New Templates for Google Docs

43 Folders reports that Google Docs has just added a selection of over 300 templates, including calendars, letters, labels, and more. For a service that started as an odd curiosity in the back of the Google catalog, the new templates may be a sign that Google Docs is finally ready for public consumption.

Google Docs is one of a growing array of free or near-free Web applications like word processors, spreadsheets, photo editors, video editing suites, and more, available on any computer with an Internet connection and a Web browser. Google Docs supports word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, all formats compatible with their Microsoft Office counterparts.

I tried the Google word processor a few years ago when it was first introduced as Writely. I played with it for about an hour and determined that it was a fun idea, but would never be remotely practical as a stand-in for Office. I found that documents imported from Word would inevitably have formatting flaws, and that printouts would often look nothing like the on-screen display. Worst of all, at my meager 50 words per minute, I still had to stop typing every few sentences to let the cursor catch up. I'm glad I tried again, because Google Docs has grown into a powerful, usable service.

Not to be outdone, Adobe recently announced Photoshop Express, a Web-based photo editing application. Though not as full-featured as Photoshop or even Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Express can be perfect for a quick red-eye removal before adding a photo to your newsletter. Attempting to out-Photoshop Adobe, Faux Labs has created Splashup, which boasts an interface and toolset Photoshop users will find strikingly familiar. Both Photoshop Express and Splashup can interface with Flickr, Facebook, and other social networking sites.

The rise in applications like Google Docs, Photoshop Express, and Splashup is very good news for nonprofits. If you've used your allotment of software donations or are using an older, donated computer that can't handle newer software, Web apps may be the perfect alternative. As someone who can't afford the latest software on my nonprofit salary, these tools are becoming a lifeline for my personal projects too.

For more information on using Web apps in your organization, see An Introduction to Web Apps and A Few Good Tools for Sharing Files with Distributed Groups in the TechSoup Learning Center.