Compared to Microsoft Office, they aren't the most elegant applications that I've ever seen (Nor richest in features). But Google Docs and Spreadsheets (which now includes a PowerPoint knockoff, as well) is free and it's web-based.

And, it's gaining strength like a tropical depression in September. (Forgive my homage to Dan Rather. I'm from Texas and a retired TV news producer. I can't help myself.)

This verifies what I've always believed. When given a choice between pretty and practical, cheap or expensive. Cheap and practical is always a growth market. Case in point, it's how Sam Walton died a wealthy man.

Take a look at these latest web analytics from Compete.com.

In the span of a year, Google Docs and Spreadsheets has seen an 84% increase in visitors.

Here are some other interesting nuggets to glean from the traffic charts:

- The Excel knockoff (Google Spreadsheets) is getting the most traffic. It's gone from around 200,000 unique visitors in October of 2006 to 1.4 million unique visitors in October of 2007.

- The average time spent visiting Google Docs has hovered below, well below and back around six minutes throughout the year from October to October. Again, theories anyone?

Now that Microsoft has launched its Live Office site (yesterday, in beta), we'll see which way these lines go over the next few months. Up? Down? The same?

I promise to check back on this one. Until then, to both Google and Microsoft, I say "Courage".