Something Simpler? [than WordPerfect]

I have some Works 4.5 files on another drive that I have just copied to my current drive (XP Pro) and I am using WordPerfect with it. I know I need to convert these files to work with WordPerfect but I don't actually like this program, it seems too complicated and has many more features than we need (we probably don't use 3/4 of the things in it).The thing I liked about Works 4.5 is that it was so simple to use but unfortunately it won't work with XP. My wife used to use it to write resumes and simple stuff like that. She likes software that has icons to click on to select different tasks, something very easy to use.

It was suggested to me to use OpenOffice but I don't see that it would be any easier to use than WordPerfect I currently have. How about Works 8.0, would this be something similar to Works 4.5? Is this considered an old program ( I think it came out in 2004) that's really not supported anymore? And If I decided to upgrade to Vista in a couple of years would it work with it? I guess I'm trying to determine if I bought this if it would be good for another 5 years or if I would be looking to buy another program in 2 or 3 years to replace it.

Is there any quirks about Works 8.0 that a person might not like?

Finally, a full retail version of Works costs about $45 but an OEM version runs about $20, would there be a disadvantage of the latter?

I know that's alot of questions but hopefully someone can steer me in the right direction. I'm also open to other suggestions but the software has to be as easy as Works 4.5 if that's possible.

 

According to the instructions in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, Works 4.5: "This Program Is Not Compatible" Error Message After Upgrade to Windows XP, there is a way to get 4.5 to work on XP.

Since you prefer 4.5, it's worth a shot.

 

Thanks Miz I tried to install it about 3 years ago and it said it wasn't compatible with XP so I gave up and moved on to WordPerfect which I don't like. I have no idea where my disc is now but if I can find it I will give it a whirl. Do you have any experience with Works 8 as it seems like it may have the same easy interface as Works 4.5 but might have updated improvements?

 

I've messed with Works 8 only briefly. It looked about the same to me as older versions.

 

I went ahead and bought Works 8, it is very basic but it was a good decision for us. My wife and I both think it's great, simple program for simple people (lol).

I have run into something kind of irrating on the installation though. My wife and I have separate User Accounts (using XP Pro) which I call Her Side (of the computer) and My Side. I installed Works 8 under her User Account and it works fine and shows up in her "All Programs" but the problem is it does not show up at all when I go to my User Account nor does it show up in my "All Programs ". I have to login to her User Account to be able to use Works 8. Is there a simple solution so we can both use Works 8 with both of our User accounts?

 

Pete I am using XP Pro as stated above. I tried what you said and it worked like magic! I did have to go to Windows Explorer and uncheck "Use simple file sharing" before it showed the Security tab just as you pointed out.

Will this solution work for any other programs that I might come across that may work (or show up) only under one user account but not the other?

 

Thank you!!