The any app on any device solution from Microsoft is in preview. Meet Microsoft RemoteApp the latest service on the Windows Azure platform. I’ve installed the Windows and iPad client and must say I’m not impressed.

The positive

Setup is a breeze. Just install the client app, login and you’re good to go. The preview contains Excel, Paint, Powerpoint, Visio and Word. Enough to get anyone excited.

Touch friendly on the iPad, look at the markers when selecting cells for the sum function

The negative

I’m not able to load saved documents after disconnecting. Seems like you’re always getting a new clean virtual machine. Where to put your documents? Why not integrate the OneDrive they are so proud of?

Where the touch friendly Excel looks nice, the function did not work. The SUM function not working, what else would you need Excel for?

Verdict

Okay it is in preview, a little lagging, but some things just are not right. We’ll have to wait for Microsoft’s answer. Feedback can be provided in their purple nag screen.

I did sign up for Azure RemoteApp to provide my own apps on the platform. Hope they let me at it soon …