JBoyd Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 I am looking to enable cloud services on our school network and these seem to be the main players. I am inclined to opt for Office 365 on the pure basis that it will be more familiar and compatible with network data. However, our governors and some teachers swear by Google docs and apps - I am not so sure as we had issues with these in the past (Students could use the 'splash' page to access unsuitable material) and the head said that they should be blocked. I am sure that the education version will be 'focussed' away from this material and filtered for content so I really want some views on both applications and how or if they differ. I wouild also be intererested in experience with compatibility on the network or other data sources using alternative products. Ease of set up and overheads on your time administering them would also be welcome. Thanks.
FN-GM Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 If you are planning on keeping Microsoft Outlook Office 365 is the way to go. To get it work like Exchange and Outlook works with 365 requires a bit of software installed and manually configuration. Office 365 you can make the configuration automatic and without any addons. I have found 365 is easier to manage. The Powershell makes things a doddle. Bulk changes can be made quick. If they want to use something like google docs you can do that with office 365. You get web versions of MS word, Excell, Powerpoin etc. Gmail does have the Global Address Book like exchange / 365 has. This is quite a downer. If your already a big MS user, I would go with 365. If you are on Exchange its pretty easy to migrate your mailboxes to 365.
mjk Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 I think that Office 365 is much more geared towards industry whereas Google apps (for education) is geared towards education. There are lots of extra tools like Classroom, Vault, Groups that you won't get with Microsoft unless you spend a long time learning sharepoint. We did a transition from exchange and it wasn't painful at all. I don't think Office 365 is easier any to manage because all the API for Google apps are open and there are a variety of scripting tools available to do pretty much anything you'd ever need to do - but if you only know powershell then this may not help. There is also a marketplace of integrated apps which work well. Google apps is also good because it allows you to open up your system in the future to things like chromebooks,android and it is easy to bulk download things from Google apps in MS formats if you change your mind.
Michael Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 I focus on a lot of O365 deployments and I agree with the above. If you're still going to use MS Outlook clients, or indeed Push Mail, Exchange is well supported on all flavours of Smartphone and tablet and is simple to setup, but then I am sure Google probably is too. One selling point with O365 is the integration with Microsoft services, but also the likes of Powershell. Do Google have a Powershell equivalent for bulk tasks or simply tasks which are quicker to do via scripts etc... Some sites have gone for a hybrid solution (bit of both), but this can be more complicated for users. You should go with one or the other in my opinion.
Arthur Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Do Google have a Powershell equivalent for bulk tasks or simply tasks which are quicker to do via scripts etc... http://www.ditoweb.com/partner-products/gam-by-dito/
edublogger Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 We found our students engaged much more with Google Apps, and there are loads of education specific tools with Google as well. Chromebooks are also amazing, we're rolling out 1000 of them this year, and the management tools are brilliant. Get in touch if you'd like to discuss.
ThatBoringBloke Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 We recently moved from in house Exchange 2010 to Google Apps. The decision was made one week and by the next week everything had been migrated over and everyone was forced to use Google. (This was not that way I wanted to move over I have to say, but then what do I know I'm only the Network Manager) Our plans are to move everything over to Google Docs and only have the minimum number of computers that are absolutely necessary running MS Office. Again, I'm not so sure that this is a good idea but what do I know! I like the idea of having services such as email in the cloud so that its one less thing to have to manage, but putting everything up there..... I find the Google Admin Console far easier to use than O365, and also Googling for help on Google products is a breeze! One thing that I would say (probably common sense) is to make sure that all your users are informed of the process, its planned out, and that people know the aim of the move and why. Ours was rushed (IMO) and there was a lot of negativity towards it initially with users complaining that if they had more notice, had been given training, and information then they would have been more accommodating.
mnewnham Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 We have recently set up both and Google apps is easier to manage and migrate to. From a user standpoint teachers and pupils find the google platform with the classroom app very user friendly and great for education purposes. MS are behind from an educational standpoint. Google apps also seems to work better across all types of devices. The only feature google apps lacks , that MS sharepoint can provide, is a central place for shared teacher /student resources (Google apps requires every document is owned by a user). Google apps also has a useful mobile device management tool if you use tablets, chromebooks etc.
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