Monday, May 11, 2009

Alternatives to Google Page Creator - Google Sites Comparison

Google Sites
With Google Page Creator being eliminated, I have decided to do a quick comparison of Google Page Creator (GPC) and Google Sites. I have put this together to aid in making a decision on where to migrate my Google Page Creator site to.

This comparison is not exhaustive, but centered around the key features of GPC



Feature Comparison
Branding
ItemGoogle Page CreatorGoogle Sites
Domain Name IntegrationYour domain name was used as the root for all pagesYour Domain Name redirects to http://sites.google.com/a/domain by default, but you can map individual Google Sites to different DNS names (i.e. www.yourdomain.com can map to a specific site. This is new, and available for Google Apps for Domain users
FavIconYou can brand your site with a FavIcon using simple JavascriptNo support for FavIcon (except Googles icon)
ThemesEach page could have a different theme and with CSS you had pretty fine control over presentation of the site.Themes apply to the whole site. You can modify additional properties of the theme like colors and fonts and some background images.
Technology
ItemGoogle Page CreatorGoogle Sites
JavascriptJavascript is allowed on pages.Javascript is NOT allowed on pages
CSSYou can integration custom CSS files using Javascript to direct the client to load the file.You cannot integrate custom CSS Files
Google AnalyticsYou can add Analytics via javascript. You have control over how each page is tracked.You can track whole site with form entry for Analytics Account
Google AdsenseYou can add Adsense ad blocks via javascriptAdsense not supported
Google GadgetsSupportedSupported, but not ones that run Javascript on the client
Google Webmasters ToolsSupported via uploaded file.Supported via a form to add the Meta Tag.
Other Webmasters ToolsSupported via uploaded files.Not supported. You can add their meta tag, but Google replaces the name with Google's.
Static FilesCan upload files via HTTP to root directory. Cannot make sub directories. Can upload via HTTP into a file cabinet. Site visitors can see if the file cabinet is visible.
LimitsMaximum Files = 500
Maximum Space = 100 MB
Maximum File Size = 10 MB
Themes = 41
Maximum Space = 100 MB for non Domain account and 10GB for Google Apps for Domains account
Maximum File Size = 10 MB
Themes = 23
Google Docs IntegrationIntegration via Google GadgetsGood built-in integration via editor
Editor
ItemGoogle Page CreatorGoogle Sites
TablesYou can create tables manually with HTML codeEditor includes built in table editor.
Page LayoutSupports 5 Page LayoutsSupports 2 Layouts (with Permanent Side Bar which can be moved left or right - (This makes 4 total layouts))
NavigationCreate your own navigation and breadcrumbs and sitemaps.Automatically creates navigation, breadcrumbs and sitemaps.
CommentsCannot incorporate comments from visitorsCan incorporate comments from visitors



Summary
Google Sites seems to be a fair replacement for Google Page Creator with a few exceptions.


  1. Branding: If Favicons and tweeks to site presentation using CSS are required
  2. Javascript: If there is functionality that requires Javascript
  3. Adsense: If you want to monetize your site.
If you site requires any of these three items, then Google Sites is not a good choice for you. However, if these are not important, then Google Sites is a very easy to use and functional tool set.

Related Posts:
GPC to Office Live Comparision
GPC to Weebly Comparision

Review my Delicious Links related to this Post at
http://delicious.com/tim.alosi/gpc

1 comment:

edwardkhalloran said...

I am looking for the instructions to google pages or google sites or blogger.Any help finding them would be appreciated.
edward.halloran@yahoo.com