Recently I started using Google Wave. I like it, though I think it will take a while before it takes off.Using it, I found myself using other Google tools again. Tools I hadn’t used in awhile. Here’s some notes on that:
Google Desktop: actually, I never stopped using this. I find it essential for finding information on my computer quickly. A great tools. Love it.
Gmail: I still use Gmail from time to time, but I have been using Yahoo Mail for some time, and I find I like the UI better, plus all my “stuff” is there. Like it, but like Yahoo more.
Google Reader: I think Reader is a good tool. I tend to use a desktop feedreader, Feedreader. I like that too, but I am thinking of switch to Google Reader. I like it.
Google Calendar: I started using Calendar again. It’s a good tool, and the more I play with it, the move I like it. I will write more about this, but I think I love it.
Google App Server: I played around with this, but it seemed not ready for prime time. I am meh when it comes to this.
Google Maps: I like Maps, but I have had errors with it. I always check both it and Yahoo maps. I also like the APIs for Yahoo maps better.
Google Docs: I am more of a Zoho fan than a Docs fan, but I tend to like both of them, but I don’t use either one nearly enough. I like it though
Picasa: I thought it was ok, but I like flickr better. Alot. I also just like using Facebook.
iGoogle: I find iGoogle invaluable. I use it as my dashboard. I check my Internet mail, todos…all kinds of things. Love it.
Google itself: I like Google, but I don’t like the result. I like Clusty.com better for better searching.
Youtube: I like YT alot, though I don’t do much with it. I am starting to like Vimeo.
Google Notebook: I was using this for awhile, but my use fell off. Perhaps I need to revisit it.
Other Google things I have used:
Google pages: I still have some up there, I think. Haven’t checked in awhile. I liked it. It was a good place to play around with web pages.
Google Mashup tool: I looked at this, but I didn’t think it provided much value for what it did. I guess others felt the same, for it is discontinued.
Smart People I Know 
Desktop, stopped using, got a Mac and used spotlight
GMail, still use, but via Mail.app on the Mac now. I only go to the web UI if there is a complex search I need to do.
Reader, still use, very useful for the “2nd tier” information. But I switched to reading it on the IPod rather than the Web based tool.
Google Cal, synced with iCal on the mac and iPod. Rarely go on the web site.
Picasa, well everything is there. I won’t switch away from it to iPhoto since iPhoto is mac only. And since Picasa 3.6 has face recognition, that’s one less reason to stick with iPhoto (except iPhoto is not on the mac and Picasa does not sync up to the iPod).
Google Bookmarks is one I use often for non-public but non-regular bookmarks.
Thanks, Archie!
I don’t use Google Bookmarks: I use delicious, which I rather like.
Since the Zoho joke is getting older, I just wanted to add that Google Docs is not only cool, but very useful for my family. Each one of my siblings live in a different city, and we all help taking care of my mother. We share a spreadsheet in Google Docs where we can keep track of everything that’s happening.
Currently I’m using Google’s DNS, but I’m very uncomfortable with them knowing every single site I visit. But I’m not sure who’s worse, them or my Internet provider.
I like the shared spreadsheet idea, Aaron. I am using Google Calendar the same way. It’s a good use of the technology.
I feel the same way about Google DNS. I think the onus is on Google to be more responsible, but we’ll see. I do find it faster, though.
I use the Google DNS because it does not do the NX-redirect like Rogers or OpenDNS (by default) does.
Plus I like the fact that the IP addresses are easy to remember. 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4
If I have to let any company become my overlord, I’d rather it be Google than Rogers or Bell.
Great comment, Archie. I totally agree. And I love the IP address they selected. After all, we use domain names partially because IP addresses are hard to remember, so if you have to give your Domain Name Servers an IP address, you couldn’t do much better than that.