THE DOWNSIDE OF MICROSOFT WORD

Today, the most popular choice for word processing is MS Word. Designed with a wide array of features to make work easy, people of all ages and skill level love this program. While it is true that MS Word is user-friendly and feature rich, you also have a few downsides to the program. For instance, we have to give credit to Microsoft for trying to keep the program simple for those needing it while also trying to build a complex program off to the side. For people with strong experience, this combination of simple and complex works but for some people just starting out, we hear a common complaint of there being too many features.

Unfortunately, sometimes a person will purchase MS Word only to discover that it is ladled with complicated features. Although there are basic commands, looking at the program as a whole makes it seem overwhelming. For this reason, we have seen a growing request for some type of MS Word Lite, something designed specifically for the beginner, and perhaps a program that could handle add-ons to accommodate the growing need. In other words, as the individual's skills increase, add-on applications and features could be added until finally, the person has the full version or at least a version supporting the features he or she needs.

Without doubt, MS Word is fast and powerful but in some cases, it is too much. Consider the person getting a driver's license for the first time. This individual would need a simple, slow car on which to learn, not a Porsche or Stealth that would be far too difficult to handle. The same is true with Word in that it needs to be easy at first with the capability of growing and expanding as the user becomes more efficient.

Another downfall for the advanced user has to do with automatic formatting. This particular program is rich in auto formatting capabilities, which sometimes is a good thing. However, if the user has a different way of doing things, he or she may not want the program making decisions. True, auto formatting can be turned off but determining the exact steps to accomplish this can also be tricky.

You also find that certain features within Word are sensitive if not temperamental. For example, we often hear people complaining about the header/footer features, which when they work properly, are great but when not working properly, a nightmare. By nature, Word has some built-in issues where something will work perfectly 10 times in a row but then the 11th time, which is usually the time when you are in the greatest hurry the feature, decides to act up. The good news is that Microsoft is well aware of these obstacles, working hard to improve each new rollout of the product.

Finally, MS Word is expensive. If you prefer to purchase only the stand-alone version of Word, you would expect to pay approximately $225. However, the full version of MS Office Suite, which includes Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint, the price would jump to around $400. Sometimes, people do not want all of the other applications but considering how much more you get, it might be worth it. Pricing for Word has been something users have complained about for a long time but with more and more features being offered, it is unlikely it will go down anytime soon. The positive side to price is that if you are a student or teacher with a school ID, you can purchase a special version, saving as much as $100 off the stand-alone program and $150 off MS office.