Hey writers ... What do you use?

[happyslayer]

I use an 11" Air with Scrivener. I write fiction - short stories and novels. This has been the best combo for me to get anything done. And my new 11" Air gets delivered either tomorrow or Tuesday! So now I will be able to write twice as long before I need to find a plug.

 

[Writergirl7]

Major change after that was not sitting when I don't have to ... All the things I can do on iPad .. Internet things, but also revising previous day's writing, and research reading, skype sessions, anything that doesn't require intensive typing. Whereas before after writing for a few hours I would sit longer doing email or reading things, I will now do that with iPad on a hoverbar horizontal. As i am doing right now. and will mix this, and using the Air in reclining chair, with sitting at desk throughout the day. I still do sit a lot, but not relentlessly, if I need to think about something or using the phone for example, I stand up and walk around while talking or thinking.

Thanks, NIghtlong. I like the idea of the hover bar. I'm trying to picture how you use it. You lie down and hover the iPad over you? I've been having back issues for a couple of years now and need some new strategies . My problem has been that I write better at my desk - I'm more focused there - but your suggestions for movement are useful.

 

[PDFierro]

And, as I said a while back, this thread being in the Air forum was a newbie mistake ... i didn't mean to limit discussion to Air users. At the time I was researching the Air as writing machine.

I briefly considered getting the new Haswell MBA, but I can't. The screen quality isn't there for me. So I'm either waiting for the updated rMBP, or buying now. Most likely the 13-inch, I think I like that form factor better.

I am looking forward to writing on a Mac. I hate Windows. I truly believe that a certain OS can increase your productivity. There are also writing applications that I'd like to use that are Mac-only, and of course my main software that I use now does work better on a Mac.

 

[kazmac]

I'm still using

my 2010 iMac with Word, Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter. Looking forward to Siri (dictation) etc. in 10.9 as this is the one aspect of the iPad that has helped me writing-wise.

I tried using iPads 2/3 and Mini for writing multiple times, I just cannot warm up to most of the apps (Scrivener: huge learning curve etc.) and typing on iPads is a P.I.A. - even with external keyboards. I love the dictation feature, but reading and writing on them are just not for me.

The battery life of the 2013 Airs is amazing, but I will have to compare the screens to the rMBP (with my vision, retina is a techy godsend.) Plus there's the possibility of me dabbling in design again (it's on and off like my writing), so I'm not sure what I will eventually upgrade or add to my trusty 2010 iMac. I may wait and see what the Haswell rMBPs are like in terms of real world performance for writing and design. But I may also try comparing the screens of the Airs to the rMBPs too.

 

[nightlong]

To Writergirl: I love the hoverbar, I have two, use them in various ways, in the car, kitchen, outside table. Use one in my bedroom, for browsing Internet, reading, and so on; and also for sofa, it does literally hover and is perfect angle.

To Kazmac: there is no scrivener for iPad yet. There is a learning curve, but there are excellent video tutorials on the Literature &Latte website, also on YouTube.

To PDFierro: I magnify text on the MBA, it is usable but still fuzzy compared with the retinas. When I bought mine the 13" retina hadn't arrived, and I didn't want to pay so much money for the first gen 15" with the screen problems etc. I often feel tempted to buy a refurb 15", as the screen would have been tested. But, I think it might be worth holding out for the refresh, hopefully the screen issues will be sorted, battery life might be better, and it will probably have the new faster wifi (I've forgotten what that's called) and that will be important as I would be keeping this computer for a long time. Also waiting because I don't really need the power of the 15" but I don't want to buy a 13" retina and then plug it into an inferior monitor for desk-bound work. If there still isn't a retina monitor when I'm ready to buy, I will get the 15" rMBP.

 

[PDFierro]

To Writergirl: I love the hoverbar, I have two, use them in various ways, in the car, kitchen, outside table. Use one in my bedroom, for browsing Internet, reading, and so on; and also for sofa, it does literally hover and is perfect angle.

To Kazmac: there is no scrivener for iPad yet. There is a learning curve, but there are excellent video tutorials on the Literature &Latte website, also on YouTube.

