Google Drive Benefits

In an effort to convince some educators and administrators to switch to Google Drive for creating, sharing, and storing files, I brainstormed this list. It's amazing how Drive has already changed the way we work, teach, create, collaborate, and learn!

• Anywhere, anytime access, regardless of the type of computer or mobile device. 
• Applications are very similar to MS Office, so the learning curve is minimal.
• Drive applications are ideal for collaboration.  Multiple people can edit and comment on documents simultaneously.
• Share settings are private by default, but you can share with anyone who has the link, or with specific people, and you can determine if they can edit, comment, or view only.
• Unlimited storage for educational domains, with no limit to storing large files, such as images and videos.
• Increasingly recognized as the standard, especially in public education.  As a result, Google Apps integrate well with many other online tools.
• Easily move from and to MS Applications:  export from Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and continue editing the file in those MS applications if you choose, or easily convert MS applications to Drive equivalents.
• With the Drive App installed on your computer, you can open all files (including MS Office files), edit, and save them, and they will automatically sync to the cloud for viewing on other devices.
• Drive files are safely stored on a high-security Google server.
• Sophisticated search tool makes it easy to locate files that you created and files that are shared with you.
• More reliable storage alternative than an external hard drive or USB flash drive, which can become corrupt and get lost or damaged, resulting in lost files.  
• Drive apps include newly-developed sophisticated tools, including Voice Typing for speech-to-text input, and Document Outline for easy navigation of long documents.
• Continually updated with improved interface and add-ons.
• Ability to share with others large files that cannot be sent via an email attachment.
• The Forms tool, with built-in reporting function, makes it easy to create surveys, quizzes, and other types of forms to collect and analyze data.
• Free!