Well if you’re still a slave to the Microsoft Empire (close ally to the Starbucks Empire — yes, the world really is ruled from Seattle) then you’re stuck using Microsoft Word.

I’m sorry. Really I am. Tummy rub?

Back up, better plan — Sun Microsystem’s ODF plugin for Microsoft Office.

Microsoft Office uses a proprietary document format unreadable by other programs. If you’ve got documents saved in .doc format, the only people able to read your files will be those who have a copy of Microsoft Office. This forces other people to pay Microsoft money just so you can exchange documents. This is a form of coercion: Microsoft’s technical design damages your freedom to choose a competing product.

By using Sun’s ODF filter for all your documents, you’ll be able to interchange documents with people who prefer to use office suites like OpenOffice that use ODF, the ISO-approved document format standard.

For that matter, why not download Sun’s ODF filter, use it to convert all your documents to ODF format, and then erase Microsoft Office from your hard drive? You need never pay for office software again. Just use OpenOffice.