To PDFierro: I magnify text on the MBA, it is usable but still fuzzy compared with the retinas. When I bought mine the 13" retina hadn't arrived, and I didn't want to pay so much money for the first gen 15" with the screen problems etc. I often feel tempted to buy a refurb 15", as the screen would have been tested. But, I think it might be worth holding out for the refresh, hopefully the screen issues will be sorted, battery life might be better, and it will probably have the new faster wifi (I've forgotten what that's called) and that will be important as I would be keeping this computer for a long time. Also waiting because I don't really need the power of the 15" but I don't want to buy a 13" retina and then plug it into an inferior monitor for desk-bound work. If there still isn't a retina monitor when I'm ready to buy, I will get the 15" rMBP.

I hear you. I'm not looking at going with an external monitor, but a Retina display would be the only thing I would pair a rMBP with.

I'm going to try waiting if I can, but my main Windows laptop just went kaput last night. I remember liking the 13-inch form factor better when I was in the Apple store, but that's a good thought process you have. Both are good options.

 

[Writergirl7]

Smitten by the unexpected!

I trotted down to JB HiFi today as yesterday's foray to the Apple store still left me with some doubts. Anyway I was (and still am) impressed with the iMac as a great all round computer for videos/ photo editing - all that kind of stuff. II think it will suit me well. I had a play with the rMBP of both sizes and was very impressed. But I wanted a larger screen than the 13" for photos and the 15" with the specs I'd like costs about $3200 AUD. Then I decided to do some typing, for fun, on the 11" MBA. Wow! It is so light and so fast and even though it's little its like the Mercedes of writing machines. I think I've found my 'Preciousss' . My plan (I know I've changed my mid about a hundred times in the last month) is to order one of these little beauties tonight. Then later on, when the iMAcs are refreshed, and I can save up more money, we can get one for all the larger real estate stuff. The cost of the two will be less than the 15" rMBP with 16GB.
My Preciousss....

Well... maybe the iMac plus 11" Air wont cost less than the rMBP (if I include Applecare) BUT it will be a lovely mix of technology .

Is the 128 GB hard drive big enough to run Office for Mac?I wouldn't think I'd be loading it up with heaps of music and videos. It would mainly be used for writing - Office/ Scrivener/ research/ some photos

 

[Collider]

Is the 128 GB hard drive big enough to run Office for Mac?I wouldn't think I'd be loading it up with heaps of music and videos. It would mainly be used for writing - Office/ Scrivener/ research/ some photos

FWIW, that's exactly what I was banking on when I ordered my 128GB.

I've got a massive music collection and some videos and games split between my main computer and a large external harddrive, and, while it might going to take a little getting used to not having them all at my fingertips on the new machine too, I'm getting the Air specifically so I can write more freely away from my desk and ideally without those distractions. I figure, the less space I have to play with, the less 'playing' I'll be tempted to do!

128GB should be ample for the likes of Office and Scrivener, and bearing in mind word-processed documents, even Scrivener files, are pretty nonexistent in size, you shouldn't ever have to worry about that. And bear also in mind, you can also free up a lot of space by uninstalling iLife apps like GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, etc, if you don't plan on using them.

 

[Writergirl7]

FWIW, that's exactly what I was banking on when I ordered my 128GB.

I've got a massive music collection and some videos and games split between my main computer and a large external harddrive, and, while it might going to take a little getting used to not having them all at my fingertips on the new machine too, I'm getting the Air specifically so I can write more freely away from my desk and ideally without those distractions. I figure, the less space I have to play with, the less 'playing' I'll be tempted to do!

My thoughts exactly. A lean, mean writing machine
And it feels beautiful to type on...

 

[nightlong]

My thoughts exactly. A lean, mean writing machine
And it feels beautiful to type on...

Great to hear you have found yr solution. You might want to check out the sale at Dick Smith on USB 3 external drives ... Small (pocket size) 1TB for $98, rather than $188. If you partitioned that, heaps of space for media on one side, Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner on the other, and USB3 is so fast. In case you dont know .... With CCC you get a bootable drive but the backup is what you have at the time, with Time Machine you get everything but the system, but you retain versions until the disk is full.

 

[Writergirl7]

Great to hear you have found yr solution. You might want to check out the sale at Dick Smith on USB 3 external drives ... Small (pocket size) 1TB for $98, rather than $188. If you partitioned that, heaps of space for media on one side, Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner on the other, and USB3 is so fast. In case you dont know .... With CCC you get a bootable drive but the backup is what you have at the time, with Time Machine you get everything but the system, but you retain versions until the disk is full.

