Word Processor

[Archon]

So, since I am going to college soon, I just upgraded my computer quite a bit. My dad and I installed a new motherboard, processor, video card, and two SATA drives. Unfortunately, since I got new drives, that means that I have to reinstall all of my old programs, including my word processor. Before I upgraded my computer, I was using MS Works 99, which I still have the disc for. Unfortunately, my parents are moving after I go to college, so we have a bunch of stuff packed away in boxes. Including the cd key for Works.  I can't find a keygen that works for it, so it looks like I either have to download Works from somewhere, or I need a new word processor and a way to convert Works documents. Any ideas, suggestions etc...?

[Oldie Black Witch]

Open office?

Openoffice.org

[Spriggan]

also if you have to have your Office fix, you can get the beta of Office 2007 from MS site for free and it works until February of next year and after that it will have "key functions" disabled.  Like probably save and open.

I'll have to say Word 2007, while still in beta, is a great program but you'll have to learn the new menu system since MS is ditching the old standby of File/Edit/insert etc.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

that's stupid. Why would you ditch a menu system that works?

/me tries it because now he's curious.

What do you need out of your word processor? I have a list of text editors I like to play with, but they're completely superfluous unless you have special purposes. Unless there's something you need specially, open office is your best bet. Can do most of what Word can do, for free.

[Spriggan]

Well their reasoning is lot of the average users, ie in offices, don't know half or more of the features of word or excel so they created a more "intuitive" menu.  I do like it, but it does take a tad getting use to, and I think it's a good thing when companies go back and look at things like menu structures and say "this worked backed when all we had was save, copy, past and spell check, but not we've got so much stuff we might need to re think this".

Here's Ars' walk through of the ribbon as MS is calling the new menu.

http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/6/18/4360