Review Buzzword by Acrobat

There is a recent entry into the List of web based applications, someone had entered Buzzword as an online word processor / collaboration buzzword by Acrobat.  Interesting.

So today I am very enthusiastic because I got the new Macbook so I want to try some new slick web apps with it.  First impression with Buzzword, very slick,modern interface.  The black screen is very modern, the interface is simple, not cluttered.  It’s sort of like a blackboard on your computer screen.  Very appealing to start writing.

I used GrabIt to capture the screen above to show you the interface. There are 7 icons on the tool bar, clicking on it reveals the detail of each category such as font, paragraph, list, tables, comments, etc.

Now I want to save this just in case something happens, I can’t find the save anywhere.  So, I hope it is ‘auto saving’?   …..Whoa..what just happened?  Funny as I wrote this, Buzzword had just shut down.  I had to log back on, then this happens.  Well, hope this is an anomaly.  Enough of the excitement, I hope.

Image

I tried to drag and drop the captured image from the desktop into the Buzzword screen.  Off course, it wouldn’t work, but just wanted to try it anyway.  To place image into the document is simple though.  Just go to insert and choose the image.  Straightforward enough. Image insertion is a snap.  Once image is inserted, you can move it around or resize, but it seems that you cannot move the image to the right.  The words will automatically wrap around the image.  Cool.

As I type, Buzzword checks spelling  and underlines with small red dash to show errors.  Click on the small red triangle and it asks you if you want to keep the spelling.  Good manners!

Let’s try tables.  I just built this table in about 1 minute.  I just clicked on the table Icon on the tool bar and a table is inserted with 2 rows and 2 columns.  Adding rows or columns is very simple, just click on the + sign and that’s it.  Now let’s see if I can move the table around the page and see if the words will wrap around the table just like an image.  I tried hovering on the area of the table to see if I can see a ‘hand’ icon that usually indicates you can grab the object and move it around.  No such luck.

Oops.. I’m getting this error again.  Apparently, it happens when I try to insert an image.  I get this error message, then I have to login again, and wait a couple of minutes before I can start typing again.  These are the same messages that I got earlier.

Table

Here’s the table that I built.  Formatting the text color and add background color is straightforward.  Buzzword does give you lots of colors to choose from with a well designed interface.  By the way, I did use the Help system to see if I can move the tables around like an image, apparently not.

buzzword table

Sharing and collaborating is simple, by going to the document menu drop down list, I clicked on share and I get a screen to enter email addresses and assign role of author, reader, or reviewer.  So I’ve pretty gone over some of the important functions and features.  Once finished, time to export.  Good to see that it lets you export in many formats such as PDF, word, HTML.

Overall, Buzzword nice little application.  Although in this field, there are lots of other programs competing in the same space.  There are some collaborative programs that is easier to use, but less slick, such as writeboard.  And there are desktop alternatives that is quite powerful without the problem of programs crashing such as Pages from Apple’s iWork suite.  Do you know of other applications in this genre or other web apps?  Let us know, add in your own favorite app to the ‘list’.

List of web based applications or on-demand apps

Today, I’ve added a link  (right side of the page).  Click on it to view a database of web based applications or on demand applications.  Some call it Software as a service (SAAS) or Web 2.0 apps.  Anyways, I’m compiling a database list.

The goal is to make it comprehensive, current, and can be utilized by all.  We’ll need lots of contributors to add to the list.  Feel free to add or edit so that the content can be as accurate as possible.

Note that this list is based on database engine by dabbledb.  The list can be sorted, filtered, pivoted, etc. so that users can view from multiple viewpoints.

Thanks in advance and hope to see the list grow!

Click here to see or add to the list or to just view the growing list of web based applications.  An excellent reference.

Highrise CRM added sales tracking

Today, Highrise CRM by 37 Signals added opportunities tracking, calling it ‘Deals’.  This feature had been one of the most requested by active users for over 18 months.  And was launched today in its typical non-chalant way. After the initial euphoria, the reality sets in and here are some thoughts.

The interface is what we’ve come to expect from 37 Signals, all around clean and intuitive, one of the best in the business.  The buttons are there to be used while out of the way of the way of eye scan paths.  Much like a good butler, out of your way until you need it.  This part of it has always been well done and it is their core strength.

Click on the button ‘add a deal’ and you get this screen.  Here you can see the information to be used is the name of contact or company; the name and description of the deal; the amount; category, deal owner, and a permission chooser.  Good, clean, simple.