Comments on: Comparing tools for cross-organizational collaboration

By: Robert Slagter

Robert Slagter — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:18:30 +0000

Great contributions Mónica!
I have updated the table to reflect points b) and c). I have not updated the “online status”, since for this one requires that I can see if someone is online, independent of them editing the document.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:18:48 +0000

Thanks for sharing this information. I’m just wondering, given your familiarity with our company, why you didn’t include Winkwaves Kenniscafe in your comparison? When discussion is key, I think Winkwaves Kenniscafe can definitely compete with the environments you mention. I hope you will include us as well!

By: Mónica

Mónica — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:07:52 +0000

Hello Robert

First of all thanks for sharing the table. Regarding contributions i can share only 3 minimal contributions concerning GoogleDocs, based on my experience.

a) When we are editing a doc, if someone else with access to the doc cames in to edit, it will be visible on the right side of the working space. I do not know if it qualifies for «online status»…

b) … when are co-workers are in that same space, on that same right side, you can chat with them. But then again, I do not know if it qualifies for «chat».

c) regarding «https://» when you open a doc from google, you can see on the link address to that working space the https:// so in this one i think it qualifies for secure.

Best regards

By: Robert Slagter

Robert Slagter — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:27:07 +0000

Thanks! I changed the https availability.
Regarding the free plans: the administrative duties are quite serious in this case, so it really is a “no”, from my perspective.

By: Robert Slagter

Robert Slagter — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:13:42 +0000

You’re right, but we are explicitly not looking at possible workarounds here. If we have to explain to a large group of users that their meetings are called “milestones” in this environment, that would be a disadvantage with respect to a workspace that lists events as “events”.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:52:06 +0000

Requet to compare:

- google wave
- project place

By: Peter Smulders

Peter Smulders — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:45:27 +0000

Oh, one more on BaseCamp: there is no reason (in fact, it is a quite valid approach) that meetings can not be put on the list of milestones. This is not a meeting scheduler, but it will show the meetings on the calendar and allow for tasks and whatnot to be associated with that meeting.

By: Peter Smulders

Peter Smulders — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:41:07 +0000

Two wrongs on BaseCamp:

1. secure connections (login over https) is available for all plans, including the free one, which brings me to point
2. there is (on the pricing page) a link (though small) to the free plan, limited to one project. In many situations, multiple projects can happily coexist in a larger space, or there is no occurence of multiple simultaneous projects, in which case you can always archive one and start the next one.

Subverting the notion of a ‘personal free plan’ a bit, there is nothing stopping you from creating multiple single-project free sites. (you’ll have to do separate administrative duties, but that’s all)

By: Arturas

Arturas — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:01:09 +0000

You’ve done a great research on the tools. It would be great if you would consider adding our powerful pm and collaboration tool – http://www.comindwork.com (available in Dutch with integrated Google Translation)

By: Robert Slagter

Robert Slagter — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:13:53 +0000

Upon popular request, we have added Basecamp to the comparison as well. The blog entry on the advice will follow shortly.