must upgrade to XP software?

[Lisa]

I did not realize when I bought this computer last year
that it did not come w/ a new version of Word and other
standard applications. Now the computer is shutting down
when I am in the middle of the first page of typed text
using Word 95 and I've been told that if I don't upgrade
to XP software I will soon be in an endless loop and
unable to do anything. Of course I have missed the
rebate deadline to purchase XP software and am looking at
$400-500 expense just so I can word process on my year
old computer! Is this the infuriating truth of the
matter or is there another option?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Two thoughts:

1. Don't purchase Office XP; Office 2003 will be out within a few months.

2. If you need just Word, get Word 2002 (or 2003 in a few months) as part of
Works Suite. This is absolutely the most economical way to get Word ($109
MSRP for the package, with a $15 mail-in rebate now in effect). The version
of Word included is the *full* version, and the package also includes Works,
Picture It!®, Encarta®, Money, and Streets & Trips. See
http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/Homepages/SuiteProduct.asp for more.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Jay Freedman]

Hi, Lisa,

But before you spend *any* money, please check out the procedures at
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm. Whoever told
you that you must upgrade to fix the crashes doesn't know what they're
talking about. The crashes are the result of something wrong with the way
Word 95 is installed, or a corrupted file -- not a nefarious plot by
Microsoft to make everyone upgrade! (Hey, I like conspiracy theories as much
as the next guy, but I don't buy this one...)