobe did not seem to think outside the box on this one. What, no handy linking tools? No impressive mash ups or extensive Flash capabilities? No side research panel or other web integrated gimmicks? Fair enough, gimmicks lose their novelty.
After looking at the pros and cons of Adobe Buzzword, I’d say they almost negate each other - Google Docs is enough for any online collaborator.
Comments
post a commentWowee! Thank goodness I'm a writer and not a developer - Sounds like you're under a tremendous amount of stress, Oxygen.
Thanks for bringing Adobe AIR to my attention, I was not aware of it. Although AIR is very different from what I was looking for, it does seem very handy - pretty much how I feel about Buzzword.
The point of my post was neither to glorify nor shun Buzzword, but simply give an honest account of what I personally thought of it; likable, but not for me.
I stand by my opinion, and will delete neither the post nor your comment as they are both relevant.
Have a great day, and remember to breathe in and out.
Posted by Damian Burke on 2008/08/25
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I am an experienced as3/flash9 developer (coder) and what I can say is that buzzword eclipses any other online document editor, and rivals with ms office word processor. More than that you said that you need uninterrupted internet; if you had even took the time to study buzzword, you would find out there's and offline version running in adobe AIR and also that the online version saves as you type. I suggest you delete this article it really shows how superficial you reallly are.
Posted by oxygen on 2008/08/25