Writeboard for Webware

Anyone who has ever grown confused tracking changes in a text document from version to version will appreciate Writeboard's Web-based solution. Designed with collaboration in mind, Writeboard allows users to create and edit text-based documents in a password-protected Web app. Document owners can extend editing or read-only access to invitees (Writeboard sends them the document password,) the contributions of whom Writeboard will store as separate versions. A handy, one-click comparison tool makes for fast and easy referencing between authors and versions; contributors can stay abreast of the document's developments with an RSS subscription. A lockout mechanism keeps multiple collaborators from editing over each others' contributions.

Writeboard's text-creation interface is simple and navigable, though users accustomed to WYSIWYG editing environments may wish for greater flexibility in word processing, including font and formatting choices. Writeboard doesn't yet support importing or pasting external text, though once created, document content can be exported in HTML or as a text file (which still requires formatting for readability). Users should note that on its own, Writeboard documents travel over the Internet unencrypted, though the publisher offers its Backpack service for security and managing multiple documents online. All in all, Writeboard is convenient for casual users who need a quick and dirty approach to track versions of multicontributor documents, but will need greater flexibility and feature development for professionals and habitual users.