4C Software & Technology Directory

Almost everyone is familiar with Microsoft Word. It is the dominant word processing software on the market and is the default way that most people create their important business documents. But what happens if you don’t have Word installed on your home computer? If you don’t want to spend the money to purchase a copy, you have several legal options that will allow you to produce high-quality documents that are compatible with anyone using Microsoft Word.

“Word” has become as closely associated with word processing software as “Xerox” is to photocopiers to “Kleenex” is to tissue paper. However, it is just a brand name and there are several alternative options available for people who need word processing on their computer. Some of these options are specific to operating system (Mac vs. PC) while others work on almost any computer. You can choose from several freeware software suites that give you all of the basic word publishing features you need to create a simple document or select a paid option with a wider range of features such as Web publishing, layout and design templates.

Another great option is to take advantage of cloud computing. Instead of creating a document on your personal computer, cloud computing lets you create and share documents that are stored in the “cloud” – on Internet file servers. Services such as Google Docs allow you to upload, create and share word processing documents as well as spreadsheets, PDFs and other important files. It’s free and you don’t have to worry about losing an email, as files are automatically saved and can be accessed from anywhere.