As if Google Notebook wasn’t cool enough. Now there’s Writely, an online word processor that seems to have been acquired by Google (of course). Who needs Word when you can do all of your word processing online? According to their web site, documents can be shared and stored online, to be edited from any web browser. Sweet. Not only can I free up my hard drive, but I can have all of my documents from any computer with an Internet connection. I think I’m less excited about the word processing functions than I am about putting my documents on Google severs. Where are your most important documents more safe than on the most redundant server on the planet?

To me, this is what the Interenet should be: slick applications and plenty of server space, especially for applications that have bridged the gap between the world of paper commnication and digital networks. It seems that programmers and those web 2.0 startups are finally starting to get it. While a word processor used to be where I spent most of my time on a computer, Firefox now occupies the front position on my monitor. With sites/applications like Flickr, Wikipedia, Del.icio.us, YouTube, Digg, FeedBurner, and all those Google resources — Gmail, Calendar, Analytics, Notebook, Videos, Reader, Bookmarks, Help (thanks for the link) — using the Internet is actually exciting again. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I launched a word processor, and I’m an English professor!

I’m happy to say that my Mac has been Microsoft-free for over a year now. Much of this I credit to Apple, but lately, Google and those others I’ve just mentioned have eclipsed Apple as the true software innovators. Apple, what have you done for me lately? .Mac? Pluh-leese. Google might have replaced Apple as my favorite tech company. A shame, but damn they deserve it.

Writely is presently not taking new members until they’ve moved to Google servers, but you can bet I’ve asked to be notified.