Since Microsoft Office has come out with new versions every couple of years, and it appears the price tag keeps going up, I have a solution other writers might be able to use: OpenOffice.org.
It is a free, open source replica of Microsoft Office programs, that were programmed by computer geeks who believe software should be free, or at least not grossly marked up. If you ever saw the movie Antitrust, with Ryan Philippe, you know a little bit about open source. They do accept donations, and help with the project updates, such as oh um writers to pen the help sections...
I switched to Open Office about a month ago, my husband has been using it for over a year. It opens, saves, edits, and does anything else you want to do with a Microsoft Office file. I write all of my articles using Writer, and just save it as a Microsoft Word document.
These aren't illegal, or "stolen code" or anything like that. Most of these programs derive from computer enthusiasts starting a project, and then working with other people to keep growing it. Believe me, if you ever saw how non-responsive my husband gets when he is programming something as simple as a ball bouncing on a blank page (I still don't see how that's cool....) you would understand to these types of people-- it is a passion!
Open source isn't for everyone. If you struggle with installing applications yourself, or don't know how to virus scan, and don't want to be responsible for updating your software every few months or so, then Open Office isn't for you. It is nice though that things are where they belong, like Page Format is under Format, not File, and I've never had the program stop responding, or just crash either. Though Writer does save a copy of your document if you shut down your computer and forgot to save, I learned this the hard way, but was thankful none the less.
Just thought I would share...
)It was still free then and once I got the hang of it I've been very pleased with it.