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Office & productivity software: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use?
- 10/3/07 4:58 PM
WordPerfect is still the best.
by chetburdick1 - 10/3/07 7:51 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am proficient in both Word (because most of my work's clients use Microsoft) and WordPerfect. If your needs focus primarily on word processing and you consider yourself to be an intermediate/advanced user, WordPerfect reigns supreme in my book. Although Word's has a wider range of compatibility with other programs (especially with other Microsoft programs), Word (in my humble opinion) is better suited for novice users, which is the reason I do not like Word. In Word, there are many automatic formatting features, which can be helpful to those who are not exactly sure what they want in a document. However, I have found that it has been very difficult (or at least counterintuitive ) to find the "turn off" command for these automatic formatting. (The Microsoft Word help function is not helpful in this regard.) One of WordPerfect's best features is the "Reveal Codes" command, where a user can view the actual formatting code. Although Word has a similar "paragraph" command, it pales in comparison to WordPerfect. Unfortunately, given what I understand the market to be with bundled operating systems and office suites, I fear that Word will continue to dominate in sheer volume of users, and WordPerfect (albeit a superior product) will eventually run out of steam in the competition.
I prefer Microsoft Works 4.5 over ANYTHING else.
by sbill - 10/3/07 7:54 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been using Microsoft Works, ever since the days when Windows 95 was king. MS Works 4.0 was a legendary program in its day--providing a full featured word processor, spreadsheet, database, address book, and more--that ran even on an old 80386 with 8 megs of RAM. When version 4.5 came out back in 1998, they made a good thing better.
I currently use MS Works 4.5 on every computer I own, at home and at work. The only reason I even own MS Office is for when I need to view Excel workbooks or Powerpoint presentations. Works cannot open these files.
MS Works 4.5 was the best version of Works ever made, and it has countless advantages over ANY other word processing program, new or old. First, Works 4.5 is very reliable and efficient. It uses less than 30 megabytes of hard disk space--versus more than a gigabyte for Office--and has very little demand for memory or processor time. It has no noticeable bugs or glitches, never crashes or locks up. Second, it is very easy to use. All of the commands you need are there in the menus and toolbar, which are arranged in a logical order. Third, Works can open and save files in the Word DOC format. And finally, you can re-install Works as many times as you like, or transfer it from one computer to the next without problem. Works does not need to be activated.
The last advantage is a big one, because you cannot buy Works 4.5 licenses anymore. Luckily, I received Works 4.5 CD's and licenses with my Pentium II desktop and laptop, and have simply transferred the license each time I have upgraded to a newer/better computer. I am currently running a dual-core desktop and Pentium 4 laptop, both of which could easily handle the overhead of today's bloated and inefficient software. But in my opinion, Office 2007 can't hold a candle to Works 4.5, especially in the usability department, so why "upgrade"?
Works 4_5 is great
by brike - 10/3/07 8:47 PM In reply to: I prefer Microsoft Works 4.5 over ANYTHING else. by sbillI did my whole College work on MS Works 3. Even my technology teacher thought I was using Word Perfect or Microsoft Word (which was the thing of the moment). True, MSWorks 4_5 was the best Works ever.
MS Works problems
by Maggie Miller - 10/4/07 6:31 AM In reply to: Works 4_5 is great by brikeI'm happy you had such good luck with Works. Unfortunatly, many of our students haven't been so lucky. When required to send their file to the instructor, when using Works the instructors aren't able to open them unless they have Works on their machine. Most of ours don't. Even though Works says it's operating in Word, a regular version of Word doesn't seem to open a Works version. I've seen it happen time after time with students having to rush back to their own computer and save their work as a txt file and do a conversion on a lab computer in order to get their work formatted properly.
WP 10 files to MS Works
by Frank Yaccarino - 6/28/08 9:31 AM In reply to: I prefer Microsoft Works 4.5 over ANYTHING else. by sbillMy new Computer is using MS Works, I transfered my WP 10 files to my new computer but, I knew it would happed, I can not read the WP 10 files. If I download the latest WP 12 would I be able to read my files. Or could some one suggest another application.
Microsoft Works 4.5
by joans666 - 3/7/09 12:51 PM In reply to: I prefer Microsoft Works 4.5 over ANYTHING else. by sbillI agree with your post. I, too, have been using Works 4.5 since it came out, on any number of computers, and have data going back more than ten years, including all kinds of business information. It is so much better than the Office units, and mail merges have always worked flawlessly from the several databases I created. I have a lot of user defined templates which I used constantly. It would be very difficult to re-create all this in another, inferior, program, but I have to do something. I recently had a computer crash, and purchased a new HP Pavilion dv7, which has Vista Home Premium installed. I was able to retrieve all my old Works data from an external drive, and installed Works 4.5 -- but of course, it won't work with Vista! I can access and read the data, but if I try to use it in any way, I get an "out of memory" message, and it freezes up. I hate the very tacky Works 9 which is included on the machine, and it won't open the old files anyway. Is there a download or a work-around available?
