Text Edit, Oh How I Love Thee

WHINGING ABOUT WRITING SOFTWARE

Of which there are many, from full on word processors with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in, like Microsoft’s Word, to those beautifully crafted, minimal, distraction free apps and software like ByWord.

What do I find myself using?

Text Edit.

Why?

Because … I can write on any computer, anywhere, anytime, save to data stick when moving from one machine to another, transfer without hiccup or hassle, and open said same document and simply continue.

No worries.

So, while I have Word for the Mac, it’s an older version and comes with a license for 3 installs. I have one install left, which I need to keep should anything happen to the current install on the iMac.

It’s on a CD.

I cannot load up Word to my new Mac Book Air because … I have no drive slot to do so—because I bought Word on disk, not as a download from the App Store. I would have to buy the latest version.

Which means, when out and about, or travelling, or sat on the couch of an evening, and want to use my lovely lightweight, slim, compact Mac Book Air to write … I have to use another software or app, or use Pages, Apple’s free software that came installed with the shiny new Mac Book Air.

A version that is, guess what, incompatible with the older version residing on the older iMac.

Meaning, if I choose to write in Pages (something I did start doing at one point, before succumbing and buying Microsoft Word) I can only go in one direction up from the iMac to the Mac Book Air, but not backwards. Don’t get me wrong, I like FREE, and I love what Pages has to offer—for creating and designing. Especially if I want to put together a magazine or create my own layouts, there is no contest. But it really is not conducive to writing.

Scrivener? Tried it. The software is frustrating and annoying. Unless, that is, you are a screenwriter, then great, it really has an intense focus for that style of writing.

So I either write only in the office, on the older iMac (which is perfectly fine, with it’s great BIG screen) or on the Mac Book Air … or if I really want to be a daredevil … on the much older Mac Book original, which also has a version on Microsoft Word on it.

Yes, I could invest in another app or software, and did, when I bought ByWord which, by the way, saves a simple plain file to the RTF. A format that Apple, apparently, has decided not to continue supporting because …

Heaven alone knows why. See how frustrating this gets?

Which brings me back to good old Text Edit … that simple, plain, wonderful way to just: WRITE!

Guess what I used to write this blog post in?

Yes, text edit!