Application

Description

Desktop/Downloadable Alternatives

Open Office.org

OpenOffice.org is a collection of applications that work together closely to provide the features expected from a modern office suite. Many of the components are designed to mirror those available in Microsoft Office. It is an application suite available for a number of different computer operating systems.

Abi Word

It is a free word processing program compatible not only with Microsoft Word, but also OpenOffice.org, Word Perfect, Rich Text Format, and Palm OS. It has an advanced document layout capabilities that allows you to do a mail merge. It can be expanded with plugins that come for free.

QJot

Qjot is a rich text editor. You can read, write and edit word files and insert files or images into text. Download and carry it around in a USB Flash drive.

The Koffice

Koffice applications use Open Document as their native file format. The K Desktop Products run on LINUX, Windows, Mac, Solaris and BSD. KDE software can be used or translated into 60 different languages.

IBM Lotus Symphony

It’s another free office suite. Based on OpenOffice.org which includes presentation software, word processor and spreadsheets. It supports open document format, Microsoft Office and Lotus Symphony Documents. Tables, charts, templates and graphics are available.

Jarte

It is based on WordPad engine. It handles Microsoft 95, 97 and 2000 documents. Documents can be exported to HTML or PDF files. Allows you to insert images, tables and hyperlinks. Jarte has a plus version which has more features, but that is not a freeware.

Neo Office

It has a set of office applications including word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, drawing and database for Mac OS X. It is based on the OpenOffice.org office suite, NeoOffice has integrated Mac features. You can import, edit, exchange files with other popular office programs.

LyX

LyX is a document processor. It is compatible with UNIX, Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. It has special features like Table Editor and Math Editor.

Ted

Ted is a text processor running under X Windows on Unix/Linux systems. Ted was made to make it possible to edit rich text documents on Unix/Linux in a WYSIWYG way. RTF files from Ted are fully compatible with MS-Word. Additionally, Ted also is an RTF to PostScript and an RTF to Acrobat PDF converter.

Atlantis Nova

Atlantis Nova is a word processor that has quite a bunch of useful features and has an extensive support for MS Word files. There are plenty of toolbars so you don’t have to choose items from the pull-down menu: you’re always just a click away from making your text in subscript or, for example, capitalizing a text.

Ultrapad

Ultra-Pad is a freeware advanced Word Processor Application for Windows 95 and later. It features some of the most advanced features you would ever want in a Word Processor. Ultra-pad is skinnable and there are themes available for download to change the looks.

TextShield Fusion

TextShield is a free, compact word processor with a wealth of features. For example, TextShield can compress files automatically using the popular ZIP compression.

Online/Web-based Alternatives

Google Docs

It’s a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. Documents can be shared, used and edited by multiple users at the same time.

Zoho

ZohoWriter can be accessed from anywhere. You can create, edit and reformat documents using editor. Multiple user compatibility. Import your MS Word, OpenOffice.org text, HTML, RTF, JPG, GIF or PNG. Share or publish documents.

Peepel

Is a browser-based word processor. Text formatting, image insertion (from the web) are its common features. It also allows you to import and export documents with Word and Open Office, collaborate with others on a document, and even work offline, and then resync when you can get Internet connectivity again. WebWriter, Calculator, Websheet and Browser are few of its applications.

Adobe Buzzword

It is an online word processor. It is extremely slick in its interface. One can prepare reports pr proposals online or work on with others. It has a special feature that allows you to know your collaborators and their status, i.e. whether they’re reading it or editing it. The dashboard allows you to easily sort by author, date, role, or file size. It keeps a record of every change that has been made to a document. You can also add number of comments.

Thinkfree

Thinkfree is both web-based and desktop application. You can share documents with co-authors or publish the document on a site, blog or elsewhere. You can manage data both online and offline. It includes applications like ThinkFree Write, ThinkFree Calc and ThinkFree Show. You do not have to upload a file when you make changes offline. The File Sync option uploads it automatically. It is an hassle free alternative.

J2E

This one is for all Students!!! An educational web based document processor. It can be used for word processing or web publishing. Documents can be shared or accessed by anyone using the uniform resource locator that every j2e page is provided with.

Ajax Write

It is an online word processor that reads and writes MS Word and other standard document formats. It works from a Firefox web browser on any OS. It is easy to collaborate and share files or save it to your hard drive. It handle’s updates automatically which doesn’t let you get stuck with old versions.

Fly Suite

You can create or open Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in the MS format. You can access and edit your documents stored on FlySuite servers from anywhere. You can be alerted whenever a collaborator opens your document. Conference chats is a unique feature of FlySuite.

iNetword

It has the capability to create and edit real world documents and Web pages. You can avoid desktop editors. It has a rich table of formats. You can store documents, collaborate and share with others. It includes functions like spell check, insert pictures or templates, and so on.

Nevercode Docs

It’s a powerful yet easy to use word editor. It does all popular rich word processing. You can also download this application and access it from your desktop. You can store all you documents in the Nevercode’s server. Pictures can be linked to an url or upload it from your local disks. It has an Auto correct feature that corrects documents. Once you’ve created, edited and stored the documents, you can share or publish them.

WriteBoard

Write something, share it, revise it, compare it and keep your writings organized. WriteBoard is a web based application. Text documents can be created, edited and saved. The interesting feature is that you can roll back any version of a single document and compare changes. Backup integration lets you keep your documents organized. Suitable for bloggers, authors, journalists, students, publishers, editors or even for PR folks.

Zcubes

Zcubes is the world’s first website where you can browse, calculate, create, edit, draw, hand-write, watch, listen, paint, publish, and search and so on. Create all your documents online and access them from anywhere. Upload pictures in you documents. Publish or share them with others.