How to Buy a Word Processing Program

• Step 1

  Determine your purpose: Why do you need a word processing program? What are you going to use it for? If you just want to write letters or memos--something simple--chances are you already have what you need on your computer. Windows XP and Vista come with a program called WordPad and Macs come with AppleWorks. These word processing programs, while very basic, do the job. If your word processing needs are simple, try these first. However, if you're writing reports for school or manuals for work or something else more complicated, something that might require a variety of fonts and formatting, and, perhaps, charts and tables, you'll need a more robust word processing program, such as Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect or OpenOffice.

• Step 2

  Determine your budget: How much are you prepared to spend? Microsoft Word, alone, costs about $200. It can also be purchased as part of the Microsoft Office Suite for about $340. Corel's WordPerfect must be purchased as part of a suite. The Standard Suite costs about $240. If that's more than you want to spend, you might want to consider one of the free word processing programs available. OpenOffice, GoogleDocs and AbiWord are all free, as are a number of other programs. OpenOffice is a feature-rich, office application suite. It includes a word processor as well as spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and database applications. AbiWord is a full-featured, highly regarded word processing program. If all you intend to do is write, this might be the program for you. GoogleDocs is a good word processing program that has the added benefit of being available online. As long as you have access a computer with Internet access, you can work on your documents. GoogleDocs does require a Google e-mail account, but it's easy to sign up for one. If you don't want to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a word processing program, take a look at these free alternatives and see if one of them meets your needs.

• Step 3

  Determine your comfort level: Are you comfortable switching to another word processor program? If you've been using the same word processor for the last 10 years, you might not feel comfortable switching to another word processor. You know what you know and you're going to stick with that. That's completely understandable.

• Step 4

  Try before you buy: All of the above mentioned programs are available for free download. Please see the resources section, below.

• 1
• Computer Internet connection, depending on which program you decide to use
• Computer
• Internet connection, depending on which program you decide to use
• Don't be afraid of compatibility. All the programs mentioned here can save documents in Word format as well as a wide variety of other word processing formats.
• Don't be afraid of compatibility. All the programs mentioned here can save documents in Word format as well as a wide variety of other word processing formats.
• Word processing programs are generalists by nature. While they can create newsletters or Web pages, they don't do a very good job. Newsletters really require a program that does layouts, like Microsoft Publisher or Adobe InDesign. For producing nice Web pages, take a look at CoffeeCup, Homesite or Adobe Dreamweaver.
• Word processing programs are generalists by nature. While they can create newsletters or Web pages, they don't do a very good job. Newsletters really require a program that does layouts, like Microsoft Publisher or Adobe InDesign. For producing nice Web pages, take a look at CoffeeCup, Homesite or Adobe Dreamweaver.

References & Resources

• Microsoft Office
• OpenOffice.org
• AbiWord
• Microsoft Word/Office
• Corel WordPerfect Office
• OpenOffice.org