Word look alike?

Hi,

I'm looking for a simple free (or gratis) program to replace Word. Me, I
use LibreOffice without a doubt, but it is not for me. I need something
simple, that ideally saves in word 97-2003 format by default, so that
the user doesn't have to think.

I was considering AbiWord, but to my dismay it has abandoned the Windows
version for lack of volunteers.

Are there other possibilities I should consider?


If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite; I know two
versions: one that you pay once about 200€ and keep, with no upgrades,
another called Office 365 that is a yearly subscription, and I think I
heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a browser. Is this
correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to use that
online version and not spend an euro.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 9/16/20 8:28 AM, this is what Carlos E.R. wrote:
Hi,

I'm looking for a simple free (or gratis) program to replace Word. Me, I use LibreOffice without a doubt, but it is not for me. I need
something simple, that ideally saves in word 97-2003 format by default, so that the user doesn't have to think.

I was considering AbiWord, but to my dismay it has abandoned the Windows version for lack of volunteers.

Are there other possibilities I should consider?


If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite; I know two versions: one that you pay once about 200€ and keep, with no
upgrades, another called Office 365 that is a yearly subscription, and I think I heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a
browser. Is this correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to use that online version and not spend an euro.

You can set Libreoffice to default to the .doc (word 97) format in settings.
Options - load/Save - General You'll find a tick box to turn off warnings if not odt and a drop down for default format (pick word 97
doc).
Al

On 16/09/2020 15.03, Big Al wrote:
On 9/16/20 8:28 AM, this is what Carlos E.R. wrote:
Hi,

I'm looking for a simple free (or gratis) program to replace Word. Me,
I use LibreOffice without a doubt, but it is not for me. I need
something simple, that ideally saves in word 97-2003 format by
default, so that the user doesn't have to think.

I was considering AbiWord, but to my dismay it has abandoned the
Windows version for lack of volunteers.

Are there other possibilities I should consider?


If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite; I know two
versions: one that you pay once about 200€ and keep, with no upgrades,
another called Office 365 that is a yearly subscription, and I think I
heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a browser. Is this
correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to use that
online version and not spend an euro.

You can set Libreoffice to default to the .doc (word 97) format in
settings.
Options - load/Save - GeneralÂ* You'll find a tick box to turn off
warnings if not odt and a drop down for default format (pick word 97 doc).

Ah, that's an idea, thanks. I should have remembered.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos E.R. wrote:
Hi,

I'm looking for a simple free (or gratis) program to replace Word. Me, I
use LibreOffice without a doubt, but it is not for me. I need something
simple, that ideally saves in word 97-2003 format by default, so that
the user doesn't have to think.

I was considering AbiWord, but to my dismay it has abandoned the Windows
version for lack of volunteers.

Are there other possibilities I should consider?


If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite; I know two
versions: one that you pay once about 200€ and keep, with no upgrades,
another called Office 365 that is a yearly subscription, and I think I
heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a browser.

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one allows
you to download the desktop applications.

Is this
correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to use that
online version and not spend an euro.

If online only is acceptable there's also google docs.

Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong. The 365 subscription gives you the Office components to install
on your own computer. I had an Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)
subscription for 3 years, and went from the 2016 to 2019 Office
components *installed* on my computer. You do NOT need to be online to
use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc as you are using the local
programs.

Anyone can use their web apps (via web browser) ... and for free! For
"Office 365 but is online only" then you are talking about their free
web apps only. I did not see the OP wanted local programs, but then the
OP did not mandate web apps were unacceptable. Since the OP mentioned
LibreOffice and AbiWord, those are local/offline programs, so likely he
is looking for similar offline alternatives, and not for web apps, like
Microsoft's free 365 web apps, and neither for Google Docs.

If online only is acceptable there's also google docs.

Google does not sell an Office suite you can install locally and
offline. So, yeah, web apps is the only way to use Google Docs through
a web browser.

Microsoft 365 gives you offline programs and their web apps (but the web
apps are available to everyone, and for free). Google Docs is a free
web-based office suite (i.e., web apps suite) that is part of all the
services you get with a Google account (Gmail, Google Voice, Maps,
YouTube, Drive, yadda yadda.

VanguardLH wrote:
Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong.

How can it be wrong when you say exactly the same as I did below?

