AbiWord is a light weight, open source word processor for Windows and Linux that can create and edit documents in a variety of formats including DOC, RTF, TXT, HTML, and ABW. The word processor is often overlooked in favor of the fuller featured OpenOffice.org.

But if you don't need a full office suite that takes up hundreds of megaybtes, AbiWord is worth checking out -- and the latest version released today includes a handful of interesting new features including integration with the new AbiCollab web-based service for sharing documents with friends, colleagues, or the general public (you can set your account to be publicly visible or private).

AbiWord 2.8 includes a number of new collaborative features including the ability to highlight text from different authors in different colors. You can also upload documents to AbiCollab.net, where you can store files, share them with contacts, and convert from one file format to another. You can't actually edit documents on AbiCollab.net, so it's not exactly a Google Docs killer. But you can create a document which users can then download and edit with AbiWord before saving and/or uploading their changes. And when you open a file from AbiCollab, it will automatically open in AbiWord on your desktop. When you hit save, it will be saved to the web.

The latest version of AbiWord also supports multi-page views, annotations, or comments in documents and scalable vector graphics. There's also improved support for ODT and DOCX documents.

Have you ever wondered why you can't simply author PDF files directly in a word processor? Most word processors like Microsoft Word use their own proprietary format, or a standard format like RTF. But Adobe's PDF format is the recognized standard in cross-platform page layout file formats; if you send someone a PDF file, you can be virtually guaranteed that they will be able to open and view it. And better yet, what they see will be exactly what you intended.

Though it may not seem like the world needs another word processor, the folks at PageHand decided that the ones that are currently available left something to be desired. And thus, PageHand, the word processor, was born.

PageHand has to be the most approachable word processor I've ever seen. When you first launch it, a sample document opens that is essentially a written tutorial. You are encouraged to change and edit the sample document as a way to get comfortable with PageHand's features, and can always revert back to the original sample document right from the Help menu item. With this tutorial, a new user could be comfortable navigating PageHand and using its various features very quickly.

TUAW previously covered PageHand prior to its release during WWDC, when they posted a first-look preview video. It's now in release, and is available for a limited time for $39.95, after which it will go back to the regular price of $49.95. There is a 30 day trial version available, and a money back guarantee.

While some modern browsers include built-in spell checkers, and some operating systems include built-in spelling and grammar checkers, there are people out there using operating systems and browsers that do not have these features.

If you're looking for some help with your writing and don't have access to Microsoft Word or a similarly-powered word processor, there is a solution available on the web called After the Deadline. The site (at the memorable URL polishmywriting.com) offers spelling and grammar help, and even writing style suggestions.

Online storage provider Box.net has launched a new service called Web Documents that's something of a cross between a word processor and a simple HTML editor. Like Google Docs, Zoho Office, and other online word processors, Web Documents lets you quickly and easily create text and image-based documents from any web browser. You can share the docs with others by sending a link, or you can invite other Box.net users to edit the document.

Web Documents has the basic features you'd expect from a word processor including simple formatting tools and a spell checker. You can insert images from your computer or the web, tablets, and you can even embed YouTube videos.

What Web Documents doesn't have is the ability to export documents as Word or OpenOffice files, which makes it intrinsically less useful than other web based Office apps. Fortunately, Box.net also offers Zoho Office integration -- which makes me wonder what the point of Web Documents is in the first place.

[via Life Rocks 2.0]

At first glance, Shutterborg is just another online word processor. Like Google Docs or Zoho Writer, Shutterborg lets you create, edit, print, and save text and image-based documents using any web browser. But there's one thing that really sets Shutterborg apart: You can enter a URL to load any web page as a document and then start editing away.

For instance, I typed in www.downloadsquad.com and within seconds Shutterborg loaded the page as if it were a Word document. You can change or remove images, add text, adjust the font, alignment, or muck up any web site any way you like.

The service doesn't offer a ton of options. Right now you can only save files in HTML format. And there's no way to load documents saved on your desktop, although that feature is coming soon. So right now Shutterborg is really more of a novelty than a replacement for Microsoft Word, or even Google Docs. But this web based processor does show some promise, and could certainly help you plot a practical joke or two.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

The latest version of open source word processor AbiWord adds support for Office Open XML filters, which means you can now use AbiWord to open, edit, or save OpenOffice Writer or Microsoft Word 2007 documents.

AbiWord 2.6.5 also includes a number of bug fixes and an improved LaTeX export filter. AbiWord is available for Windows or Linux. And if you don't want to install it to your PC, a portable version which you can run from a USB flash drive is also available.

