| Linux word processing: an embarassment of riches |
A guest column by Gary Frankenbery (Nov. 24, 2001) . . .
Word processing is fundamental. No matter how useful a desktop computer system is for other tasks, it needs a fast, powerful, and flexible word processing program.
I've always used MS-Word for serious, sophisticated word processing. As I teach high school mathematics, my layout-needs frequently require the use of a math formula editor. I also use lots of text boxes, screen clips, and callouts in my word processing.
So, my main home machine has always been a dual-boot machine -- I use Linux most of the time, but boot into MS-Win for serious word processing. I've always longed for a linux-based word processing package that was as good as MS-Word (the two pieces of software from MS that I consider near-great are MS Visual Basic and MS-Word, due largely to Microsoft's persistent updating of these packages for a long period of time).
Over the years, I've tried many Linux-based WP packages, both open source and commercial. After much frustration and disappointment, I finally purchased Applixware Office 5.0. ApplixWords isn't quite as flexible and powerful as MS-Word, but it's close. So, the last few months, I've been using ApplixWord for some occasional serious word processing. The formula editor works well, but, I don't like the way ApplixWords handles images.
Recently, I upgraded my machine to Linux Mandrake 8.1. Once again, I gave KWord, the KDE word processor, a try. Lo and behold, the formula editor finally works! While I need to tinker around some more with KWord, its beginning to look like it might suit my needs.
However, my real Linux WP-mistress lately has been OpenOffice version 638C. The latest version isn't nearly at bloated as previous versions, and the anti-aliased fonts in Open Office are gorgeous on my screen. It feels as powerful and lively as MS-Word, and actually does some things better than MS-Word (and some things not quite as well). And, I think it works better running under Linux than under MS-Windows.
So, it truly is an embarrassment of riches -- Applixware, KWord, and OpenOffice. I'm sure, as these programs mature, and I gain more experience with each of them, that I will switch from time to time, and eventually settle on just one of these packages. But at least I finally believe that I will sever another tie to Microsoft's software.
Finally, I see that Hancom Word will shortly be issued in a QT version for Linux (rather than running under the Wine emulator). Yes, I've got to give it a try. The next few months are going to be fun!
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