Google has launched Presentation, a tool for making presentations, much like Microsoft’s PowerPoint or Apple’s Keynote. But there are differences — some pros and some cons.

Google Presentation is part of Google Docs, a suite of tools that was previously called Google Docs & Spreadsheets. You start a new presentation by logging into Google Docs and choosing New from the pull-down menu on the upper left side. It’s that easy.

Editing your presentation is just as easy, and this is one of the great bonuses of Google Docs. A row of buttons lets you insert new slides, insert and format text, and insert pictures.

There is a small number of buttons and a small number of choices. This is a good thing for usability and a good thing if all you want to do is design a simple presentation.

If you have specific, advanced needs, you’re stuck. I like it though — if I never see a rainbow colored, blinking, swishing presentation again, it will be too soon.

So there are some things you can’t do with Google presentations that you might be used to doing in PowerPoint. For instance, transitions and embedded sounds are out.

But Google Presentations has its boons. For one thing, you make your presentation online; you store it online, and access it from any computer with an Internet connection. No more fretting over USB disks that won’t boot.

Another benefit is that you and your colleagues can collaborate on making the presentation: You can invite them to Google Docs and give them access to the presentation. This is easy to set up, using the Share tab. Then you can all edit the presentation without sending revised editions to each other by email. To me, this is by far the best selling point for the entire Google Docs suite.

If you want to know how to embed a Google Presentation on your web page, check out InsideGoogle [through Searchenginejournal].

For detiled descriptions of how to insert and format text etc., use the Google Presentations help files.

If you are curious about other online office suites, you might enjoy Zoho or ThinkFree.

If you want an introduction to sharing documents through Google Docks, have look at this neat video from Common Crafts.