Piyush Bhasarkar
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RIP WordPad
In a move that marks the end of an era, Microsoft has officially announced the retirement of WordPad from future releases of the Windows operating system. WordPad, the humble yet dependable free basic word processor, has been a steadfast companion to Windows users for almost three decades, dating back to its introduction in 1995 alongside Windows 95.
With the removal of WordPad, Microsoft is setting its sights on promoting its premium and feature-rich word processing solution, Microsoft Word, which is an integral part of the Office 365 subscription suite.
“WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like .txt.”
Microsoft’s official support note succinctly states.
Goodbye WordPad, hello Notepad.
In tandem with WordPad’s retirement, Microsoft has breathed new life into its minimalist text editor, Notepad. Recent updates have equipped Notepad with essential features such as auto-save and auto-restore of tabs. However, it’s crucial to note that Notepad is limited to handling plain text documents in formats like .txt. For users requiring advanced formatting and rich text capabilities, Microsoft Word remains the superior choice.
The last significant facelift for WordPad occurred with the release of Windows 7, where the dated user interface was revamped with the modern Ribbon UI, providing it with a fresh and contemporary look. Nevertheless, over the years, Microsoft’s strategic focus has gradually shifted away from WordPad, favoring the development and refinement of Microsoft Word.
This decision follows Microsoft’s recent deprecation of the standalone Cortana app, the virtual assistant, which some speculate is in preparation for the integration of Bing Chat, powered by ChatGPT. It appears that Microsoft is meticulously crafting its software ecosystem to align with evolving user preferences and needs.
Looking ahead, Microsoft is rumored to be diligently working on Windows 12, the successor to Windows 11, with an expected release date in early 2024. As the tech giant continues to evolve its flagship operating system, the retirement of WordPad serves as a poignant reminder of the ever-shifting landscape of technology, where the old must make way for the new.
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