Word can save files in RTF format without loosing any formatting or data. Mellel can read RTF. If you read the release from the last version of Mellel, you will see that they are releasing a new version soon that will have better RTF import, and export. This should allow full compatibility with Word, using the RTF format. As of OS X 10.3 TextEdit can open .doc files without the use of the antiword service, you can also download freeware programs like JOffice that will let you open a word document and save it as RTF, if you really need to do the conversion without owning a copy of M$ Word. But your friends and colleagues with Word will have no problem opening and reading Mellel documents exported as RTF. Like I said, the current release does not yet offer full RTF export, but it should be updated with better RTF capabilities very soon!