The reason I have never tried Zoho is because I can't believe anyone could create that many awesome apps, which leads me to believe they are all mediocre and just checking another box on the "how many apps can we build list".
I don't know if this is true, but its the reason I still haven't spent the time to try them.
I thought the same thing until I tried Zoho Docs & Zoho Project.
Re Zoho Docs, Office is still better, but Zoho Docs does the doc and docx rendering much better than Google docs. When I have a doc or docx file with an image or 2 & some formatting google docs obliterates it, but zoho mostly plays nice. Overall, I really like Zoho docs.
Re Zoho Projects, we have a small distributed team & really like zoho projects. Tried Basecamp & it felt sort-of clunky. I suppose it's a preference thing when it comes down to it.
Re Zoho CRM, it sucks.... so 2 out of 3 of the apps I've tried are way above average, the other is just as good as free/open-source vTiger.
Really interesting point. I feel the same way and didn't realize it.
I've used Zoho's Sheet and Writer products, and both are excellent (they blow their Google Docs equivalents out of the water). But I've looked at their other apps, specifically CRM and Meeting, and dismissed both without a fair look in favor of competitors that focus specifically on those products.
Let's be honest - everyone is out there chasing Office for features and functionality. That they've pulled it off with Javascript and a web browser is insanely impressive, but nonetheless, they are all imitating the old-timers in a 20 year old product space.
Reminds me of a story from Tony Robbins. This turnaround expert was hired to fix Six Flags. Now the Eureka moment came when the employees started to think of their business as being in league with Disneyland, instead of being in league with the local Midway fairs. So for Microsoft to give lip service to Zoho is really a terrible move on their part, since strategically they want their product to be on the same level as no one, but they just revealed that they don't feel that way about Office.
One thing that no company should do when selling a product, is show me an ad for some movie before a video that explains the product. I was interested in the CRM product for work but the ad before the sales pitch is poor form for a company trying to sell me something.
After seeing the link, I wanted to run here and say how awesome of a marketing idea this was. But then I read your comment and it got me thinking...
Within this little tech circle, I think it is great. Take something big, bad MS said; twist it, make it 2.0 and bam! Instant marketing...
However, what happens when someone else sees this website. It is going to entice them to try Zoho? I don't think so; if anything it will make them want to run far away and probably to MS.
I think they should have sat on this idea for a little longer and maybe cooler heads would have prevailed. I am very interested to see how this works for them!
Zoho is an awesome company and I have written many blog posts among them. But this sort of marketing is pathetic and doesn't suit any reputable company. It's simply childish. Stop it zoho. Nobody likes a cry baby.
I don't know if this is true, but its the reason I still haven't spent the time to try them.