I have Firefox 3 and like it. It has some neat features. I would definitely run some version of Firefox, either 2 or 3, instead of Internet Explorer.
As for Word, if you don’t like the newest version, there’s an alternative. Go to http://openoffice.org and download the latest version of OpenOffice (I think it’s 2.4). OO is a free clone of Microsoft Office, including word processor, spreadsheet, database, presentation creator (Powerpoint), all that sort of thing. I use it and have no trouble with it at all, though it’s just different enough from Word that it might take a smidge of getting used to before you feel comfortable.
}:-)4
I took a look at Open Office. All I’d ever use is “Writer.” No spread sheets, no powerpoint, nothing. Is Writer like Word 03?