Zoho Writer!

I have heard of these web based word processing tools. I recently bought a new laptop and when I was bewailing the price of Office 2007 the man at Clark Kent Computers suggested Zoho Writer as an option. I could tell by the tone of his voice he did not consider it a real option. I am sure it had something to do with the $250.00 he would lose.

One thing I have noticed, just as i am typing, is that Zoho does not auto correct. For example it did not turn the i into a capital automatically. I am very used to that feature in word. I am a poor touch typist and rely on word to auto correct many of my simeple typos.

I must admit I would feel a little insecure having all my work saved online rather than to a hard drive. Theoretically it is more secure because if my computer crashed it would still available. I know I am not J K Rowling but I don't like to think of people being able to hack into my novel before it is ready. Imagine the furore if J K Rowling had been using Zoho to write Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Everyoen would have been trying to get it a sneak peep. I can see why businesses and organsiations woudl prefer to keep their publications in house Or perhaps I am just imagining the risks ...

For a student using public computers Zoho would be very convenient. For me operating between work and home it would also be useful. For example I have been developing a small business card for my writers group. I have made one in publisher. When I printed a page of cards on my home printer, my new colour print cartridge was not up to the task. My next option was to print a copy out at work (I would pay for the page, of course - colour is expensive!) Then I could just make colour copies on the photocopier. Alas iit is in publisher 2007. I would have to save it down to make it compatible with work. Find a time when the PC with Publisher was available. Print it off. Ensure that I had the correct cardboard, time, energy, money to complete the task (all in my own time, of course) just before I rush home and be Mum for the evening. Would you be surprised if I tell you I have not yet done this?

If I were to create my business card on Zoho, however. I could work on it at home. Save it. At the end of a working day I could print it out and hey presto! I would have my business card. But does Zoho have a business card template? I am about to find out. I will also try and work out how to send this to my blog and how to make it so that you can read my business card.