Are there any free word processors?

The Wordpad application I have on my computer is pretty crappy. Can't even spell check or anything. Are there any free word processors I can download?

 

OpenOffice has a word processor or if u want standalone, you could try AbiWord.

 

I may be wrong, but I think you can install OpenOffice's word processor (called "Writer") you can install it by iteself without the spreadsheet, presentation and other programs. If so, that would be my recommendation - it's a pretty nice & full featured word processor.

http://www.openoffice.org/product/

 

Does it have stuff like double spacing and spell check? I need that for papers.

 

yes thats true, i meant if you dont want to download the entire suite.

 

Yes, it has those features and many more sophisticated features as well. If you are familiar with Microsoft Word, you won't have much difficulty learning how to use it, althought there are serveral small differences (compared to Word) that will become apparent quickly.

 

I can't find the download link.

 

openoffice: download link
abiword: download link

 

Thanks. I downloaded the entire package since college will be tough and I might need all of this. Oh and now I can double space now. YAY

 

Another possibilitity if Open Office does not float your boat-

Sun Star Office 7 free (large download)

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2170194/sun-staroffice

 

Aren't they basically the same thing

If all you need is basic word processing (like typing , spacing, indents, spell check, tables, etc.), the abiword will suite you just fine. I personally am a proponent of latex, but it is more like a programming language, but very powerful, and you save a ton of time formatting and such once you get the hand of it (also, you can edit it with any editor, so notepad, vim, wordpad, nano, etc. all work).

Cheers,

Alphalutra1

 

Hello,
Alpha, you use latex, too? Nice!!!
Mrk

 

I didn't see it mentioned here but "openoffice" programs will also open Microsoft office programs. Including Documents and powerpoint as well as Excel etc. I don't know about publisher ( haven't tried it and don't even know if they have a similar program). Very handy !! Nowhere near the bloat of MS office, I own Office 2000 and I didn't even bother to install it with Xp, I installed open office and use it.

 

Hi.

The only OpenOffice's drawback in compatibility with MS Office that I have noticed is that it is unable to open .docx and .xlsx formats, which are introduced in MS Office 2007. My father uses MS Office 2007, and whenever he gives me something typed in .docx format, I have a hard time to open it in OO...

 

Well, we're still in 2007.. It will get that closed format.. some day

 

Yes, I'm just another fellow user who has seen the light

In regard to the .doc formatting, slowly it will start to die out as more and more people move over to openxml or open document format. However, in order for this to happen, microsoft will need to start setting the save defaults in their programs to these formats instead of keeping legacy compatibility with the .doc formats, but who knows how it will turn out. increased pressure from other companies, governments, etc. may force them to play their hand.

Cheers,

Alphalutra1