Word Processing- Not Microsoft Office

[tinkerbell23]

Does anyone use an alternative?

I have an HP laptop- after my free trial of microsoft office ill have to pay god knows what!?

Any free alternative?

X

[Caran]

Try OpenOffice, it's free. I use it and it's ok.

[Lie-in King]

OpenOffice has a good reputation on AB -

http://www.openoffice.org/

LibreOffice is also well-liked -

https://www.libreoffice.org/

[Buenchico]

This is one of the most frequently asked questions on AB!

The most popular alternative here is, without a doubt, OpenOffice:
https://www.openoffice.org/
It's what I use myself. If you decide to follow suit, I'll give you a useful hint:
By default, the 'Save' function in OpenOffice uses the programs own format, which isn't compatible with Microsoft Office programs. (So you can't then email your documents to people who're using Microsoft Office, as they won't be able to open them). It's easy to get around the problem by simply remembering to use 'Save As', instead of 'Save', as that allows you to choose a Microsoft format. However it's probably better to change the program's default operation, so that using 'Save' automatically uses a Microsoft format. Instructions here:
http://helpdeskgeek.com/office-tips/set-openof%EF%AC%81ce-org-to-save-in-microsoft-of%EF%AC%81ce-format-by-default/

The two main rivals to OpenOffice are LibreOffice
https://www.libreoffice.org/
and WPS Office (formerly called Kingsoft Office):
http://www.kingsoftstore.com/kingsoft-office-freeware.html
Both have fans among ABers.

All of the above programs are full office suites, which include spreadsheet, database and presentation software. If you ONLY want a word processor, AbiWord is also popular with some people here:
http://www.abiword.org/

[Old_Geezer]

I thought that Chris. Could someone check the search function ? :-)
But maybe there a new one on the Net that's worth knowing about.

IMO whilst the free ones work well enough, but I don't find them as easily used as the MS version. (For example try a paste as and get loads of tick boxes to untick instead of a list of paste types.) But worth giving them a try anyway.

[dannyk13]

Libre Office 4.0

[RATTER15]

I use an old 2003 version of MS office, works perfectly with all versions of Windows so far, it doesnt need to be registered online and comes with the key. probably pick it up on ebay for a couple of £.

[bazwillrun]

Google Docs...

[tinkerbell23]

Thank you all so much!! X