| Most writers use the all powerful Microsoft | | | | content, headers and footers, and much more. |
| Word word processing program. Even | | | | OpenOffice.org Writer is more than enough for |
| non-writers use it for everything from school | | | | all your word-processing needs. |
| work to manifestos. When my computer crashed | | | | OpenOffice.org is available for Windows and |
| and I lost the use of Word on my computer, I | | | | GNU/Linux, but the newer version is not |
| felt completely lost. I tried Word's ugly | | | | available for Mac users. Check out for more |
| cousin Wordpad and that just didn't cut it. | | | | information.Downloading and Installing |
| There is so much that Wordpad cannot do. It | | | | OpenOffice.org1.)Go to and click on the |
| almost felt like I had went back a couple of | | | | Download tab2.)Click on the OpenOffice.org |
| decades.Needless to say I needed another | | | | 2.0 Link.3.)Select the language, operating |
| option. Buying another copy of Word was out | | | | system, and download site you want to |
| of the question. I already had a copy that | | | | use.4.)Click Continue to Download5.)A window |
| was in route to me. I had recently moved and | | | | should appear asking if you want to save the |
| everything was packed up. It's very easy to | | | | program to disk or open it.6.)Choose Save to |
| see why Bill Gates is one of the, if not the | | | | Disk.Once you've done this you're ready to |
| richest man in the world. Microsoft software | | | | write. One of the best things about free |
| is far from cheap. There had to be another | | | | software is that it is free! You can't beat |
| way and I was determined to find it.After | | | | that with a stick. To find out more about |
| some research I came up with my word | | | | free software, check out Free Software for |
| processing savior and solution. There is an | | | | Dummies by Mary Leete. Think of all the |
| alternative to Microsoft Word. And get this; | | | | money you save by using free software rather |
| It's FREE! Yeah, you read right. It is | | | | than its expensive counterpart. I've done |
| completely and totally free to obtain and | | | | the research and now you reap the benefits. |
| use. The program is called OpenOffice.org. | | | | Who loves you baby?Reprint Policy: This |
| OpenOffice.org was designed as a Microsoft | | | | article may be reproduced freely in on-line |
| Office clone in order to make the migration | | | | and print publications when the following |
| process easy for people who want to go | | | | conditions are met: It must be reproduced in |
| "free." It includes: a word processor, | | | | its entirety, with no changes or omissions, |
| presentation program, drawing program, HTML | | | | including the author information and website. |
| editor, and spreadsheet program. All of the | | | | This copyright notice is also to be included |
| programs mirror your familiar Microsoft | | | | either at the beginning or end of the |
| programs like Powerpoint, Paint, Frontpage | | | | article. Advance permission is not required, |
| and Excel, so it is easy to use from the get | | | | but a copy of your publication would be very |
| go.OpenOffice.org Writer is a powerful word | | | | much appreciated. Please send to Shania |
| processor that can handle all types of large | | | | Duncan is an elementary teacher who loves to |
| documents and lots of different formats, | | | | write. Currently she is working on many |
| including Microsoft Word. You can add | | | | writing projects as well as her website. |
| graphics, generate indexes, tables of | | | | Check back to see what's available. |