Keep in mind that WordPad is a basic word processor, not a text editor. Big difference if a text editor is what you need.

Personally I went from WinEdit to Crimson Editor to Notepad++, the last of which I quite like. Handles syntax colouring for one language embedded in another (i.e. Javascript embedded in an .htm file.) - and Notpad++ is free which is great (so is Crimson Editor.)

I don't imagine there's much point in selling a paid text editor any more. There are too many good free ones.

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net