Docs for Facebook: Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, Docs for Facebook is pleasant enough to use, though it did move a bit slowly during my tests. I also encountered a couple of errors while moving through the program, and the documents I shared on my Wall had an out-of-place-looking blank image where an icon should have been. With that said, the program is still in beta and is likely being bombarded with traffic right now, so these may or may not be long-term problems.

One can't help but wonder whether Docs for Facebook will be able to hold its own next to a widely used service like Google Docs. Personally, I suspect it could end up attracting a largely different audience; the type of people using Google Docs for business-based collaborations seem unlikely to port their projects over to a socially oriented service like Facebook, even if the offering does bear Microsoft's name.

Make no mistake about it: Docs for Facebook makes its target clear, and it certainly doesn't seem to be the business-based user. There are other services that support sharing, discussing and discovering documents. But what makes Docs special is it's the only service that supports the complete document lifecycle.

4. Correct the mistakes where necessary:

1. Docs.com, also known as Docs for Twitter, was officially launched at Facebook's conference on Wednesday.

2. At a glance, Docs for Facebook seems absolutely different from Microsoft's recently announced Office 2010 Web edition.

3. That connection starts with your very first step: You sign in to Docs for Facebook using your Facebook ID, either at Docs.com or within the official Facebook app.

4. The actual viewing and editing interface have nothing in common with Microsoft's Office products.

5. The sign-in and editing process is all fine and dandy, but Docs for Facebook's biggest selling point, obviously, is its social component.

6. Generally speaking, Docs for Facebook is pleasant enough to use, it did move very fast even during the tests.

7. Docs for Facebook will not be able to hold its own next to a widely used service like Google Docs.

8. Docs for Facebook makes its target clear, and it certainly doesn't seem to be the business-based user.

5. Match the sentences and translate them into Russian:

1. As of now, the service is still in beta; anyone can view documents, but	a. similar to Microsoft's recently announced Office 2010 Web edition.
2. At a glance, Docs for Facebook seems awfully	b. in order to edit or create new ones, you'll have to join a wait list.
3. The actual viewing and editing interface will	c. editing functions are compatible with both PC and Mac versions of Office.
4. The desktop viewing and	d. feel familiar to anyone who's used Microsoft's Office products
5. You can specify individual people as approved readers or editors, or you can opt to make	e. I shared on my Wall had an out-of-place-looking blank image where an icon should have been.
6. I also encountered a couple of errors while moving through the program, and the documents	f. the document public -- to all of your friends, or to the entire Internet -- and have it posted on your Facebook Wall as well.
7. Personally, I suspect it could end up attracting a largely different audience; the type of people using Google Docs for business-based collaborations seem unlikely	g. discussing and discovering documents.
8. There are other services that support sharing,	h. to port their projects over to a socially oriented service like Facebook, even if the offering does bear Microsoft's name.

6. Answer the questions to the text:

1. Was Docs for Facebook created by Apple?

2. What does Docs for Facebook allow?

3. What is the main difference between Docs for Facebook and Microsoft's recently announced Office 2010 Web edition?

4. How does the connection between Microsoft Office documents and Face book start?

5. Do the actual viewing and editing interface seem familiar to anyone who's used Microsoft's Office products? Why?

6. What is the main plus of Docs for Facebook not present in other Web-based collaboration tools?

7. What is Docs for Facebook's biggest selling point?

8. What troubles did the author of the article meet in the process of testing the program?

9. What is the difference between the people using Google Docs and the people supposed to use Docs for Facebook?

10. What makes Docs for Facebook so special?