The 365 subscription gives you the Office components to install
on your own computer. I had an Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)
subscription for 3 years, and went from the 2016 to 2019 Office
components *installed* on my computer. You do NOT need to be online to
use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc as you are using the local
programs.

Anyone can use their web apps (via web browser) ... and for free! For
"Office 365 but is online only" then you are talking about their free
web apps only.

See? How is that different to what I said?

On Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:06:07 -0000 (UTC), Chris
wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:
Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong.

How can it be wrong when you say exactly the same as I did below?

The 365 subscription gives you the Office components to install
on your own computer. I had an Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)
subscription for 3 years, and went from the 2016 to 2019 Office
components *installed* on my computer. You do NOT need to be online to
use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc as you are using the local
programs.

Anyone can use their web apps (via web browser) ... and for free! For
"Office 365 but is online only" then you are talking about their free
web apps only.

See? How is that different to what I said?

He's just nitpicking your choice of words. The product is called
Microsoft 365, but you said Office 365. I call it that myself, but
after his comment, I checked and see they don't actually call it that.

Pat wrote:

On Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:06:07 -0000 (UTC), Chris
wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:
Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong.

How can it be wrong when you say exactly the same as I did below?

The 365 subscription gives you the Office components to install
on your own computer. I had an Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)
subscription for 3 years, and went from the 2016 to 2019 Office
components *installed* on my computer. You do NOT need to be online to
use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc as you are using the local
programs.

Anyone can use their web apps (via web browser) ... and for free! For
"Office 365 but is online only" then you are talking about their free
web apps only.

See? How is that different to what I said?

He's just nitpicking your choice of words. The product is called
Microsoft 365, but you said Office 365. I call it that myself, but
after his comment, I checked and see they don't actually call it that.

My "nitpicking" is Chris stating "Office 365" (now called Microsoft 365)
is *online only*. That is wrong. Regardless of him attempting to
backtrack, he definitely thought Office 365 was an online-only web app
suite, because then he differentiates it in his later statement from the
"paid" version (for the perpetual license). I went by what he said, not
what he meant to say.

Pat wrote:
On Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:06:07 -0000 (UTC), Chris
wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:
Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong.

How can it be wrong when you say exactly the same as I did below?

The 365 subscription gives you the Office components to install
on your own computer. I had an Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)
subscription for 3 years, and went from the 2016 to 2019 Office
components *installed* on my computer. You do NOT need to be online to
use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc as you are using the local
programs.

Anyone can use their web apps (via web browser) ... and for free! For
"Office 365 but is online only" then you are talking about their free
web apps only.

See? How is that different to what I said?

He's just nitpicking your choice of words. The product is called
Microsoft 365, but you said Office 365. I call it that myself, but
after his comment, I checked and see they don't actually call it that.

You're right they've changed the name. I wasn't aware, thanks, but I don't
think calling it the old name Office 365 is confusing.

Chris wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong.

How can it be wrong when you say exactly the same as I did below?

Because your wording is interpreted as:

- Office 365 ... online only. Wrong. With the subscription, you get
the local apps to install on your computer.

- "Paid one", because you differentiated from Office 365, means the
perpetual license (aka standalone).

See? How is that different to what I said?

There's what you meant to say versus what you said. YOU said "Office
365 but is online only". Since that is not true, others figure you mean
their web apps. For "the paid for one" to be different than what Office
365 really is (local apps and web apps) means others figure you meant
their standalone/perpetual license.

Why would you differentiate "Office 365 online only" and "paid" as
though they were different when you claim you meant they were the same?

VanguardLH wrote:
Chris wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong.

How can it be wrong when you say exactly the same as I did below?

Because your wording is interpreted as:

- Office 365 ... online only. Wrong. With the subscription, you get
the local apps to install on your computer.

- "Paid one", because you differentiated from Office 365, means the
perpetual license (aka standalone).

You missed that important "also" in what I said, plus you aggressively
snipped the context. Here's my reply again in context with the OP:

If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite;
I know two versions: one that you pay once about 200€
and keep, with no upgrades, another called Office 365 that is a
yearly subscription, and I think I heard about a gratis version,
perhaps online inside a browser.

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid
for one allows you to download the desktop applications.

