h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes I was just wondernig if there was a word processing progame out there that would work on a PC with windows 98 I'm a afraid, and wasn't Word?

Preferably one that was free but I'm not expecting miracles.

http://OpenOffice.org

cross-platform, full-featured, open-source, can import/export M$Office files - I'd say it's your dream come true...

http://www.openoffice.org/

Mission Statement
To create, as a community, the leading international office suite that will run on all major platforms and provide access to all functionality and data through open-component based APIs and an XML-based file format.


Its all F R E E

I haven't installed it yet but I've heard good reports about it

Check out computer magazines that include CDs of free software, could save you having to downloading it from the internet

Until about 50 hours ago, I'd only ever used MSWord (in various incarnations) - and I must say, I'm in no hurry to change back It has a few quirks, but I suspect not as many as some of its rivals. And if you've ever tried to make sense of Word's style system, you'll love the "Stylist" feature

You might be interested in a little potted history: it was developed by Sun as "StarOffice" (which they're still trying to sell ), who then gave out the source to the public: initially only a bit, but then practically the whole thing. Or that's what I gather anyway

Here's another vote for OpenOffice.

I'm downloaded it another window as we type.. thanks all of you...

If u r on the internet, u might be able to download word from kazaa for free

OOOh I've got Word already, I just fancy a change, it's started to annoy me for no apparent reason.

or any other word processor prog u want

81% done now, I really am wasting my time aren't I?

have u tried linnux

I've considered it but it confuses the hell out of me to be honest, I'd need to spend some time reading books, and I think it's all a bit beyond me, I don't have that much disposable time.

Why go to great lengths to get hold of a program illegally, when you can get one just as good, if not in some respects better, for free anyway? And the more people get interested in it, I'm thinking the more effort the project will recieve, and we'll all be better off

[oh, and btw, I had OOo crash on me several times when I first ran it - but it just reloaded itself, including *all* my open work . You try getting Word to even open the *last saved* version of your file after it crashes ]

two more votes for open office (even though you're already getting it)

I use it in linux and windows. It's exactly the same in both.

BTW, linux is easy if you use Mandrake www.mandrake.com

Well it seems to be working very well so far.. but I do have question, can I open files made on Ooo on word on another computer?

yes, with a but.

If you save files as *.doc in the 'save as' dialogue box. Otherwise you'll save file in the open office file format which is xml and can be opened with winzip

the xml format is a webpage and other objects compressed into one file.

Ooh right, but could I then open it with a web browser?

that's the theory, although I haven't tried it.

Don't worry. If you want to share with M$ users then just use 'save as' when you first save your file instead of 'save'

save as then what option do I chose, Microsoft Word document is it? Just that I usually want to work on an essay at uni as well as at home, and I can't expect them to be good enough to install word for me!

Hmmm, I think "web-page" is pushing it a bit. Better to say that it's a more openly and cleanly designed format than what Word uses (and so less effort for other programs to deal with fully), but just as specific to that program.

Firstly, the first time you save the file, "Save" is exactly the same as "Save As...", because you haven't given it a name and format yet.

And secondly, if you want to make sure you can *always* open it in Word go to "Tools|Options", select "Load/Save" and then "General" on the left, and then set "Text Document" to "always save as" whatever version of Word they have at your Uni (probably 97/2000/XP). That way it will offer that as the first choice when you save it, and you won't have to think about it.