Online Spreadsheets – EditGrid

Assuming it is redundant to talk about RIA and Web 2.0, let me straightaway talk about EditGrid. I was searching for some financial mashups and came across this online spreadsheet application.

A very nifty, infact powerful, tool it allows for free registration for personal use. The interesting point is not that these erstwhile desktop applications are available on the web for use – these things were interesting a while ago (a la SaaS!). What is interesting and inviting is that many of these applications are available for use free of cost – the choices are much more when it comes to indvidual users (for personal use).

For Google, I believe its all about user data. Since revenue from context-based ads is their bread, butter, jam and mayonaise they will try all ways to get as much of it (user data that is) as possible. But is such a strategy sustainable for the non-Google companies which may not have deep pockets and do not have a cash cow like ad revenues.

Back to EditGrid, these guys seem to have partnerships/agreements with many data providers. Using their data you can create maps, graphs or a simple table in a jiffy. I could create a pair of graphs to compare GOOG and MSFT stock graphs (yawn! the predictable). It did not give me much trouble in terms of heaviness on the browser. You can also find a comparison between EditGrid and Google Spreadsheet here. All of us could do with a nice online spreadsheet tracking our monthly expenses 🙂