Thanks, Nightlong. I'll look into it. I should probably get some kind of USB hub as well. My laser printer isn't wireless and my photo printer works best by USB. The irony in all this is that, after weeks of research, I came back to my original idea of getting both an iMac as a desktop and a MBA for portability. I'm just doing it in reverse order because the Air was refreshed and the iMac refresh is yet to come. Although later I'll have to work out how best to network them .

I ended up getting the 8MB and 256 GB version. The former for performance, the latter because I want the option of running Windows (maybe) later on and it can get pretty tight once you partition a 128GB HD and put windows on the machine. I will be keeping it free of too many 'distractions' however

 

[kazmac]

To Writergirl: I love the hoverbar, I have two, use them in various ways, in the car, kitchen, outside table. Use one in my bedroom, for browsing Internet, reading, and so on; and also for sofa, it does literally hover and is perfect angle.

To Kazmac: there is no scrivener for iPad yet. There is a learning curve, but there are excellent video tutorials on the Literature &Latte website, also on YouTube.

To PDFierro: I magnify text on the MBA, it is usable but still fuzzy compared with the retinas. When I bought mine the 13" retina hadn't arrived, and I didn't want to pay so much money for the first gen 15" with the screen problems etc. I often feel tempted to buy a refurb 15", as the screen would have been tested. But, I think it might be worth holding out for the refresh, hopefully the screen issues will be sorted, battery life might be better, and it will probably have the new faster wifi (I've forgotten what that's called) and that will be important as I would be keeping this computer for a long time. Also waiting because I don't really need the power of the 15" but I don't want to buy a 13" retina and then plug it into an inferior monitor for desk-bound work. If there still isn't a retina monitor when I'm ready to buy, I will get the 15" rMBP.

Thank you for the assist, Nightlong. I know I used Scrivener on a Mac something - must have been my iMac. It's been a long while. No time for tutorials at the moment, but thanks for the info on them.

Even though my 2010 iMac is chugging along wonderfully now (it feels like a brand new machine) the glare is woeful. Since I've finally tested enough iPads to realize they just aren't for me, I am hoping to keep the 2010 iMac for awhile and get some kind of laptop. It will most likely be a refreshed rMBP because my vision comes before anything else - IF the display issues are fixed and battery life is 10 hours or more. A part of me thinks, get the 13" rMBP as a more current machine while extending the life of the aging iMac until the retina versions finally materialize. Truth is, I get drooly over any Mac computer announcement lately, but I have to hold out since the iMac is going very strong now. (Hopes it outlives the warranty expiration by at least a year).

 

[Writergirl7]

Eye strain

Bother, bother, bother! I don't think my eyes like my lovely knew air. I was fine with my old Asus WXGA display and not too bad with the iPad - although my eyes go a bit blurry if i focus on the one thing for too long. i have tried turning down the brightness and contrast and I installed f.lux last night. So that might help. I don't have an external monitor - i was going to wait until I got an iMac - but now I don't know what to do. I have raised my air at my desk and am using a BT mouse and keyboard for ergonomics. It sits about an arm length away from me. I do have an imbalance in my eyes anyway from an old injury...

So - any advice? Do I return the air and get something else? I've had it just over a week but the peripherals arrived the thursday before. Would a retina screen be better (I remember Nightlong saying that it was)? But I'd lose the portability. Or do I get an external monitor while I wait for the iMac. I think I do need something larger to look at. It's at night that I have the main problem.

 

[thelookingglass]

Bother, bother, bother! I don't think my eyes like my lovely knew air. I was fine with my old Asus WXGA display and not too bad with the iPad - although my eyes go a bit blurry if i focus on the one thing for too long. i have tried turning down the brightness and contrast and I installed f.lux last night. So that might help. I don't have an external monitor - i was going to wait until I got an iMac - but now I don't know what to do. I have raised my air at my desk and am using a BT mouse and keyboard for ergonomics. It sits about an arm length away from me. I do have an imbalance in my eyes anyway from an old injury...

So - any advice? Do I return the air and get something else? I've had it just over a week but the peripherals arrived the thursday before. Would a retina screen be better (I remember Nightlong saying that it was)? But I'd lose the portability. Or do I get an external monitor while I wait for the iMac. I think I do need something larger to look at. It's at night that I have the main problem.

That was my main beef with the 11". Portability factor was lovely, but that durn screen was a pain to look at for extended periods of time. I jumped up to the 13" this time around and, to me, it's just as portable. Don't miss the weight and footprint difference at all.

