Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is the dominant word processor in current use. Word also has several other capabilities including simple desktop publishing operations using the Drawing tool, which allows the user to add graphics to documents, as well as design simple diagrams or business graphics.According to the Wikipedia, “Microsoft word was originally written by Richard Brodie for IBM PC computers running DOs in 1983. Later versions were created for the Apple Macintosh (1984), SCO UNIX and Microsoft Windows (1989). Only later did it become part of the Microso ft Office suite.”

Microsoft Word was the first popular word processor for the IBM PC that used a graphic display mode to show typeface markups such as bold and italics directly on the screen while editing. Previous word processors, such as WordStar and WordPerfect, used simple-text only displays with markup codes on the screen, or at most, alternate colors.

Sources:
John, Dvorak. PC Magazine, 2000.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759, 161430,00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Word

http://www.wotsit.org/search.asp?s=text