- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
- Date added: October 30, 2009
- Total Downloads: 420,249
- Downloads last week: 986
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 139 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on October 30, 2009
This free, open-source word processor strikes us as a worthy alternative to pricey, big-name products. AbiWord has a quick learning curve, since the interface is very similar to those in Word and WordPerfect.
You'll find just about all the features you need, including the ability to cut and paste, highlight, and a bevy of common formatting tools. Although we did miss a grammar-checking utility, AbiWord can check your spelling in many languages--you'll need to choose the appropriate foreign language dictionaries during installation. A huge plus is the ability to open and save Microsoft Word documents, though the program also has its own proprietary file format. You can download plug-ins at the publisher's site to import and export a wide variety of other formats, including OpenDocument.
The latest version integrates with the AbiCollab Web service for sharing documents, and finally introduces an annotation feature that competitors have long had. AbiWord should appeal to a wide range of users who seek a functional word-processing app but lack a large bank account.
Publisher's description
From AbiSource :AbiWord is a lean yet full-featured word processor. It features a familiar-looking interface, basic character formatting, paragraph alignment, a spell checker, interactive rulers and tabs, styles, unlimited undo/redo, find and replace, and image support. It can also import Microsoft Word 97 and RTF (Rich Text Format) documents, as well as support headers/footers, superscript/subscript, widow/orphan control and newspaper-style columns. Many plug-ins are available.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 139 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 13 user reviewsSee all 13 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: AbiWord 2.8.1
"No nonsense light word processor"
Pros: Great for ease of use when one doesn't want all the bells and whistles, great to be able to save in the various common formats - nice clear uncluttered screen
Cons: The flash screen is getting bulkier and slowing down the loading time which was faster on earlier versions, one of the reasons I would use Abi instead of other open source ware
Summary: Easy to use no nonsense clean screen word processor, great for jotting down notes and the shopping or composing drafts for later embellishment. has always been reliable and does what it's supposed to, gets my recommendation again after 4 years use.
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Version: AbiWord 2.8.1
"Does what you need to do for free."
Pros: Imports many different formats and edits them. Converts docs to PDF well.
Cons: When importing WordPerfect docs with complicated tab sets, small errors occurred as in every other program I have tried. They were easy to fix.
Summary: Great general word processor. Great for average users and FREE.
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Version: AbiWord 2.8.1
Pros: light and fast! leaves other word processors like OpenOffice and Microsoft to dust. free and open source!
Cons: not ready to completely replace OpenOffice and Microsoft. it dont like opening .doc with embedded pics and it screws up on headers and other stuff. darn u Microsoft and your cruddy file types!
Summary: it does the best job at writing documents without headers i think. this thing isn't ready yet to tackle the big dogs but gots lots of potential imo.
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Version: AbiWord 2.8.1
Pros: Very light. Basic design. Not complicated at all.
Cons: The dictionary/spell check is SLIGHTLY faulty.
Summary: I really like this program I DEFINITELY recommend it for anyone using a Netbook (I run a Dell Mini). It opens nearly as fast as Notepad (that comes with the Windows OS). My only complaint is the spell check/dictionary. There are some things that sho... read more >>
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Version: AbiWord 2.8.1
"a good program instead of Microsoft Word"
Pros: I will study with more attention the program. I have used it only once
Cons: I don't know yet. I will rewrite you later
Summary: Now I don't know.
- See all 13 user reviews Write review
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