August 6th, 2024

WordStar 7, the last ever DOS version, is re-released for free

WordStar 7, the final DOS version of the word processor, has been re-released for free by Robert J. Sawyer, including emulators and documentation, appealing to contemporary users and writers.

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WordStar 7, the last ever DOS version, is re-released for free

WordStar 7, the final DOS version of the classic word processor, has been re-released for free by Canadian science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer. This version, known as WordStar 7.0d, was originally last updated in December 1992 and has since become abandonware, with unclear ownership of its intellectual property. Sawyer, a long-time user of WordStar, has packaged the software along with DOS emulators, documentation, and tools to convert WordStar documents to modern formats, making it accessible for contemporary users. WordStar was once a leading word processor, favored by notable authors like Arthur C. Clarke and George R. R. Martin. The software has a rich history, having transitioned from CP/M to DOS and later to Windows, with various iterations and offshoots over the years. Despite its age, WordStar remains a nostalgic tool for many writers, offering essential functionalities that cater to their needs. The re-release allows a new generation of users to experience this iconic software, which is celebrated for its keyboard-centric interface and efficiency in text editing.

- WordStar 7 is the last DOS version of the classic word processor, re-released for free.

- The software was packaged by author Robert J. Sawyer, including DOS emulators and documentation.

- WordStar has a historical significance, being used by famous authors and evolving through various platforms.

- The program is considered abandonware, with unclear ownership of its intellectual property.

- It remains popular among writers for its simplicity and effective text editing capabilities.

Link Icon 11 comments
By @thristian - 6 months
Apparently WordStar has not been released for free by the owners (as Word 5.5 for DOS was), it's just been unilaterally packaged by a fan hoping not to get in trouble.
By @Lio - 6 months
This is probably a laughably silly question but what features does WordStar have that I wouldn't get from a good text editor like Vim, a markup language (markdown, RST, AsciiDoc, etc) and a copy of Pandoc?

Would someone who's keen on WordStar mind giving it a modern sales pitch for those of us that love terminal based software?

By @krylon - 6 months
Copyright issues aside - which can be quite thorny for software this old - I imagine the people who created WordStar must take great pride in the fact that more than thirty years later, people still make good use of their creation.
By @jmclnx - 6 months
Maybe George R.R. Martin will like this new version:

https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/14/5716232/george-r-r-martin...

I never used Wordstar, back then, for WP I used Wang WP on a 286 Machine. But it is nice to see this version of Wordstar set free.

By @rbanffy - 6 months
For me, the true classic is the last version for CP/M.
By @lakkal - 6 months
In 1988 when I got a job working in MSDOS, WordStar was in use by the programmers to edit source code. Though one guy used QuickEdit, and I used MicroEmacs. We all standardized on Brief a couple of years later.
By @rqtwteye - 6 months
Maybe MS will release a version of Word around 2000? The latest versions are way too “smart” and constantly do confusing things.
By @rkagerer - 6 months
Brings back memories.

I think its keyboard shortcuts like Home-Home-Up (the original "scroll to top") are still available in Word.

By @anthk - 6 months
Any Wordstar user (for novels) would love Groff+Mom macros plus Jstar and something like ispell/aspell among WordNet.

Simple markdown (smu) would be enough to create a text wiki for worldbuilding.

By @bl4ckm0r3 - 6 months
finally! now george rr martin can finish his book.