As always, the critical question is: "What kinds of problems are you trying to solve?" For most beginners, the lower end word processor that came with their computer is a fine start. If it does what you need, and you are happy with it, don't spend money unnecessarily. Many people find that if they do a lot of writing, they begin to yearn for the features of a more powerful word processing program. As you gain experience, you will find a favorite program and learn its commands and idiosyncrasies well. You will find if you concentrate on the concepts, that all word processors of a certain level are pretty much the same, although the exact layout and command structure may differ. You will also probably discover if you do a lot of writing with the computer that you have several programs you use interchangeably. A skilled computer user often chooses the program to solve a specific problem much like a golfer chooses a different club for each type of shot. Sometimes a text editor is sufficient, and sometimes only the best, most powerful, and most expensive program will do the job properly. Learning what is best for you is part of the process.