Microsoft Word on a Chromebook User Experience
Now that Microsoft has Office apps are available on all Chromebooks, this article covers the Word on a Chromebook User Experience. For many, Word is a key tool required to be productive. Whilst there is always the option to use a Windows device, being able to use a Chromebook is the preferred choice for many.
If you haven’t done so already, have a look at this article which walks through the process of getting started Word on a Chromebook.
Office 365 Subscription
Once you are up and running with Word on your Chromebook, you will need to determine whether you need an Office 365 subscription… In most cases, I believe the answer is ‘yes’ – especially if you are intending to use Word regularly.
You see, if your device has a screen which exceeds 10”, you’ll need a subscription to be able to create and edit content. For devices with smaller screens (such as the dinky original Chromebook Flip) an Office 365 subscription provides you with access to advanced features. This includes tracked changes, commenting and reviewing.
Slick and Simple
Being as Word on a Chromebook uses the Android app, the interface is slick and touch enabled. Gone are the hundreds of confusing options, replaced with fewer features in the following tool bars:
Home
Insert
Draw
Layout
Review
View
If you are familiar with Word, you’ll notice this is a reduced set of features. Unless you are in need of complex layout and editing functionality these are the kind of features that get used day in, day out by the vast majority of users.
In use, I’ve found this and the iPad version of Word with an office 365 subscription meets my needs. I cannot think of an occasion where I’m looking for some feature or other which is missing – YMMV.
Speed and Reliability
Using Word on my 2015 Chromebook Flip I am pleased with the responsive nature of the app. The mobile interface allows me to not get bogged down with too many features. It’s also been rock solid. This is especially interesting when you consider I am using a light weight, low spec Chromebook with only 2GB of RAM. If you are using anything remotely more upscale then you can expect a great experience.
The one area I’ve noticed the occasional slow down is when downloading and opening files from OneDrive. This has little to do with the performance of the app and more to do with the Wifi components in the Flip. Unlike all of my other devices, the Flip struggles to get a good Wifi signal when I’m not in the same room as the router.
Working Offline
Once you get passed the ability to work with the tools, you’ll most likely want to understand is how to work offline. Word works offline and is easy to get on with creating something new. Where things get a little more complex is if you want to open and save files offline.
Consider for one moment that Word is an Android App which works on top of Chrome OS. Currently, the file systems (i.e. where you store your documents) between the Android elements and Chrome OS are not fully integrated. This means that if you save your file offline within Word, you may not be able to easily find it within Chrome OS.
So to save files locally within Word, you need to browse to ‘This Device’ and then ‘Documents’:
No matter how hard I try and get access to the Android storage section from within Chrome OS Files I cannot. I may be missing something – if so, please add a comment as I’d love to know where I’m going wrong.
The good new is, you can find it within Word and when you are back online you can copy the offline file into OneDrive. Also, whilst the Android to Chrome OS integration needs some work, Android app to Android app file storage works like a charm.
This therefore opens up the possibility of using a File Manager to get access to these files when outside of Word.
Using A File Manager
The Play Store is full of Android file managers which allow you to get access to the files you have stored offline. I have been experimenting with ‘Simple File Manager’ as it doesn’t require payment or have ads. It’s pretty basic, but opens up organising files and folders offline which we’ve come to expect from desktop software. Sure, it’s a bit of a hack and I’m convinced Google or Microsoft will come up with a far more elegant solution in time, but it’s a decent enough work around for now.
OneDrive
Unfortunately the OneDrive offline feature does not work at the moment. When I try this I constantly get the message ‘Waiting’ for the file I’m attempting to store offline:
Keeping Up To Date With Improvements
Microsoft keep a track of improvements they are making to the Office suite. This includes the Android App. To keep up with the updates, head on over to the following URL:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/What-s-new-in-Office-365-95c8d81d-08ba-42c1-914f-bca4603e1426?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US#Platform=Android
Summary
In summary Word for Chromebook is a capable and robust alternative to the Mac or Windows versions. However to get the most from the tools, you’ll need an Office 365 subscription. Also, working offline might need some thought.
How do you find the Word on a Chromebook user experience? Is there something key which I’ve missed out in this article? If so, please comment below and let you know your thoughts.
