CNET Editors' review
AbiWord Portable is a lightweight word-processing program that supplies many of the typical word-processing features in an easy-to-use format. It's a great choice for users seeking an alternative to popular full-featured programs.
AbiWord Portable's interface is clean and simple, with a layout that's reminiscent of pre-2007 versions of Microsoft Word. The program's features are organized with buttons and menus common to many other word-processing programs, allowing users who are already experienced with other programs to easily move into AbiWord Portable and start using it without wasting time looking for basic functions. The program's built-in Help file is well-written and thorough. The most outstanding feature of AbiWord Portable is that it's so lightweight and, as the name implies, can be stored on portable devices. Although the program provides the major features most users expect from word-processing programs, we noticed a few minor ways in which it was lacking. For example, although the program will underline misspelled words, there's no autocorrect feature. We liked that AbiWord Portable offers mail merge and the capability to create tables. We also liked that it can save documents in a variety of different formats, making them accessible in other word-processing programs. Overall, we found AbiWord Portable to be both simple and powerful enough.
AbiWord Portable is free. It installs and uninstalls without issues. We recommend this program to all users.
Publisher's Description
From PortableApps:
AbiWord Portable is the lightweight AbiWord word processor packaged as a portable app, so you can edit your documents on the go. You can place it on your USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive or a CD and use it on any computer, without leaving any personal information behind.
AbiWord Portable is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft Word. It is suitable for a variety of word processing activities and has the ability to read and write a number of document types including Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, Open Document (pre-installed), RTF, HTML, Palm and more. It includes both grammar and spelling checkers as well as an array of other handy features including mail merge capabilities. It also has a plugin system allowing you to add features with available add-on plugins.
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 11 votes
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Current version:
4.5 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-4 of 4
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"Great program, completly free quite better than word!!"
Version: AbiWord Portable 2.8.6
Pros
ALL THINGS that I can tell you!!!
No problems with downloads, easy, fast more than microsoft word.Cons
Nothing at all
Summary
Program for all users. It's portable and we can carried on USB key.
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"Fine if you only write short, simple documents"
Version: AbiWord Portable 2.8.6
Pros
Compact, fast, no learning curve for one who has used any word processing program.
Cons
Can't handle Word files of any complexity, with tables or graphics or moderately involved formatting (the formatting is just lost when you import the file, and the graphics can't be seen).
Summary
If you want a decent word processor for writing simple documents with minimal disk or memory requirements, this is perfect. I tried to use it, with some urgency, to edit complex Word files after Word quit working under 64-bit Windows 7 on my new laptop. That was a complete failure. If you just write text, this would be great. If you have to deal with tables and more, imported from Word, go elsewhere.
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"A great free portable word processor"
Version: AbiWord Portable 2.8.6
Pros
Very comfortable interface. Easy to use on a USB stick in multiple computers.
Cons
It is a work in progress so occasionally bugs have been known to appear. Help menu is not fully developed.
Summary
If you have used nearly any other word processor software in a Windows environment you will find AbiWord Portable easy to use. It can save files in a large number of different formats including LaTex and Open Office which is very nice. Opening and saving documents in the MS Word .docx extension has not been a problem. Like a "full strength" word processing program AbiWord portable provides for revision marking and collaboration. A handy thing for progam on a USB flash drive. One feature I wilsh it had was the ability to format envelopes, otherwise you can't go wrong with AbiWord portable.
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"No problems with downloads, always works."
Version: AbiWord Portable 2.8.6
Pros
Easy to use program, very simple. Completely satisfied.
Cons
Used for about 3 years, never had a problem no Cons at all.
Summary
Program is easy to use, works well every time, using Windows Vista.
Results 1-4 of 4
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