Now granted the 13" screen isn't the best thing to stare at for extended periods either, but it's a heck of a lot more comfortable than the 11" for me.

 

[Writergirl7]

Now granted the 13" screen isn't the best thing to stare at for extended periods either, but it's a heck of a lot more comfortable than the 11" for me.

thanks
My dilemma is 'do I stay or do I go' as I'm still within the 14 day exchange period. The whole point of the 11" was portability. It felt way lighter than the 13" to me... And I was going to get an iMac later anyway.
If I went for 13" I'd consider the retina pro... but that is a wee bit heavier again.

----------

Long term I think I would be spending about 25% of my time on the Air and 75% on the larger screen. Although I could get another monitor for now then have a dual monitor system later... .

----------

But maybe I just need bifocals...

 

[nightlong]

i think better screens are coming soon ... maybe a new Thunderbolt, but I think generally screens might improve soon (but who knows!)

Is the 11inch okay in portable situations, when you are sitting close than at a desk?

 

[Writergirl7]

i think better screens are coming soon ... maybe a new Thunderbolt, but I think generally screens might improve soon (but who knows!)

Is the 11inch okay in portable situations, when you are sitting close than at a desk?

Its not too bad in daylight so it possibly a 'settings' issue. I've been having a play in different spots. Will see how it goes with F.lux tonight. It could be just my eyes. The text is sharp enough - although when I enlarge it it is bolder than what I'm used to. I'm not sure how getting the 13" screen would help as I can enlarge the text to 175-200% which is okay. The problem is something to do with the overall feel of my vision using this computer compared with my old one. I can't pin it down. I googled screens and the Airs seem to have a WXGA display like my old ASUS although I'm not sure what that means.

 

[MacPoulet]

Neat thread.

My main writing machine is my trusty aluminum PowerBook G4. It'll be 10 years this December and it's still my favourite keyboard ever.

It also helps that Movie Magic works better on it than newer machines (all features still don't work in lion) and word x is blazing fast and easier to use than newer versions of word.

I'm tempted by the new retina displays, but none of my writing software is optimized for it yet. One day...

 

[arsimoun]

What i use and why...

I have made my living as a writer since I was 22 years old; I'm 55 now. At various times in my life, I have used typewriters, a UCSD P-system custom machine with typesetting software and a text editor, a ton of CPM, DOS, and Windows boxes, but until 2013, nothing from Apple. That changed with the Retina display.

I write mostly screenplays and television scripts, though I have also written a dozen video games or so, one Broadway play (never produced), a novel, way too many short articles, and a ton of treatments, essays, and shorter documents of various stripes.

Over the years, I have come to the opinion that two things matter to a writer: the keyboard and the screen. To my taste, most portable keyboards are at best okay. The Retina display, however, is wonderful!

13" vs. 15" is something of a religious argument, by which I mean the feelings aren't amenable to reason: you like best what you like best. I like 15".

As to software, use what works for you. My friend, science fiction writer Harlan Ellison still uses a typewriter. I like computers, though when I am having a tough time or need to think conceptually, I will revert to legal pads and a fountain pen.

Software-wise... Word is pretty much the standard. I use it all the time. I also like Scrivener. The entertainment industry uses FINAL DRAFT and MOVIE MAGIC SCREENWRITER 2000. I have both, slightly prefer Movie Magic, and am happy to work with either if there is a preference one way or the other on the part of a producer I am working with or a television show I am writing for.

I bought the 15" Retina laptop after decades of Windows desktop systems. To my surprise, it has become my main work machine.

Use what you like. The rest of it is noise.

One man's .02

Adam Rodman

 

[mac82]

Bother, bother, bother! I don't think my eyes like my lovely knew air.

Think about the 13" rMBP. For years I thought it was normal to get dry, sore, tired eyes after spending a couple hours staring at a laptop screen. After buying an iPad 3 (with retina screen), I realized that LCDs don't have to bother my eyes. I would end up browsing the web on my MBP, and then opening anything I wanted to spend time reading on the iPad. After purchasing a 13" rMBP, I no longer have to use the iPad for reading; its screen is absolutely wonderful. I've also read a few articles on how the new retina screens reduce eye strain, so others are also realizing the benefits.

