This Guy! In spite of the fact that Google has grown from it’s garage-based start-up roots into something slightly more Orwellian, I am still incredibly enamored with this company. I have always liked Google for the relevant search results, Google Maps, Gmail and News to mention a few. This week I have found a new reason to love Google. Google Docs.

Previously, I’ve used Basecamp as a tool for collaborating with clients and teammates using either the write board or the file tool as a document repository. If not Basecamp, I would simply slap whatever I needed share into an email or maybe on a thumb drive. Notwithstanding the obvious pitfalls of forgetting to email myself the late night edits, or spacing my thumb drive none of these options offered a great method for version control or easily collaboration on a document.

With Google Docs, I can upload, share, publish and edit spreadsheets, word files, PowerPoint presentations, web based forms (awesome for quick surveys) and PDF’s from any machine (Blackberry included). My favorite feature has to be the ability to collaborate on a document with a colleague and watching the changes in real time. This alone saved me about an hour this week.

Quite possibly the most unique aspect is the ability to create web forms that can be embedded in your site, emailed or linked to. All of the responses are tracked and saved. It took me less than a minute to create this sample form.

A very desktop-like environment (you can use keyboard shortcuts!) and a smokin’ fast interface turn your internet browser into a time hacker not a time burner.