With Open Office around, there's no excuse for anyone not to have an office applications package on their computer! It works on multiple platforms and is very much like the packages that can be purchased. I allow my students to complete assignments when they have to stay at home, under some circumstances. A lot of parents are pleased to know there is an option for free software that they can load. Too often they buy a computer and don't realize that it only has a trial version of an application.