Best word processing software for Win 95

[Cuzman]

In helping a woman at work (who is "happy" still using Windows 95), I
said that I would find her some word processing software. I'm wondering
what the best WP software is for this lame old operating system.

According to the system requirements below, I see that OpenOffice 1.0.x
supports Win 95, but later versions don't.

http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_10.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_11.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_20.html

Is there anything better?

 

[Vegard Krog Petersen]

In helping a woman at work (who is "happy" still using Windows 95), I
said that I would find her some word processing software. I'm wondering
what the best WP software is for this lame old operating system.

According to the system requirements below, I see that OpenOffice 1.0.x
supports Win 95, but later versions don't.

http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_10.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_11.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_20.html

Is there anything better?

Perhaps AbiWords?
http://www.abisource.com/

Req.:
http://www.abisource.com/support/require/

* 486dx or better processor
* At least 16MB RAM
* Windows 95b or later
* Windows NT4 with update below
* Windows 95a has been known to work as well, but you need the update described at http://www.abisource.com/twiki/bin/view/Abiword/WinFaqWindowsCOMCTL32DLL

regards from vegard

 

[Gerard Bok]

In helping a woman at work (who is "happy" still using Windows 95), I
said that I would find her some word processing software. I'm wondering
what the best WP software is for this lame old operating system.

If she is happy with Windows 95, chances are that she will also
be quite happy with wordpad (wich comes with Windows 95

 

[default]

In helping a woman at work (who is "happy" still using Windows 95), I
said that I would find her some word processing software. I'm wondering
what the best WP software is for this lame old operating system.

According to the system requirements below, I see that OpenOffice 1.0.x
supports Win 95, but later versions don't.

http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_10.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_11.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_20.html

Is there anything better?

"Better" is subjective. What does your client need it for and what's
her expertise? The only real advantage to a newer word processor is
its compatibility with other modern file formats.

Check out WordWright http://www.softlookup.com/display.asp?id=1707

I think Open Office is the best freeware wp you'll find. But version
one is limited . . .

Splurge and get an old copy of WordPerfect? The prices are reasonable
and its a lot better than version one of Open Office. Any version of
WP six or over could make that claim.

Corel WordPerfect Office 2000 compatible with W95
http://www.directdeals.com/item_OEM-WPO2K.aspx $12
http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/WP-OFFICE-2K.htm $7

Probably the best feature of WP, from my perspective, is the dynamite
vector graphic drawing program. If you wanted to write an illustrated
book this would be my first choice, bar none.

Spread sheet program is excellent, with a good equation editor.
Graphing program is more aimed at business use than Scientific use. I
don't use the "presentations" feature - but it does come in handy for
translating graphic file formats.

One neat feature is the "reveal codes" it shows the formatting using
the old linotype delineators. An anachronism, to be sure, but
invaluable when you do something stupid like hit spaces forward and
tab backwards - then wonder why the picture you included won't go
where you thought it should.

Sorry - it ain't freeware, and I got carried away.

 

[Mike Dee]

According to the system requirements below, I see that OpenOffice
1.0.x supports Win 95, but later versions don't.

"According" to their system requirements. However OpenOffice 1.1x seems
to run nicely on this old P166 running Win95

I've installed OO.o 1.1.5, it seems quite happy. It complained about
DCOM being missing, I got DCOM for Win95 from Microsoft and installed
that. No complaints since. It also complained about a "ucpftp1.dll" was
unable to be registered. I ignored this, guessing it's for the HTML
modules, which I don't use. No other issues have arisen so far.

Otherwise, the Word processor side seems fine, opens Word docs and
prints to PDF on demand.

 

[John]

"Better" is subjective. What does your client need it for and what's
her expertise? The only real advantage to a newer word processor is
its compatibility with other modern file formats.

Check out WordWright http://www.softlookup.com/display.asp?id=1707

WordWrite link to download doesn't work...

Regards,
John.

 

[default]

WordWrite link to download doesn't work...

Regards,
John.

Hmm, quite right - doesn't work - links to Ziff Davis ftp site that
isn't there.

