tbc0's posterous

There are a couple videos you can watch about Google Wave. I wasn't about to sit through the eighty-minute video by Steph and Greg. Fortunately, they took another cut and got the explanation down to about seven and a half. It whets one's appetite. But before I saw their video I sat through Gina Trapani's fifteen-minute video. I think Gina's is worth watching, too. You might even want to watch them in the order I did: first listen to Gina's take, then Steph and Greg. I must say, they're all geeks, so don't be prepared to be wowed by their presentation skills. But content is king, and they deliver in that way.

Google Wave seems to be beyond words. No one wants to explain it. They tell you that you have to experience it, or they tell you to watch the video. I haven't read any blog posts about it (but, then, I haven't bothered looking, either :). I'm up for a challenge, so here goes. In a sentence, Google Wave is what Office 1.0 would look like if Google invented it in the 21st century. Oh, wait. They just did. :) Microsoft Office now includes email, analytic and presentation tools, and it integrates with one (and only one) IM client. But Wave blows it away. Note I said Office 1.0. Gina says that Wave isn't stable enough to create a book collaboratively. That's all I need to tell me it's a 1.0 product. (Since you need an invite, which I don't yet have -- hint, hint -- it's actually a 0.9 beta product.)

Here are more words to inspire you to watch Gina's video. I've time stamped them so you can find the sound bites that interest you. Because, well, all our attention spans have been destroyed by our use of Twitter. :) My commentary is in italics.

3:00 "You can't sum up in a sentence what Wave really is." That's a big red flag signaling failure. So Google needs better marketing. Who doesn't? Gina doesn't work for Google.
5:20 "You're not meant to learn how to use Wave in an afternoon." Another red flag. But Gina's a geek. I understand what she means. Powerful tools require practice before you get productive with them. Back to the Office metaphor. Are you an "Office power user?" Or do you envy those who are? Well, Microsoft products aren't fun to use. I haven't used Wave, but Google's other products are extremely fun to use. Draw your own conclusions.
5:51 Wave is email reinvented. That's all Greg and Steph have to say.
6:30 The email was based on a model like the post office.
7:00 "Google Wave treats conversations as documents." Now we're getting at the point of Wave.
7:20 There's only one Wave client. The protocol encourages multiple clients to be developed. They're not there yet.
7:45 Editing a Word document is different from answering email. Wave is a blend. Yes! Now I get it.
8:25 Wave won't be an email killer.
8:50 Your contacts have to use Wave so you have people with whom you can interact. Public waves are overwhelming. Works best in small groups. Gina explains the nework effect without using that term. It's all about Metcalfe's law.
10:00 Wave isn't stable enough to write a book collaboratively. Aha. That's why it's still in Beta.
10:20 Replying inline is a major win.
10:38 "When you're working with a small group that has to have complex conversations, Wave is it."
12:18 Gina starts her demo. Now I see. Microsoft should be very afraid. Wave is Office for the 21st century.

[Updated: thanks for typo alerts, med.]