Related Posts
More Posts
Additional Posts in EAs / Executive Assistants
Hi 👋 exec here. Hope it's ok to post an employment opportunity. Started a new role + am hiring an EA/BP in Mountain View, CA (hybrid role + flex hours). Happy to answer any questions. Thanks! 🙏
https://angel.co/company/verticalscope/jobs/2093070-executive-assistant-business-partner-to-chief-product-officer
So anyone Opting In??
New to Fishbowl?
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.



Oh that is funny because I actually prefer Microsoft products. I guess that is probably just because that is what we use and what I have gotten used to at this point.
Subject Expert
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post — I really appreciated your perspective! It’s always interesting to hear how personal experience and workplace tools shape our preferences.
Totally fair point — we all tend to lean into what we use most often. I think it’s great that tech gives us such a wide range of tools to choose from, even if we all have our strong opinions about which is “better”!
Thanks again for engaging with the post — it made the conversation more thoughtful and fun.
I couldn't agree with this more. I prefer every one of Google's products to Microsoft's. Gmail > Outlook. Sheets > Excel. Docs > Word. They all work so much more smoothly and feel so much more intuitive, Sheets especially. I am far from a spreadsheet guru, but I can create an awesome looking sheet in 20 minutes with Google's templates and help resources, whereas it'd take me 3x as long to do something similar in Excel.
I used MS my whole college career and at subsequent jobs. It was all I knew. At a new job, they used Google Suite and I was so lost until I realized I was overthinking it all. I now use Google Suite for personal use but had to find a new job -- they use MS and I hate it. I got used to Google's ease and intuitiveness. I see how MS has tried to duplicate some of Google's functionality but it's still a hassle.
Subject Expert
Thank you so much for sharing your experience — I really appreciated hearing your perspective. It’s always great to hear how others have navigated the shift between Microsoft and Google products, and your story definitely resonated with me. I completely agree that once you get used to the simplicity and intuitiveness of Google Workspace, it’s hard to go back!
I like them both for different reasons. Google products play better with other operating systems, like Linux. MS works okay with Windows. I like the freedom of drawing stuff on Google's drawing program, but most of the time I prefer the plug-and-play Publisher templates. I find myself more capable in Excel than Spreadsheets -- or maybe that's just more training. I've done a lot in google docs, but I've been using Word since it came out, so I like the familiarity of it. Corporate policy and history? Google over Microsoft for sure. Currently, they're equally evil-ish.
Subject Expert
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply — I really appreciated your balanced perspective on both Google and Microsoft. 😊
I actually smiled when I read "currently, they're equally evil-ish" — such a perfect way to sum up how complicated big tech can feel sometimes!
Your insights into the strengths of both platforms really gave me a new way to look at them. I agree — Google tends to play nicer across systems, while Microsoft still has that familiarity that’s hard to beat. And yes, Excel vs. Sheets… that's a whole discussion on its own!
Thanks again for taking the time to share — I enjoyed reading your response!
In my personal life I use Google's products all the time, and all I use from Microsoft is the operating system. I don't see any point to paying to use Word or Excel when Docs and Sheets would be fine for what I need. In business situations I'll use whatever happens to be the standard in the organization, and that's often Microsoft. It's not something I really think about much, to be honest, they're just tools.
This sounds like AI
Subject Expert
I’ve always leaned toward using Google products over Microsoft’s for a few key reasons. First, Google tools like Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Keep are incredibly intuitive, lightweight, and easy to use—especially for quick collaboration and real-time editing. They just work, without the clutter or steep learning curve.
Many of my engineer friends feel the same way. In our experience, Microsoft products often feel bloated and unnecessarily complex for everyday tasks. On top of that, Microsoft requires a paid license for most of its software, while Google offers a full suite of tools for free, accessible from anywhere with a browser.
At the end of the day, Google’s ecosystem just feels more user-friendly, efficient, and accessible—qualities that matter a lot in fast-paced, tech-focused environments.
Subject Expert
My husband purchased Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus, but I had a lot of trouble installing it on my PC. I even asked an engineer friend to help, and after over an hour of trying, she gave up.
When I told her the main reason I needed Microsoft Office was just to update my résumé, she suggested using Google Docs instead. It turned out to be a great solution—Google Docs lets me easily edit my résumé and share it with potential employers and recruiters.
Honestly, it’s frustrating that Microsoft charges such a high price for a product that can be so difficult to install and use. I really hope more employers start embracing Google’s tools in the future—they’re more accessible, reliable, and user-friendly.
Although this answer has a bit of "camp" bias, it probably speaks out the voices of many engineers! Seriously speaking, this kind of healthy competition is actually a good thing for users. It forces both Google and Microsoft to constantly use their real skills to innovate. Personally, I prefer the Google suite in terms of the smoothness and simplicity of collaborative office work. lol
Subject Expert
Thank you for your thoughtful and fun response! I really appreciated your balanced take — you're absolutely right that while my comment had a bit of “camp” bias, it does reflect how a lot of engineers feel. 😊
I completely agree with you that healthy competition benefits users the most. It keeps both companies on their toes and pushes them to truly innovate. Personally, I also prefer Google’s suite — it’s just so much smoother and simpler for collaborative work.
I really hope that more employers start adopting Google tools in the future. While Microsoft may have the longer history, I find Google products far easier to use and more in tune with how teams work today. If a company chooses to stay on the same track and refuses to innovate, it’s only a matter of time before its products are replaced by better ones.
Thanks again for sharing your perspective — well said!