# Recommend me a (free) MS Word replacement

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 15, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901 "2004-08-15T03:36:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901/1 "2004-08-15T03:36:55Z")

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I´m doing a complete software overhaul on my computer (welcome a new Mozilla Firefox user here), I want to find a replacement for MS Word, any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901/2 "2004-08-15T03:39:06Z")

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> [@Ale](#):
>
> I´m doing a complete software overhaul on my computer (welcome a new Mozilla Firefox user here), I want to find a replacement for MS Word, any suggestions?

You could try OpenOffice. I haven’t used it lately, though, so I don’t know what it’s like these days.

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**Author:** ![Necro\_Romancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Necro\_Romancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necro_Romancer)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901/3 "2004-08-15T03:55:51Z")

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[Abiword](http://www.abisource.com/) - word processor

[OpenOffice](http://www.openoffice.org/) - office suite

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**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901/4 "2004-08-15T05:12:20Z")

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> [@Anne Neville](#):
>
> You could try OpenOffice. I haven’t used it lately, though, so I don’t know what it’s like these days.

Much better than the older versions. It’s a bit odd about doing change tracking from Word, but I’ve never had another compatibility issue. With Open Office you also get a free spreadsheet and presentation program.

Unless you are using the newest Word features, go for it. You also do not get the damned paper clip.

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**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-free-ms-word-replacement/259901/5 "2004-08-15T12:03:35Z")

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> [@Voyager](#):
>
> You also do not get the damned paper clip.

That´s it, you´ve talked me into it! 😃

I´ve already downloaded it, I´ll install it later and report back.