Thanks for the review. Knowing I would have to pay for Office 365, I’d rather stick with Google Docs for my modest requirements.
Totally understand. It’s not for everyone.
I feel the same way, Bernard. For my needs, I’m not sure Microsoft Word for Android really offers anything Google Docs doesn’t.
That said, it’s fabulous to have the option. We know Google Docs can handle any documents with the .doc or .docx extension. But perhaps there are some files that really do need ‘Word Proper’ to get the best out of them. We’ve all used Google Docs to manipulate Word docs to find the formatting goes all screwy. Whether we like it or not, being able to edit a Microsoft file in a Microsoft programme is only going to add value to the whole ChromeOS experience.
It would now be great to see Microsoft add more functionality to the Android version of Word . I’d personally love to see the extensive proofing tools you get in full desktop Word. The grammar checkers and readability options (Flesch–Kincaid readability) you get with desktop Word are really useful when I write. If MS ever included them in the Android Word app, I’d think I’d seriously consider a subscription.
Alternatively, we’re seeing the emergence of Android apps like ‘Crossover’ that may one day allow us to actually install full desktop Word on Chromebooks. I for one wouldn’t say no to being able to run ‘proper’ Word on my Chromebooks providing it was a decent experience.
I think all google docs programmes (docs, slides, sheets etc.) need another upgrade to make them closer to the microsoft’s offering. This is one avenue which Google needs to pay attention to if it wants to rival the Microsoft in personal computing. The foothold of the Word/Excel/Powerpoint is just too big and superior to the Google’s response. At least for now.
All Google could realistically do is make its products 100% like-for-like with Microsoft Office products. You know, so that a user could do exactly – and I mean exactly – the same things in say MS Word that they could do in Google Docs. Even then, would it be enough? Or is MS Office just too ingrained in the professional and personal world to ever really be toppled?
Agreed Ben, Microsoft is just too ingrained in the corporate computing. It will take a few years to reduce that effect even if all necessary steps are taken from right now.
And even then, I’m not sure it’ll make much of a difference. Sometimes, you just need to get there first.
Put another way:
Someone ‘invents’ an exact replica of Facebook. We’ll call it ‘Bookface’ for a laugh. For the sake of argument, let’s say Bookface also manages to avoid all legal and copyright pitfalls.
So there we have this product that’s every bit as good as the original, in every way. Do you think people would suddenly leave Facebook in their droves to go join, and exclusively use Bookface? I’m sure a lot of people would. But you know full well that no matter what happened, Bookface wouldn’t make a dent in Facebook’s market share. Simply because Facebook got there first and people are too lazy to go changin’ when what they have is fine already.
I think, ultimately, that’s the problem for any non-Microsoft Office suite. People just don’t see the need to go re-inventing the wheel and are happy with what they know already.
Ben, your example makes sense and I agree with the logic. You just need to be there first, this definitely gives you an advantage.
But there is a different way of looking at the things.
Considering Google is a big name and has all the potential and resource to do big things, why can’t Google do something with the office apps (word, excel, slides etc.) which is over and above what Microsoft offers?
Something unique, extra and irresistible?
An example – Dropbox, Flickr and Microsoft’s OneDrive were already there and established before Google Photos came into existence.
Look today, Google Photos is miles ahead of the competition.
Why?, because it offers something over and above the rest (unlimited storage option)
I am just thinking that if Google wants to be the leader in this industry, it needs to think something completely different, unique and surprising.
I won’t be surprised if we see something from google in coming times.
Great discussion with you, glad to have your thoughts. Cheers.
And I agree with your logic here too, Ahmad. You make a very good point. Perhaps Google shouldn’t be trying to beat Microsoft at the Office Suite game. Maybe Google need to change the game to a game they can win at?
Have you ever heard of a guy called Dave Trott? He’s a creative director in advertising and a brilliant copywriter. Plus a very wise man 🙂 I follow his blogs and this post reminds me of your point:
http://davetrott.co.uk/2011/08/why-play-a-game-you-cant-win/
With Google’s enormous resource, you’ve got to wonder if they could find a way to change the ‘office suite’ game to one they can win?
Ben, interesting read. Absolutely right, change the game. Thanks for sharing.