Microsoft Write was a basic word processor included with Windows 1.0 and later, until Windows NT 3.51. Throughout its lifespan it was minimally updated, and is comparable to early versions of MacWrite. Early versions of Write only work with Write files, but after Windows 3.0, Write became capable of reading and composing early Word documents. With Windows 3.1, Write became OLE capable. In Windows 95, Write was replaced with WordPad. If you try to open Write from the Windows folder, it will open WordPad instead. Being a word processor, Write features additional document formatting features that are not found in Notepad, such as a choice of font, text decorations and paragraph indentation for different parts of the document. Unlike versions of WordPad before Windows 7, Write could justify a paragraph.
In 1986, Atari announced an agreement with Microsoft to bring Microsoft Write to the Atari ST. Unlike the Windows version, Microsoft Write for the Atari ST was the Atari version of Microsoft Word 1.05 released for the Apple Macintosh while sharing the same name as the program included with Microsoft Windows during the 80s and early 90s. While the program was announced in 1986, various delays caused the program to arrive in 1988. The Atari version was a one time release and was never updated. Microsoft Write for the Atari ST retailed at $129.95 and was one of two high-profile PC word processors that were released on the Atari platform. The other application was WordPerfect.
Macintosh
In October 1987, Microsoft released Microsoft Write for Macintosh. Write was a version of Microsoft Word with limited features that Microsoft hoped would replace aging MacWrite in the Macintosh word processor market. Write was priced well below Word, though at the time MacWrite was included with new Macintoshes. Write is best described as Word locked in "Short Menus" mode, and as such it used the same file format so that users could exchange files with absolutely no conversion necessary. Write did not sell well and was discontinued before the System 7 era. Microsoft Write was part of a short-lived trend for "lightweight" Macintosh word processors initiated by the introduction of the Macintosh Portable and early PowerBook systems. Others included LetterPerfect and Nisus Compact.
Microsoft Windows
In 1985, Windows 1.0 was released with Microsoft Write. It was a basic word processor, intended to be more complex than Notepad. It was very similar to the Macintosh version, and had all of the same features. It saved and wrote to Write.wri files, a new format created specifically for Microsoft Write. Later versions could save to the Word.doc format. Write was replaced with WordPad in Windows 95. WordPad can read.wri files, but is unable to save to them.