Please let me know
by Robert494 - 4/1/09 7:00 PM In reply to: I prefer Microsoft Works 4.5 over ANYTHING else. by sbillI had to reinstall works 4.5 and now it doesn't have a pulldown to save as a .doc file. Am I missing something
Bob
I use WordPerfect suite
by HTreibs - 10/3/07 8:03 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been using WordPerfect for word processing ever since WordPerfect 4.0 for DOS. For some purposes, the DOS version suits me better than the Windows versions, and I still maintain a couple of computers running MS-DOS just so I can use WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS. For most work, though, I use WordPerfect for Windows, versions 9, 12, and X3 on different computers. The main problem I have encountered is exchanging files with others who use some version of Word. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have been able to read some Word files in OpenOffice Writer without problems, when I had problems with reading the Word file with tables in WordPerfect. If I want to send a document to someone using Word or a Macintosh, I can generate a .pdf file with WordPerfect, and send that, or I can let WordPerfect to write a Word .doc file. But generally, I find that WordPerfect for Windows does what I need to do. An advantage of WordPerfect is that files written by one version are readable by another version, at least for the last 15 years, unlike Word, which sometimes does not play nice with files from another version. I do not foresee putting any version of Word on any of my computers. If I leave WordPerfect (or other parts of the Corel suite),I will probably use OpenOffice. I will certainly use OpenOffice on computers running Linux, since WordPerfect for Linux never worked well, and Corel no longer supplies or supports it. I have Ubuntu Linux on one computer, and plan to add it (as double boot with Windows XP) on a couple more.
Why do I not use Word like "everyone else?" It costs too much, and there is the intercompatibility issue between versions. And Microsoft tries too hard to stomp out competition.
MS word is the uber standard
by NetSysILM - 10/3/07 8:07 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When a document is important enough for people to read and print, it only makes sense to distribute it as a Word .doc. PDF of course is a viable alternative.
The other word processing alternatives are for individuals personal quirks, and disregard what the majority of the world uses.
(For example, WordPerfect? it is so outdated it has green mold growing on the diskettes.., heh)
Open Office
by jka1946 - 10/3/07 8:08 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've been using MS Office for years. I refurbish, repair, and build PCs for my friends. I can only load a new version legally on a PC that I build. I discovered Open Office. So now I put Open Office on the PCs. It saves bundles. I've also loaded Open Office on the PCs at my VFW post (I'm the post commander). We have a large post, and we use the office software daily. Open Office works great for all the desktop work we do. We use the Open Office version of Word and Excel all the time (no problems). Not only is Open Office a free download, but it works great and is completely compatible with MS Office. If you use MS Office, Open Office's interface will be very familiar to you. I'll never buy another version of MS Office when I can get a free office program that's nearly as good.
Word-processing software
by GFW - 10/3/07 8:10 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use an old copy of MSWord - I like it best for most things - I tried Pages and I think I will likely find it best for newsletter production, but for now my old copy of AppleWorks 6 does the job. I need either OpenOffice or AbiWord to open the odd WordPerfect file that people send me, and for casual use I just use TextEdit.
MS Office - but looking elsewhere
by Wharf_Rat - 10/3/07 8:14 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have use MS Word since it was a Mac only product. I like it. However, V2003 and later are so bloated and modified, it is a real pain in the rear. It isn't that I don't like MS Office. I don't like Windows. I type this using Ubuntu.
I find that Open Office is pretty darn good. I still us MS Office at work.
I don't see a big race between Office suites as much as I foresee a revolution on the Operating System coming soon. Combine this with open standards for documents and MS Office may be in trouble.
Which Word Processor I Use
by jmcanty - 10/3/07 8:17 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use Apple Ilife 06 and Iwork 06, they are more than adequate for what I need for word processing. Also, integrate with all the other Apple applications. Recenty purchased MS office 2004 for Mac to have use of Powerpoint and Excel. Jim
Open Office. I like it for PDF work and...
by R. Proffitt - 10/3/07 8:21 PM
In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It's very compatible with the other office offerings. We don't have any Office 2007 installs yet.
Bob
microsoft office 2007 awesome
by maggiedev - 10/3/07 8:22 PM In reply to: Poll: Which word-processing software do you use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i have been using office 2000 for many years. i am not an office worker, but use it for many things in my work. i own and run a ranch and do part time work for a dance studio. the old office programs were mind boggling to me as the instructions for it's use did not jump out and bite me. i did not have time to take a course in it's use. i bought a new laptop and had office 2007 installed and i love it.. everything i need to know is now right there on top and i can do so many things i could not figure out in the old programs. no, i am not a stupid human, i just am not as literate in this type program as people who use it every day and rely on it for their bread and butter. i am so happy with it i don't care if they do have a monopoly. i do hope everyone finds a program they like as well as i like ms office 2007.
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