Free Text Editors

Odds are, your computer's operating system has a built-in word processor. The only problem is that programs like Windows Notepad are very primitive and lacking in features.
Below, we feature the Web's best free text editors, all of which are vastly more feature-laden and useful than Windows' Notepad. Any of these programs makes for an excellent replacement for Notepad and can help save you time and make you more productive.
Also, if you're using a large, commercial editor like Microsoft Word, you'll find that the freeware programs below often have many of the same useful features that the big commercial programs do. While they may not have all the bells & whistles (which you likely rarely use anyway), these programs load much quicker and are much easier on your system's resources.

• WordTabs 3.21 
  Freeware guru Skip Bremer's WordTabs is one of the finest general-purpose free word processing programs on the Web today. Described as Windows' Notepad and Wordpad on steroids, WordTabs is packed with every imaginable feature that you could possibly want. Configure it to replace Windows' default text editors and you'll wonder how you lived without this freeware gem. (For Windows).

• XML Copy Editor 
  Here's a speedy free general-purpose XML editor that has many features, including DTD/RELAX NG validation, XSLT, XPath, syntax highlighting, tag completion, lossless import and export of Microsoft Word documents and a highly configurable spelling and style module. (For Windows 2000/XP).

• Google Docs & Spreadsheets 
  A nifty free online word processor and spreadsheet program that lets you edit and publish documents and spreadsheets online. Here you can upload Microsoft Word documents, HTML or text (or create documents from scratch). You can also invite others to collaborate on editing your documents and your changes will be automatically synchronized with theirs every few seconds.

• NoteTab Light 
  A feature-packed freeware text editor from Switzerland, this program features a tabbed interface that lets you open and edit a virtually unlimited number of documents of any size. There's also an Editor Clipbook with templates for HTML tags, smilies, acronyms, etc., as well as management of favorite files and folders and drag & drop support. (For Windows).

• EditPad Lite 
  Here's a text editing program from Belgium that makes a fine replacement for Windows' Notepad. Although there are similar programs that are more feature-laden, EditPad is a solid, crash-free program that loads quickly. It offers filters, text conversions, access to last 16 files opened, MAPI support (for E-mailing text) and more. Offered in many languages, including Danish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, etc. Postcardware. (For Windows and Linux.)

• TxtPrint 
  This free program does one thing and does it well: it prints out text files and gives you precise control over the output. The main advantage it has over standard text editors is its ability to divide a page into several rows and columns. Here's a screen shot. (For Windows). Available in English and Swedish versions.

• YC3 
  This helpful free clipboard utility can save you loads of work if you do a lot of repetitive typing. YC3 remembers the last 100 text entries to the clipboard. It also can save your clips between sessions. You may also make boilerplate/template files with your favorite clips and much more. (For Windows).

• WordWeb 
  This utility could well help improve your writing skills. WordWeb is a free feature-packed thesaurus/dictionary that can be used from your word processor or as a stand-alone program. View screen shot (For Windows).