Group test: what's the best online application?

5. Google Docs

• Reviewed on: 27 April 10
• RRP: FREE
• Rating:

Google Docs' presentation tool is, ulimately, a rough draft that thoroughly deserves the beta label. Google reportedly plans to beef up the editing tools, eventually turning Google Docs into a richer environment. Judging from the slow-but-steady progress of Google Docs' word processor and spreadsheet, the presentation features probably won't acquire PowerPoint-crushing sophistication anytime soon. That said, Google Docs should become only more useful over the coming months and, in the meantime, a lot of people are going to find it very useful indeed.

4. Norton Online Backup

• Reviewed on: 24 September 10
• RRP: £39 inc. VAT
• Rating:

As an adjunct to Norton 360, Norton Online Backup is definitely something you should take advantage of. Even as a standalone it's very competitive both feature- and price-wise.

3. Google Cloud Print

• Reviewed on: 26 January 11
• RRP: FREE
• Rating:

In my tests, Cloud Print was a painless way to print from anywhere to your Cloud Print-enabled printers.  If you need to print documents or email remotely, Google's Cloud Print is well worth checking out.

2. Microsoft Windows Live Essentials

• Reviewed on: 9 June 10
• RRP: FREE
• Rating:

Download Windows Live Essentials for what it offers, because there's a lot to like. But like me, you may well wish for a coherent product line with synchronisation services linked to other Microsoft products.

1. Join.me

• Reviewed on: 21 October 10
• RRP: FREE
• Rating:

Join.me is an absolute, cast-iron winner. As a staggeringly simple and effective way to work collaboratively, we've seen nothing better than Join.me.