Lee368 shared this with us in microsoft.public.word.docmanagement:

Stop complaining, start using OpenOffice.
http://openoffice.org
And don't bother the people who use MS Office.

This is Leora..ha! must be only people with the names starting with L.
I also bought a new computer and was give Corel for my word program
not realizing at the time it was useless.
pretty program but no one can open.

OpenWriter can save to Word format, which 90% of the people can open.
OpenWriter can save to PDF format, which 100% of the people can open.

I am trying to send out resumes online to potential new employers and
they respond saying cannot open the document.

Send your resume in PDF. This is more professional AND it's more
difficult to mess with. I have heard about HR assistants that changed
resumes because they didn't like the face of an applicant.

Like you I do not have the money nor do I wish to spend all that money
for software when I just bought a brand new computer!

Not only is OpenOffice Free (libre) but it is also free (gratis).

I also do not need powerpoint etc.

OpenOffice includes those programs, but if you don't need it, don't
install the components or don't use them. And if you don't have to pay
for it, what's the difference? Just a few megabytes wasted hard disk
space? That's nothing with near-terabyte hard disks.

I have posted a query... not sure if I put it on the right discussion
group. I put it under word... as I am not sure what all the others
mean.

If you get an answer to your query, you are probably in the right group.

Why do people who just need to write letters with Word have to buy
the entire Office package?

They don't have to.

People who are not working in an office do not need the other
programs that come with Office

That is your opinion. I need a spreadsheed for my home finance, a
database for my cd collection, and presentation software for the
photographs I made on my travels.

and it isn't right they are forced to purchase an entire package
that's very expensive when all they need is Word.

Correct. But they aren't forced.

With Windows XP I am finding out it won't allow me to download my
Office '97

Please state the nature of the problem.
Office 97 is known to work on Windows XP.

and I am going to be forced to purchase the 2003 edition

No you are not. You can choose an alternative like Corel or the
free(gratis)/Free(libre) OpenOffice.

When you don't have any use for all the other programs and already
purchased a prior version of it I don't understand why Microsoft
won't allow you to download the version you already invested into.

It was never possible to download software from Microsoft.

XP will not allow me to fully install my Office '97

That is not true.

and I think people should have the right to make a choice if they
want to upgrade to a newer version when they don't require it for
just letter writing or saving some articles and other items from the
Internet.

I don't understand. You HAVE that choice. Open your eyes, do some
research, and CHOOSE. Be assertive.

If I had known this was going to happen to me I doubt very much if I
would have upgraded to a newer computer and would have stuck with
the one I had. All I was looking for was a little more memory space
in another computer and didn't know it was going to lead to all
these unwanted expenses because of a block that won't allow me to
download Office '97.

ALWAYS do your homework before you buy a new computer.

While you are at home just don't require to have Excel, Access and
Powerpoint

Not true. These have uses at home.

when all you are interested in doing is writing letters
occassionally.

Use Wordpad: it's included with Windows.

I feel as if someone is putting my back up against a wall and
forcing me to purchase something I don't need.

That's why more and more people start using Free(libre) alternatives.

It's not as if I am running an
office from home that I need all that extra stuff and it would be
very considerate if we are forced into purchasing a newer version
of something it could be sold seperately and not as a package in
order to avoid the high expense of buying the entire Office program.

Yada, yada, yada. Third time you write this.


I gave both of you useful answers. Please stop complaining and start
being productive. And do your homework next time.


--
Amedee Van Gasse using XanaNews 1.17.5.7
If it has an "X" in the name, it must be Linux?