Does anyone still use WordPerfect?

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:22:11 -0500

Back in the 1980s when computers were first coming into military offices WordPerfect was the program I learned on. Somewhere in the early 90s Microsoft Word seemed to take over and thats what I've used ever since. Frankly I didn't know WordPerfect still existed until an ad came up on one of my internet sites. Just interested in who still uses it and why they do.

Response by PFC David Foster made Nov 17 at 2021 10:11 PM

PFC David Foster — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:11:44 -0500

I've always used Word. I don't ever remember seeing it... I didn't start using a computer until 2000.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2021 10:32 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:32:18 -0500

I think Word has conquered all, but Google is encroaching a tiny bit in the online space. I learned on WordPerfect, though. My mother swore by it. I do miss the simplicity of DOS WordPerfect, Multimate, Wordstar, and PFS:Write, though.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Nov 17 at 2021 11:19 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 23:19:05 -0500

I switched to Google Docs.

Response by PO1 Howard Barnes made Nov 17 at 2021 11:40 PM

PO1 Howard Barnes — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 23:40:54 -0500

I know a paralegal that still uses wordperfect, she says the format is required by the local courts.
Funny, i thought the world was run by Microsoft..

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Nov 18 at 2021 6:18 AM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 06:18:19 -0500

Wordperfect and Harvard Graphics when life was easier -- of course I've only read about these products, I'm only 25... ;-)

Response by MAJ Eric G Troup made Nov 18 at 2021 9:45 AM

MAJ Eric G Troup — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 09:45:51 -0500

The first word processors were were deployed as dedicated terminals with a CRT Screen - evolving from the IBM Selectric Magcard typewriters. They cost $8-10 each. I used both Lanier and CTP word processing machines in the late 70s and early 80s in the Army.

As the PC became available, a number of companies ported the word processing software to DOS. MultiMate was one that mimicked the dedicated word processor. Later Word Perfect appeared as did Microsoft Word.

For a while there were groups of word processing, spreadsheet (Lotus 123, Excel), and graphic software (Corel Draw, Harvard Graphics). Database sofware packages apeeared as well like dBase, Clipper. None of them could exchange information very easily.

Microsoft Windows plus the bundling of this software to facilitate exchanging information (objects) via what became Office 365 created significant efficiencies. WordPerfect delayed and then bungled its conversion from DOS to Windows and the rest is history.

Now enhancing the ability of teams to collaborate while remote in real-time in 3D virtual meetings on documents across the entire Microsoft 365 metadata ecosystem is driving rapid growth. Having a consistent experience while disconnected and then reconnected is critical.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2021 12:51 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 12:51:13 -0500

Yes, until AmiPro suite (Lotus). Later Lotus Notes for email. Now MS Office. Many liked Word Perfect for editing and creating.

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Nov 18 at 2021 2:18 PM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:18:27 -0500

I loved WordPerfect, but I can't imagine going back to it today (I started working on computers in 1965)

Response by SN Jeffrey White made Nov 20 at 2021 11:46 AM

SN Jeffrey White — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 11:46:48 -0500

I think word perfect died when the government stopped using it.