Windows Notepad is dated (back to Windows 1.0 in 1985); and there are a number of great freeware/open source alternatives.  After reviewing several, I’ve selected Notepad++ as my new notepad of choice.

Notepad++ can be downloaded from http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm

Two other very capable contenders are

• ConTEXT (my old favorite) from http://www.contexteditor.org/
• Programmer’s Notepad from http://www.pnotepad.org/