Minimalist Writing Instruments for Digital Age
During our life there always come the periods of time when we feel tired of familiar things and want to discover something new. Spending so much time working on a computer, I guess, we cannot but look for some new unusual programs as well. In this article I've rounded up three interesting alternatives to famous word processors you probably haven't heard about. They all offer useful features and catch users' attention with elegant interfaces and a creative approach to writing.
Write! (for Windows)
Write!
Write! is a very unusual and stylish text editor that can be compared to a blank sheet of paper because its minimalist interface and simple design do not distract your attention from producing a text. However, the key features of Write! may come as a surprise to the many. First of all, navigation. Write! embodies the best options of browsers and standard word processors: switching between documents by tabs and using a visual navigator instead of a scrollbar to work with large files more efficiently. Next, for IT specialists Write! has prepared the Markdown section, the opportunity to use the mark-up language for the complicated text formatting syntax which can later be converted to HTML. Also, the text editor undertakes a multilingual spell checker function and allows its users to perform some online operations with the words written: google, translate, read the Wikipedia article, and look on the Thesaurus page. A great number of hot keys, I suppose, will also be appreciated by those got used to working without a mouse. All in all, Write! is an attractive alternative to most famous text editors and, to tell you the truth, a complete list of its features deserves a full-page article.
Try Write!
Ulysses (for Mac and iPad)
Ulysses
Ulysses is less known yet a powerful text editor for Mac and iPad that has recently received very flattering comments. The interface of Ulysses is divided into three columns, like in Evernote. The first column is a library of your folders, the second one is your notes, and the last one is a text field. The notes can be stored on a computer as well as in Dropbox (you can also use an iCloud account). The key difference between Ulysses and other text editors is that there are no titles for the notes. At all. All you see are the first lines of your text. Some observers find it wonderful, while others suggest that the developers should have only made this an option. Above the text field you can see a lot of buttons; with their help you're able to share your text, analyze the statistics (characters, words, and even typing speed), study the bookmarks, write tags, and import a new file. The distinctive feature of Ulysses is that you may set a specific goal for yourself. You choose a number of words, paragraphs or lines you want to write today, and a circular diagram on the left shows you the progress and motivates to continue working. The only obvious drawback of Ulysses is its cost. To try out all the program's options, be ready to pay $44.99.
Try Ulysses
A5 (for browsers)
A5
A5 is the quickest way to turn your browser window into an absolutely unpretentious notepad. The developer of A5, Jason Cooper, calls such notepad “a tiny, little web thing”. If simplicity is what comes first to you, then A5 will satisfy your taste. Actually, this text editor can't be named the editor at all as it has no editing functions. A5 is just a web page with the blank space all around and a blinking cursor at the top of it. You may use this instrument when you work with a browser and need to write something down very quickly: your sudden thoughts or the important notes. You can also use A5 as a word processor online, saving time by switching between tabs with hot-key combinations. The text you create is automatically saved and available for later use after you close the browser or tab. All in all, A5 is an interesting solution for writing directly on the web. The lack of functions doesn't make it boring. Perhaps, A5 is a mockery of overloaded Word and Pages, but users enjoy it.
Try A5
