#7 Google Book Search

Google Book Search is a great tool with much potential. There is the sense that Google is the new Microsoft in their success in attracting and keeping users for their products. Google seems to have done this by creating products in the clound that fulfil a need (a need that the users didn't necessarily know about before). And, just when the user thinks she might try a product from someone else that is Google...+, she finds that Google has developed some other nifty thing so she hangs around in their space for a little longer. Switched-on marketing I guess. Microsoft seems to be able to hold their own in machine based applications though.  <edit 24/9> Note this article from USA Today of 21/9/09 Microsoft takes notice as more people use free Google Docs <end edit>

I am still trying to figure out how to use Google book search in an educational setting other than for the purposes of my own research, particularly the cross-referencing. I might read other's posts and reap the benefit of collective wisdom!