The OP already mentioned the paid and free ("gratis") versions of Office
365. My reply was confirming - hence the "also" - what he was uncertain
about, that there was a free version of word available.

See? How is that different to what I said?

There's what you meant to say versus what you said. YOU said "Office
365 but is online only". Since that is not true, others figure you mean
their web apps. For "the paid for one" to be different than what Office
365 really is (local apps and web apps) means others figure you meant
their standalone/perpetual license.

How do you know what others do or don't understand?


Why would you differentiate "Office 365 online only" and "paid" as
though they were different when you claim you meant they were the same?

I "claimed" no such thing.

On 16/09/2020 17.10, VanguardLH wrote:
Chris wrote:

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one
allows you to download the desktop applications.

Wrong. The 365 subscription gives you the Office components to install
on your own computer. I had an Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)
subscription for 3 years, and went from the 2016 to 2019 Office
components *installed* on my computer. You do NOT need to be online to
use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc as you are using the local
programs.

Anyone can use their web apps (via web browser) ... and for free! For
"Office 365 but is online only" then you are talking about their free
web apps only. I did not see the OP wanted local programs, but then the
OP did not mandate web apps were unacceptable. Since the OP mentioned
LibreOffice and AbiWord, those are local/offline programs, so likely he
is looking for similar offline alternatives, and not for web apps, like
Microsoft's free 365 web apps, and neither for Google Docs.

I prefer offline, but online might be acceptable.


If online only is acceptable there's also google docs.

Google does not sell an Office suite you can install locally and
offline. So, yeah, web apps is the only way to use Google Docs through
a web browser.

Microsoft 365 gives you offline programs and their web apps (but the web
apps are available to everyone, and for free). Google Docs is a free
web-based office suite (i.e., web apps suite) that is part of all the
services you get with a Google account (Gmail, Google Voice, Maps,
YouTube, Drive, yadda yadda.



--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 16/09/2020 15.32, Chris wrote:
Carlos E.R. wrote:
Hi,

I'm looking for a simple free (or gratis) program to replace Word. Me, I
use LibreOffice without a doubt, but it is not for me. I need something
simple, that ideally saves in word 97-2003 format by default, so that
the user doesn't have to think.

I was considering AbiWord, but to my dismay it has abandoned the Windows
version for lack of volunteers.

Are there other possibilities I should consider?


If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite; I know two
versions: one that you pay once about 200€ and keep, with no upgrades,
another called Office 365 that is a yearly subscription, and I think I
heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a browser.

That's also called Office 365 but is online only. The paid for one allows
you to download the desktop applications.

Is this
correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to use that
online version and not spend an euro.

If online only is acceptable there's also google docs.

Yes, I suggested that one.


--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos E.R. wrote:
I think I heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a browser.
Is this correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to
use that online version and not spend an euro.


https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6055139
Work with Office files

You can edit, download, and convert Microsoft® Office files in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

To edit an Office file, you can either:

Edit the file using Office Compatibility Mode (OCM)
Convert the file to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

Once you've edited a Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides file, you can then save and export it as an Office file to share with others.


The formats (from wp):
Files in the following formats can be viewed and converted to their Docs format:[34]

For documents: .doc (if newer than Microsoft Office 95), .docx, .docm .dot, .dotx, .dotm, .html, plain text (.txt), .rtf, .odt




--
Mike Easter

On 9/16/2020 5:28 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
Hi,

I'm looking for a simple free (or gratis) program to replace Word. Me, I
use LibreOffice without a doubt, but it is not for me. I need something
simple, that ideally saves in word 97-2003 format by default, so that
the user doesn't have to think.

I was considering AbiWord, but to my dismay it has abandoned the Windows
version for lack of volunteers.

Are there other possibilities I should consider?


If I'm not mistaken, Word comes with the full Office suite; I know two
versions: one that you pay once about 200€ and keep, with no upgrades,
another called Office 365 that is a yearly subscription, and I think I
heard about a gratis version, perhaps online inside a browser. Is this
correct? If that is so, perhaps I should suggest my friend to use that
online version and not spend an euro.


Here's something that's free:
https://www.amazon.com/MobiSystems-I...266972&sr=8-13

or https://amzn.to/35HozLF

I've never used and know no details about it, so I have no opinion on
how good it is, but you might want to try it.

--
Ken