> If Google Workspace/Gsuite disappeared tomorrow, where would you go?
To the nearest ledge high enough to guarantee a fatal fall from. Or maybe the nearest downed power line or water-filled bathtub (into which i could drop a plugged-in toaster).
I tried zoho like 10 years ago, it was the worst clone of everything, all slightly dysfunctional, and just a dupe of other products I'd rather use the real ones. Plus constant insecurity over the years made me laugh to leave and never go back.
And the shared ip's all seem to have really spammy reputation. I guess if you get your own ip on enterprise it'll be better, but the lower tiers not so much
I was a grandfathered Google Apps free account, they terminated that program.
I moved my email for all my domains to Fastmail.
I did not use any of their the other suite / apps so no loss there. I never found the Google Apps platform very usable over Actual apps like MS Office, or even LibreOffice. The web versions always seemed very limited. (even web version of MS Office)
They announced it would be and caused everyone a ton of headache and then changed their mind. It was a wake up call that having a neurotic service provider at the core of my digital life is not a good plan. And to this day, I will never again use a Google product.
Yes, I was about to switch and then they changed their mind.
Switching is really painful, though, because I am quite attached to the ecosystem and it would require substantial work to recreate it from bits and pieces.
It was terminated. But if you signed a "I promise I am not using this for commercial purpose" they backpedaled and allowed people to stay if it was for "family or personal use"
I don't trust them to keep that though so I moved my email anyway
I also like to keep my documents as much privately and locally as possible and avoid fog/cloud as much as I can so I would also not miss much. Just continue using Nextcloud and Libre Office
My biggest thing is google email and voice, particularly voice as I've used it for everything as my contact since they acquired grandcentral for ~15 years. I don't use sheets or drive, I pay for workspace mostly for my personal email and for phone call forwarding and screening.
I don't know how I'd replace gvoice, but email is easy.
We've recently been acquired and being made to move from Google Workspace to O365. To say it's painful is an understatement, genuinely cannot understand how it is still so popular, everything just feels so half baked.
If Google Workspaces wasn't around and I were building a new start up, not really sure what I'd want to pick. Fastmail is fine for my personal use, but with a company I'd want more features to control things. And then all the office apps. Possibly Libreoffice and a self hosted Nextcloud. Not really something I would want to be hand holding though.
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[ 6.1 ms ] story [ 79.5 ms ] threadTo the nearest ledge high enough to guarantee a fatal fall from. Or maybe the nearest downed power line or water-filled bathtub (into which i could drop a plugged-in toaster).
It’s annoying that they charge extra for the downloadable version considering their web apps are so bad.
Zoho Mail -- GMail
Zoho Writer -- Google Docs
Zoho Show -- Google Slides
Zoho Sheet -- Google Sheets
Zoho Workdrive -- Google Drive
Zoho Cliq -- Microsoft Teams (not sure what's google counterpart)
What I like in Zoho Mail:
1. Practical mailing use cases like sharing/commenting over a mail is possible.
2. Privacy focussed.
In Zoho Writer:
1. Has more business usecases solved than Gdocs - like pdf templates, sign integrations and mail merge integrations.
2. Tools are arranged better than a standard top toolbar.
It is very featureful, but the interface continually gets in my way.
I moved my email for all my domains to Fastmail.
I did not use any of their the other suite / apps so no loss there. I never found the Google Apps platform very usable over Actual apps like MS Office, or even LibreOffice. The web versions always seemed very limited. (even web version of MS Office)
I joined Google Apps in ca. 2006, was grandfathered and I still use the service today (Google Workspace)
Switching is really painful, though, because I am quite attached to the ecosystem and it would require substantial work to recreate it from bits and pieces.
I had a look at the console but did not find the limitation either (it is certainly somewhere)
I don't trust them to keep that though so I moved my email anyway
I also tried Outlook and Zoho. I prefer Fastmail over those two, because it's really simple (may be a con for some) and has a very snappy UI.
you might even say...it's //fast//
(I'm kidding, but having a fast UI really is part of the DNA of the company, said as a user since the original days)
I've been happy with the results.
I don't know how I'd replace gvoice, but email is easy.
Fastmail if you just need email, CalDAV, CardDAV, and light WebDAV.
I use (and/or administer) both daily and like them for different reasons.
If Google Workspaces wasn't around and I were building a new start up, not really sure what I'd want to pick. Fastmail is fine for my personal use, but with a company I'd want more features to control things. And then all the office apps. Possibly Libreoffice and a self hosted Nextcloud. Not really something I would want to be hand holding though.