The only problem then becomes one of portability. The 13" rMBP is certainly larger than the 11" MBA, though it is smaller than the 13" MBA. It is also about 1.2lbs heavier. So your conundrum is: a machine that is ultra-portable, but bothers your eyes, or one that's slightly (and I do mean slightly) less portable, and is much easier on your eyes. I would, and did, choose the latter, though our priorities may differ. Look into the 13" rMBP, though. The current model is wonderful, and the one coming possibly this fall should be even more so.

 

[Booji]

Neat thread.

My main writing machine is my trusty aluminum PowerBook G4. It'll be 10 years this December and it's still my favourite keyboard ever.

It also helps that Movie Magic works better on it than newer machines (all features still don't work in lion) and word x is blazing fast and easier to use than newer versions of word.

I'm tempted by the new retina displays, but none of my writing software is optimized for it yet. One day...

I'm really fascinated at how really good writers sometimes have very old school preferences like striped-down writing programs and even typewriters. I've seen some of the best writers with really old gear and they swear by it. I think its cool actually - each to his own and writing is one of those mysterious activities that having just the right type of appliance can make the difference and there seems to be no consensus on what is ideal, but to me nothing is cooler than somebody hammering out text on a manual typewriter!

 

[zipur]

Ugh, don't listen to those people. You know, the problem with Apples' "no questions asked" return policy is, that people start to complain about every little thing: "OMG, I have a Toshiba SSD, the world is doomed, I'm gonna return it." Next time the same person get's a LG screen and returns it again and so on. I mean, why would you stress about that so much? Buy the MBA, use it and be happy. If you really don't like it, return it after a few days. I have the Samsung screen and Toshiba SSD and don't really care. The time I would spend calibrating my screen and trying to find a little scratch I would loose money - time is money.

Anyway, with ML even the LG screens have a good calibration profile, there is no need to calibrate it with professional software.

This post should be a sticky. I agree totally! Use it, enjoy it, if not return it. But do not get hung up on these post. I love the Air, it works and keeps my wife happy. So I can buy more stuff.

 

[Writergirl7]

Think about the 13" rMBP. For years I thought it was normal to get dry, sore, tired eyes after spending a couple hours staring at a laptop screen. After buying an iPad 3 (with retina screen), I realized that LCDs don't have to bother my eyes. I would end up browsing the web on my MBP, and then opening anything I wanted to spend time reading on the iPad. After purchasing a 13" rMBP, I no longer have to use the iPad for reading; its screen is absolutely wonderful. I've also read a few articles on how the new retina screens reduce eye strain, so others are also realizing the benefits.

The only problem then becomes one of portability. The 13" rMBP is certainly larger than the 11" MBA, though it is smaller than the 13" MBA. It is also about 1.2lbs heavier. So your conundrum is: a machine that is ultra-portable, but bothers your eyes, or one that's slightly (and I do mean slightly) less portable, and is much easier on your eyes. I would, and did, choose the latter, though our priorities may differ. Look into the 13" rMBP, though. The current model is wonderful, and the one coming possibly this fall should be even more so.

Thanks Mac82
I went to the Apple Store today to compare my MBA, the iMac and the retina MBP 13". The result is I'm sending my Air back tomorrow. The text in the Air had slightly fuzzy edges compared with the retina. As I have unbalanced vision in my eyes anyway I think this fuzziness further discombobulated my brain's perception of the text. The iMac was only a little better but the rMBP was a great improvement. Came home, thought about it and will ring Apple in the morning and send the Air back. Looks like the 13" rMBP wins

 

[kazmac]

Neat thread.

My main writing machine is my trusty aluminum PowerBook G4. It'll be 10 years this December and it's still my favourite keyboard ever.

It also helps that Movie Magic works better on it than newer machines (all features still don't work in lion) and word x is blazing fast and easier to use than newer versions of word.

I'm tempted by the new retina displays, but none of my writing software is optimized for it yet. One day...

Darn, Movie Magic and Final Draft are not retina ready? Figures. Thanks for posting this info, MacPoulet.

Well, I am going to hold out to see what the rMBPs will deliver as far as battery life...I really have to get a retina laptop to sideskirt bifocals (I refuse to go that route unless I have no other choice.)

 

[arsimoun]

Final Draft and Movie Magic...

Neither is Retina ready, but they both work fine. If you need to avoid work worrying about something, go get yourself a free typeface called Courier Prime. It is the nicest Courier I have seen and I am quite the bear about these things.

Adam Rodman