Can you believe it? Microsoft is bidding farewell to WordPad after 30 years of loyal service. This trusty app, which made its debut alongside Windows 95, has been the go-to tool for opening .doc files when Microsoft Word wasn't at your beck and call. But now, the time has come to say goodbye.
You might be wondering, why is Microsoft doing this, and what does it mean for your business?
In a somewhat quiet announcement, Microsoft revealed its plans to halt further updates for WordPad and eventually remove it from the Windows lineup entirely. While the exact timeline for this transition remains uncertain, it's undeniably in the pipeline.
Let's be honest, though – how many times have you mistakenly clicked on WordPad when all you wanted was Notepad? Notepad is your trusty sidekick for plain text, while WordPad leans more towards being a word processor. It's easy to mix them up, right?
Could this common confusion be the driving force behind WordPad's impending exit? Or perhaps Microsoft aims to gently steer users toward Microsoft Word, a pivotal component of its Microsoft 365 suite.
A snippet from Microsoft's recently updated list of deprecated Windows features suggests using Microsoft Word for crafting rich-text documents and Windows Notepad for handling plain text. In essence, WordPad seems to be on its way out.
But let's not get too sentimental. Speaking as a lifelong Windows user, I must admit that I've stumbled upon WordPad mostly by accident. If it disappears, it won't leave me tossing and turning at night. There's an abundance of alternative word processors available, and I have a soft spot for Microsoft Word.
Nevertheless, if you're a diehard WordPad enthusiast, don't lose hope just yet. Microsoft is seeking feedback through the Windows Feedback Hub app. So, if a groundswell of support arises, who knows? Microsoft might reconsider and let WordPad linger on, perhaps as an optional, infrequently updated app on the Microsoft Store.
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Until next time, keep fit and have fun!
(TYYV) The Yada Yada Version:
Microsoft is discontinuing WordPad after 30 years, and yada yada yada will you miss it?