I've been using AbiWord for most of my word processing needs for ages. It's quite capable as a light weight standalone word processor. But in the past it has had problems dealing with the formatting of some imported Office documents, which is why I've always kept OpenOffice.org around as a backup. It'll be interesting to see if the new version does a better job with Office docs.

AbiWord is a great little word processor for Windows, Linux, and OS X. It can handle DOC, RTF, TXT, and HTML files, as well as a few other other formats. And AbiWord takes up an awful lot less disc space than OpenOffice.org. So it's certainly worth checking out if all you need is a lightweight but full-featured word processor.

Version 2.6 is available now for Windows and Linux. It looks like the latest version of AbiWord for OS X is still version 2.4.6. The latest release includes a ton of updates including:

• GNOME office plugin that allows you to embed Gnumeric charts in documents
• Ability to open files on remote shares using samba, ftp, or ssh shares
• Improved language support
• Experimental collaboration plugin
• Experimental new Office Open XMl import filter
• Native Windows vista menus
• Drag and drop images in and out of Unix version of AbiWord

For a full list of updates, check out the release notes.

[via CyberNotes]

What's the first word processor you remember using? Word, WordPerfect, Works or something else altogether? On the one hand, word processing has come a long way in the last two decades. On the other hand, the image above shows Microsoft Word 1.0, which is almost 20 years old. And you know what? You could still use it to write most of your daily correspondence if you really wanted to.

ImpressionSoft@Work has an overview of the history of MS Word, from version 1.0 all the way up to Word 2007. Do you remember when Microsoft added real-time spell checking or the ability to draw to Word? What about the first version to include the annoying paper clip pop-up assistant?

If the trip down memory lane is making you nostalgic, don't forget that you Microsoft made Word 5.5 for DOS available as a free download a while back. And the download link still works.

[via WinBeta]

There are dozens of alternatives to Microsoft Word for people who need to create or edit text documents but don't feel like shelling out the cash for Microsoft Office. We're rather fond of AbiWord and OpenOffice Writer around here. Both are full-featured MS Word alternatives that are capable of opening and editing Word documents. And they both come in portable versions which can be installed to a USB flash drive for carrying from computer to computer if that's your cup of tea.

Jarte is another portable word processor. Although you can install Jarte to a Windows PC, you can also download a zip file that contains all the files and settings you need to run Jarte on any computer using a flash drive. Jarte is based on Microsoft WordPad, but it includes a ton of features that you won't find in WordPad including advanced formatting options and a spell checker.

The program also has a rather unusual interface, including tabs for switching between multiple open documents. And while most word processor have a ton of toolbars atop the text field letting you change fonts, colors, or page formating, Jarte has just a few large buttons. You click on these buttons to find submenus with all of those other features, many of which you probably don't use very often. The concept is nice, as it saves a lot of screen real estate. But it's kind of annoying that it takes two or three clicks to perform some functions that take just one click on other word processors.

Jarte is available as a free download. But if you want some of the more advanced features like real-time spell checking, you'll have to cough up $19 for Jarte Plus.

[via Techie Buzz]

Looking for an online word processing application but you don't fancy Google Docs, Zoho Writer, or ThinkFree? Adobe has launched a public beta of Buzzword. Previously, you could only access the online writing/collaborating application with an invitation.

Buzzword is a slick web application that looks unlike any other word processor we've sen. It supports tables, images and page breaks. You can create and store documents online, share them with other users, print or download them. The one thing you can't do is insert hyperlinks in a document.

[via Digital Inspiration]

While Microsoft is taking steps to web-ify its offline office suite, Adobe is joining the crowded field of companies offering web-based office applications. Adobe is buying Virtual Ubiquity, makers of Buzzword, a new online word processor. At the same time, the company is launching a beta of a new document sharing service cleverly titled "Share." (Don't worry that's just an internal codename. Rest assured it will probably be renamed something like "Adobe Share" by the time it's officially launched).

Buzzword was already built using Adobe's Flex environment, which means it runs inside of a web browser using the same Flash player you need to watch YouTube videos. An offline version of Buzzword is expected next year.

It's a full-featured word processor, with support for tables, images, page breaks, and pretty much anything you'd want in a word processor. Well, almost. Apparently it doesn't support hyperlinks, which is a bit baffling. Adobe plans to integrate Buzzword and Share, letting you create documents, store them online and share them with other users.