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Oct
15
Need a word processor but on a strict budget?
Filed Under purchase advice, software, word processor | Leave a Comment
Not everyone has the cash on hand to go out and buy a word processor. They can be down right pricey - a stand alone copy of Word runs in the hundreds of dollars. The going price of $300 might as well be a $1000 - its still out of reach for many home budgets.
There are some options for you.
You can opt for Corel’s Word processing suite - Word Perfect. The home addition costs around $120 - depending upon how many stores you are willing to shop to get the best deal. It is fully MS Word compatible and will provide you with all the word processing tools you need. If you’ve only used MS Word, you will have to learn a few new tricks - things aren’t in the same place. Don’t worry, the programs are much the same so the learning curve won’t be very high.
If you aren’t a fan of Corel, or don’t want the hassle of learning a slightly different program then Microsoft has 3 low cost options for you.
The first is a stripped down word processor called MS Works. With Works, you get a modest word processor, a spread sheet application, data base software and some other toys to tinker with. It comes with all the basic tools and is a great package for anyone who simply needs to write letters and documents. It is fully compatible with it’s big brother MS Word and MS Excel. Look to spend approx. $69.00 again depending upon where you purchase it. I’ve seen it as low as $59.00.
If you want more from your processor, templates to play with, and full blown Word, then you should purchase MS Works Suite. Along with the full version of Word, you get Money, Encarta, Street and Maps, and digital image editing software. You choose which options to install and which to leave out. This option runs around $150.00. If you look for an earlier edition of Works, you should be able to save even more money. I’ve seen previous year’s versions on for as low as $111.00. There is nothing wrong with last year’s model. I’m still working with Word 2002 and I have no plans of changing until I purchase a new laptop. Unless of course Microsoft, in a fit of madness, sends me Office Professional for free. Works Suite for XP requires 256 megs of ram, so check how much memory you have before committing to the latest version. An earlier version might fit the bill if you are on an older computer.
Home users are lucky - for a little more you can now purchase a modest Microsoft Office package called Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition for as little as $180.00. Yes this is the real deal, Excel, Word, Power Point and the powerful Outlook with its excellent calendar. Check your system before purchasing this - It requires XP with service pack 2, and 256 megs of ram + 1.5 gigs of harddrive space. Your monitor resolution needs to be set to 1024×768 or higher or things don’t look quite right. If you are working with an older computer and/or monitor, this might be too much for it and you’ll see huge slowdowns in your computer’s performance. If you are running on just 256 megs of ram, go for one of the lesser options - you’ll just end up being hopelessly frustrated with the bottlenecks.
The choice is up to you and your budget. All four offer proper word processing tools - dictionaries, spell check, formating etc. Its simply a matter of which suits you the best. Shop around, the prices I offer were from 2 sources Staples and Best Buy. You might be able to purchase the software on sale so keep your eyes open. Don’t be afraid to ask for an earlier version. Sometimes they are lurking around the shelf somewhere.
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