A reader is looking for a replacement for her current word processor:
“Do you have a free “office” programs you recommend? I have been using Abiword for years but it is outdated.”
Abiword is an open-source word processor that doesn’t use a lot of your device’s resources. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available for Windows devices. So let’s check out some options.
If you’re using a Windows PC, you might find that the built-in WordPad program could be enough for you. This basic program offers a lot of features and depending on your needs, it may be enough. You can click here to read more about WordPad.
If you’re looking for a more complete Office Suite, I highly recommend both OpenOfficeand LibreOffice. Both programs are free, opensource, and offer features comparable to Microsoft Office. Not only can you create new documents and spreadsheets, both of these programs will also allow you to open and edit Office documents.
If you have either an Outlook.com or a Gmail account you have access to a free office suite. Outlook offers free online versions of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, while Gmail give you Docs and Sheets. Since all of these programs are free, it can’t hurt to give them a try to see which one works best for you.
I used to like Word Pad until they changed it. It double spaces when you hit the Enter key. You always got a single space before. Now you have to change it every time you type a new document.
I used to like Word Pad until they changed it. Now it double spaces when you hit the Enter key. You always got a single space before. Now you have to change it every time you type a new document.