WordPad is one of the few built-in apps not to be updated in Windows 11.

Thus ending our long national nightmare of accidentally opening things in WordPad on a fresh install.

  • ryan@the.coolest.zone
    0·
    10 months ago

    So, I’ve been mulling this over. I know Microsoft Word web version is free and I suppose that’s their replacement, but it needs to be more accessible if that’s the case. Like, for my very Average Mom who buys a laptop, she actually was using Wordpad for years until I got her onto my M365 family plan because it was a built in program and she knows how to navigate the Start menu and open programs.

    Assuming a parallel universe where she didn’t have access to desktop Word, how does she know Microsoft Word Online is available to her? Is there a shortcut on the desktop, or directly from Edge? Should there be a start menu icon which opens it up directly? Has Microsoft considered this? I would hope they have.

    • anon6789@beehaw.org
      0·
      10 months ago

      Very valid points. I forgot WordPad existed and I use Notepad way more than I’ve ever used WordPad. But many people still havent really used computers much in depth beyond specific things they’ve been shown.

      I know I could just use Google Docs or throw LibreOffice in there, but many people now in retirement age have still managed to dodge learning much about computers.

      If you deliver a new computer that can’t type a letter, send an email, and play YouTube out of the box, that seems like a fail. And I feel many that won’t know what do do without something like WordPad also may not have an Internet connection, nor should they have to if they just need a presentable looking doc.

      • nakal@kbin.social
        0·
        10 months ago

        Most of my text files are from Unix/Linux systems, because I don’t work much on Windows. So Wordpad is more important than Notepad for me, because the latter one does not handle end-of-lines correctly.

  • djmarcone@lemm.ee
    0·
    10 months ago

    Tbf I haven’t used wordpad for a very long time. If ever.

    I avoid it because if I’m editing a text file wordpad would just mess it up.

    Maybe if it’s an rtf file I need wordpad.

    But word is available.

  • Sphere@reddthat.com
    0·
    10 months ago

    Handing it to LibreOffice or Abiword I guess. Or for cloud fans, Google Docs. I don’t think anyone is going to go without a word processor because of this.