Typing up a letter or document is most people's first experience of using a computer, usually with Microsoft Word. Many people don't really move away from Word and before long, it becomes difficult to begin using an alternative. The reason for moving to an alternative is usually cost, as with many other office applications, Word is an expensive piece of software and if you're on a budget, it's not always a viable option. But cost is just one reason, other people look for alternatives as they do not require all the features that ship with Word.

AbiWord 2.6.5 is a free and competent word processor that's compatible with Microsoft Word documents. The application itself may not be as feature rich as word but it still offers extensive functionality, more than enough for the average user. There are also free plug-ins available via the AbiWord website.

AbiWord 2.6.5 link.

04 Dec 2008