All of us need a word processor every now and again. It’s a fact of life. Now, when most people hear the words “word processor,” one name immediately comes to mind — Microsoft Word. There’s only one problem with that: Word costs money. Buying a $250+ software package just to get one program really doesn’t make sense in this day and age. Loading that twelve year-old version of Word that you have hidden in your sock drawer or digging out that ancient copy of WordPerfect 6.1 your business partner copied for you on floppy disk isn’t much better. Simply put, you’re stuck.

This is where we come in. On today’s episode of Showdown, guest beta-tester Angela Smedley and I take a look at the six latest and greatest word processing programs out there. All of these programs were tested on a system running the Windows 7 beta. Like the last time, each program was tested for ease of use, learning curve, and overall experience. With that said, here we go:

App #1: OpenOffice.Org Writer (Novell Version)
Type: Download
Site: http://download.novell.com/Download?buildid=Gf6kpM5liDs~
Programmer: OpenOffice Team/Novell
Backstory: A few years back, Novell and Microsoft signed a “patent agreement” which allowed the two companies to trade technologies and ideas back and forth without risking a lawsuit. The agreement annoyed many Free Software fans, who felt that Novell was essentially making a deal with the devil. Many of those users said that they would boycott the Novell-funded OpenOffice.org project if any of the Microsoft tools were used. In an effort to make nice with its critics, Novell split the software package in half. OpenOffice.org would comply completely with the GNU Public License, while the newly formed “Novell Edition” would include all of the bells and whistles given to them by Redmond. Since the ability to access the .docx file type is becoming more and more important, we have chosen to take a look at the Novell version of the program.
First Impression: “It’s taking forever to load.”
Learning Curve: None
Ease of Use (Out of 10): 7
Overall Rating (Out of 10): 7
Notes: It takes a while to download from the Novell site, which can get frustrating if you need the software suite “right now.” As far as the actual program goes, it has a lot of the “visual appeal” of Word 2003. Aside from a few “Microsoft-approved” tools and file extensions, there really isn’t that much of a difference between this version and the “regular” OpenOffice release. Unless these tools matter to you, it’s probably best to stick to the more mainstream, GNU-friendly edition.

App #2: AbiWord

Type: Download
Site: http://www.abisource.com/
Programmer: SourceGear Corporation
First Impression: “Very clean.”
Learning Curve: None
Ease of Use: 9; Extremely easy to install and use
Overall Rating: 8; Nothing fancy, but has a small footprint.
Notes: It has everything a “normal person” would use from Word. The spell check is still less than great, but it’s much better than it used to be. OpenOffice .odt and Microsoft OpenXML file types are only usable after loading the available plugin. The new .docx file format is not compatible at all. The program looks big on a large monitor, and resizing things can be a bit tricky. While it isn’t necessarily “bad,” there really isn’t anything that stands out.

App #3: Lotus Symphony

Type: Download
Site: http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/home
Programmer: IBM/Lotus Software (Based upon OpenOffice.org)
Backstory: This suite was designed to be the “perfect hybrid” of OpenOffice and the Lotus family of productivity software.
First Impression: “Pretty.”
Learning Curve: Slightly difficult, mainly due to how the file menu is arranged.
Ease of Use: 7
Overall Rating: 9; “I might keep this one and uninstall OpenOffice. I like it that much.”
Notes: The Java downloading service is a nice idea, but doesn’t work properly. Although it’s a pain to load, it’s definitely worth the wait. It has a style all its own — a welcome change from the button-down appearance that most word processors seem to have. All of the text-related options (fonts, size, etc) are located in a pane on the right hand of the screen, making the ability to make on-the-fly changes child’s play. A simple but extremely useful web browser is also included. No .docx support, but it does take some really, really old Lotus file types.

App #4: Adobe Buzzword

Type: Online
Site: https://buzzword.acrobat.com/#o
Programmer: Adobe
First Impression: “I like that I can get on and just start typing.”
Learning Curve: Small due to the Flash-based nature of the program.
Ease of Use: 7
Overall Rating: 8
Notes: The antithesis of Photoshop Express. It’s easy on the eyes and doesn’t make our collective heads hurt. The ability to share with others is a plus as well. It supports all of the mainstream formats, including .docx, PDF, .odt, and zipped HMTL. Since it runs in Flash, a right-click will bring up a Flash menu. While it isn’t a big deal, it can be slightly annoying to anyone who uses the “right-click context menu” found in most word processors.

App #5: Google Docs

Type: Online
Site: http://docs.google.com/#
Programmer: Google
First Impression: “Easy to access, provided that you have a Google account.”
Learning Curve: None
Ease of Use: 9
Overall Rating: 9
Notes: It’s like Buzzword, only without Buzzword’s sense of style. Unlike the other “sign in” programs, getting into Google Docs is easy — just enter your Gmail name and off you go. It takes a variety of files, but nothing really cutting edge. Docs also gives you the ability to start a document via email, which is nice for those who want to get things done quickly.

App #6: SoftMarker Office

Type: Download
Site: http://www.softmakeroffice.com/
Programmer: SoftMaker Software
Backstory: The folks at SoftMaker are fans of the Free Line concept: Get them hooked on the older, “free” version, then get them to buy the newer one.
First Impression: “Looks kind of like AbiWord.”
Learning Curve: None
Ease of Use: 8
Overall Rating: 8.5; “It makes me want to take a look at the new version.”
Notes: Ahead of its time, both visually and otherwise. TextMaker has the unique ability to create a database — great for anyone who doesn’t want to learn how to use another program. On the downside, the sheer fact that it’s older software means that many of the new formats aren’t supported. TextMaker rivals OpenOffice in many ways, which is really something when you consider that it’s a nearly five year old program.

And the Winners Are: Without question, Lotus Symphony and Google Docs. An honorable mention goes to SoftMaker, who somehow turned the idea of “free software” into a rather ingenious marketing scheme.

Final Thoughts: Some of you are no doubt wondering why KWord and Zoho Writer were left off of this list. Simply put, neither would run on our test system. KWord is still dependent upon the KDE for Windows, a software package that isn’t exactly “user friendly.” Zoho Writer, on the other hand, had a few problems with our testing environment and refused to load. As soon as these programs become compatible with Windows 7, we will give them the review they so richly deserve.

When it comes down to it, all of these programs are worth checking out. While Lotus Symphony and Google Docs were our favorites, it doesn’t mean that the others were “bad.” Each program brought something special to the table. If it appeals to you, try it.You might find something that you like. And if your favorite wasn’t covered today, tell us. We’re always interested in hearing what our readers have to say.