Brainless computer question - help needed!

[moominmama86]

I've just been bought this new 'puter by my mum and dad (bless 'em) since my old one was destroyed by dh! It's lovely to have mumsnet access again (!) and has come with a spiffy little digital camera and new printer, which is all great. Trouble is, I'm worried that it may be a bit, ummm, pants in other departments and really need some advice.

It runs Windows XP but is set up with Microsoft Works - not Word. Works does have a word-processing package which looks fine in itself but basically I am concerned that I really need 'proper' Word instead. I am hoping to restart a freelance career for which I will really need a decent wp program and am afraid that Works will not be up to scratch.

Will it look totally rubbish if I can only create documents in Works files? Can I read and edit normal Word files using Works? Can people read Works files in Word? Or should I just sod the expense and install MS Office??

Sorry if this question is really sad. I'm pretty computer-literate in some senses but don't really have a clue about the merits of particular programs! Any advice much appreciated.

What version of works is it because the WP is Ms Word as far as I know. it is with the 2001 version anyway cos I have the listing in front of me...

Hi flea - it's Works 7.0...

I don't know anything about Works, I'm afraid, but if you are really stuck you could consider Open Office . It's a free download and is completely compatible with Word, so you can read things sent to you, and people can open your documents in Word. It's not quite as user friendly, but it is quite powerful. If that's no good then I think you might have to bite the bullet and go with MS Office, I guess.

OK : works WP will import and export Word docs but I am not sure to what level - I imagine things would be lost! If you cannot afford to upgrade to Office I would say you might want to upgrade your version of Works instead. The new version comes with Word and if Word is all you need then this would be cheaper than buying Office. You only need to get the upgrade version which should be cheaper than the full retail.

some computers come with word and works - all are compatable but if you want to look professionall then it would eb best to install office to save clients having to convert files - youcould always claim the cost or part of it off your tax bill!!

We got caught out with this as well. You have to buy WORD separately .... My dh is creating camera-ready copy and could not use the wp programme in WORKS - e.g. wordcount only counts words in main text, not in footnotes.