Revisiting Google Pack

ronjor · Aug 16, 2007

Over a year and a half ago, I examined Google Pack (see my review), an odd assortment of free downloadable applications provided by Google to Windows users. At the time, there was a lot of speculation that Google was moving towards a so-called "Google PC," which would be stocked with Google and Google-friendly software, so the Google Pack seemed like an obvious way to preview what such a PC might look like. I wasn't impressed: I rated Google Pack a woeful one out of five stars and complained that the software package was like a downloadable version of the "crapware" that PC makers still largely insist on foisting on customers. More problematic, the Pack's anti-virus and anti-spyware applications were woefully out of date at the time, which could give users a false sense of security. I have rarely disliked software so much.

But hey, times change. This morning, I caught whiff of news that Google was now offering the commercial Sun StarOffice suite--typically a $100 purchase for end users--for free via its Google Pack. So, for the first time in a long time, I took a look at this odd little collection of software. It's still in beta--what Google software isn't?--despite being on the market for a full 20 months. And much has changed since that terrible day in January 2006 when I first evaluated the Google Pack. Let's see whether it's more worthy of your time and effort now than it was back then.
Click to expand...

Paul Thurrott

Mrkvonic · Aug 16, 2007

Hello,
I don't understand why not manually download some of the apps offered?
Most of them are free anyhow, some are quite bloated and useless.
You don't need the huge Google stamp to use them.
Mrk

lucas1985 · Aug 16, 2007

StartOffice isn't free

Mrkvonic · Aug 16, 2007

Hello,
True, but OO is practically the same ...
Mrk

lucas1985 · Aug 16, 2007

Right
Every app in the Google Pack has a equivalent or superior free alternative.

controler · Nov 6, 2007

It is still in Beta and I am trying out the Spyware Doctor starter addition.
I already had Firefox with Google toolbar and that is all you need to install Spyware Doctor.
Under scan settings it allows three options.

1. scan for alternative data streams ( not on by default)

2. scan for rootkit hidden files ( not on by default )

3. lower scan priority to reduce CPU usage ( on by default )

So far it looks good.

http://pack.google.com

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Revisiting Google Pack

ronjor Global Moderator

Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

lucas1985 Retired Moderator

Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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Revisiting Google Pack

ronjor Global Moderator

Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

lucas1985 Retired Moderator

Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

lucas1985 Retired Moderator

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