If you use (or need to use) Microsoft Office for anything you do, try OpenOffice instead. If you’re used to Microsoft Office, there’s very little learning curve (at least in Word vs. Writer), and it’s FREE.

Sorry for the weird non-sequitur-ish plug post. I can’t help it, I’m just terribly impressed with OpenOffice and I feel the need to spread the word. To the whole 4 people who might care, but still.