[Xaaron Swiftblade]

I'm thinking I'll need a word processor and eventually full blown office suite once I get m'computer, so what do you guys use? Can they view/create M$ Word documents? Are any of 'em free?

[JLFanboy]

Are you a student? Because, frankly, Office v.X is probably the best you're going to get. I know that you can get the Teacher/Student Edition on Amazon for around $120. Granted, that's $120 more than nothing, but if you want a fullblown office suite with total Microsoft compatibility, than you're not going to do much better.

[TheIceMan]

Agreed. It's a love/hate thing with MS Office. I believe that we need it. Thus far there have been some software companies touting MS Word compatibility (Nisus Writer Express). But when it comes down to it. NONE of these companies have been able to successfully create complete compatibility with MS Word. I had high hopes for Nisus Express, but so far they have not proven anything. Stick with MS Office or at least MS Word. It would suck to use one something like Nisus Writer Express only to find out that the MS word documents you've created in Word doesn't "look the same" when it's opened in Nisus Writer Express.

Check out the following programs, test them out and see which one works best for you.

Nisus Writer Express
Mellel
Mariner Write
MS Office
MS Word (w/o all the other stuff)
OpenOffice
RagTime Solo
ThinkFree Office

[milhouse]

I mostly use Word X as part of Office X. It is bloated for most needs though.
For more basic needs I've found that Mellel looks quite good as does Text edit plus.

Both of these apps run very fast on a iBook so they're not very processor intensive.

When I last used TFO, it was too slow for me. Perhaps it's "better" now as it's been updated as has Java for OS X.

Many folks also like Appleworks but I can't get past the interface. It's a holdover from 1989.

If you need all of the features of a FULL fledged WP then Word X is as good as the wintel version.

YMMV and good luck

[Thor]

Panther will give you some basic Word import/export in TextEdit...

[VEGAN]

Personally, I'm using mostly iTexMac [LaTeX], since LaTeX is best for scientific papers... and free.

When I have to trouble with .doc files etc. I use OpenOffice

[mark2]

The OS X version of Word (Office) is really nice. Never thought I'd say that, I hate the windoze version.

When I want to enjoy writing, I use Mellel. It doesn't open Word docs, yet. This is probably my favorite word processor. This is $25.00 and includes three years of free upgrades. And they are constantly improving the program. This is a good company, IMO.

I also have the OSX version of AppleWorks. It's ok, that's the best I can say for it. Used ClarisWorks 5 for years and really liked it. The OS X version is worse than all the other versions I've ever used. I avoid it as much as possible.

Nisus is taking forever to get their word processor together, so I passed on it. They also only give you a year of free upgrades. And, as slow as they are developing it that means you'll probably have to pay full price again, if they EVER get around to upgrading it.

Mariner Write is really overpriced, IMO, so I've never considered about buying it.

[Scarpa]

I use Office.X and Office XP for word processinng, but try to use TextEdit and Notepad as much as possible.

Since I do less word processing and more data processing/scripting I don't use the Word products that much.