Judging from all the hits on "wordwright" someone may have a
copyright on the term.

woright.zip
http://ftp.azc.uam.mx/pub/antivirus/utils/woright.zip

Can't say for sure, but it is about the right file size, and the name
is correct. Open Office is better, in my opinion, wordwright is small
and easy to use.

 

[John]

Hmm, quite right - doesn't work - links to Ziff Davis ftp site that
isn't there.

Judging from all the hits on "wordwright" someone may have a
copyright on the term.

woright.zip
http://ftp.azc.uam.mx/pub/antivirus/utils/woright.zip

Can't say for sure, but it is about the right file size, and the name
is correct.

Yup, that's the correct one, thanks.

Regards,
John.

 

[FTR]

If she is happy with Windows 95, chances are that she will also
be quite happy with wordpad (wich comes with Windows 95

It has to be freeware, I guess ? what about abiword ?

 

[FTR]

"Better" is subjective. What does your client need it for and what's
her expertise? The only real advantage to a newer word processor is
its compatibility with other modern file formats.

Check out WordWright http://www.softlookup.com/display.asp?id=1707

I think Open Office is the best freeware wp you'll find. But version
one is limited . . .

Splurge and get an old copy of WordPerfect? The prices are reasonable
and its a lot better than version one of Open Office. Any version of
WP six or over could make that claim.

Corel WordPerfect Office 2000 compatible with W95
http://www.directdeals.com/item_OEM-WPO2K.aspx $12
http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/WP-OFFICE-2K.htm $7

Probably the best feature of WP, from my perspective, is the dynamite
vector graphic drawing program. If you wanted to write an illustrated
book this would be my first choice, bar none.

Spread sheet program is excellent, with a good equation editor.
Graphing program is more aimed at business use than Scientific use. I
don't use the "presentations" feature - but it does come in handy for
translating graphic file formats.

One neat feature is the "reveal codes" it shows the formatting using
the old linotype delineators. An anachronism, to be sure, but
invaluable when you do something stupid like hit spaces forward and
tab backwards - then wonder why the picture you included won't go
where you thought it should.

Sorry - it ain't freeware, and I got carried away.

The question was: what is best for a Win 95 ? But this seems to be an
ideological question here.

Anyway, I would also vote for WP. I wrote my dissertation on it, with WP
5 ?, 300 pages, it worked. And the reveal codes - no anachronism, the
other writer programs are stupid not to have copied the idea. If you
desperately search why after a delete command 35 pages change their
layout you knwo what you search.
It was a hard time when I had to leave WP and work with Billware.

Frank

 

[JP Loken]

In helping a woman at work (who is "happy" still using Windows 95), I
said that I would find her some word processing software. I'm wondering
what the best WP software is for this lame old operating system.

According to the system requirements below, I see that OpenOffice 1.0.x
supports Win 95, but later versions don't.

http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_10.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_11.html
http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs_20.html

Is there anything better?

Not better, but perhaps more useful?
AbiWord.
Preferred on our ancient laptop.

The last freeware version of Tomahawk is also a good choice.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/Tomahawk-PDF.shtml

 

[default]

The question was: what is best for a Win 95 ? But this seems to be an
ideological question here.

Anyway, I would also vote for WP. I wrote my dissertation on it, with WP
5 ?, 300 pages, it worked. And the reveal codes - no anachronism, the
other writer programs are stupid not to have copied the idea. If you
desperately search why after a delete command 35 pages change their
layout you knwo what you search.
It was a hard time when I had to leave WP and work with Billware.

Frank

I doubt that most people have a use for the reveal codes - but if was
authoring a book I wouldn't want to be without it. More for the power
user than the friendly letter.

I was reading about communications technology and found that the
symbols on "reveal codes" are the same ones that were used when
linotype machines were used to cast molten lead type for newspapers. I
doubt there are any linotype machines in use in the USA these days.

Pity the linotype operators . . . I used to see them in the coldest
days of winter with their windows open, sniffing hot lead fumes all
day long. What would OSHA say?

 

[William F. Adams]

One still sees Linotype and Monotype machines being used for fine
printing, numbering jobs and even a couple of newspapers (last I heard
there was still one in the mid-west being so set and printed and
another in Australia).

Notably, the Arion Press Bible was set on Monotype:

http://www.arionpress.com/catalog/060.htm

William