May 27, 2018 - I had lost my faith in Microsoft Windows and I was ready to throw all my. MacBook Pro 13″ Retina – the base model is just right for writers.
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I love my Macbook Pro. Since shipping off to college in 2010, a Macbook Pro has always been banging around in my backpack. Then in 2014, I told myself all the familiar lines when that laptop died and I needed an upgrade: “I need a Macbook because I do creative work,” and, “Apple’s operating system is just so easy to use compared to Windows.” But after a few years, the number of apps in my computer’s dock began to dwindle. Word and Excel were subsumed by Google Docs and Sheets. Apps normally on my phone, like Twitter, worked better as a website than a Mac app. Mail was inevitably replaced by Gmail.
Now my $1,800 machine is effectively used as a web browser. It’s a super nice web browser, cased in aluminum and sporting a retina display, but its core functions are checking the internet and occasionally editing photos of my cat.
Quartz/ Dave Gershgorn The apps have lost. I’m now doing the same things I would be doing on my Mac, but on a humble Acer Chromebook 11. It’s not been too much of a jump, as shocking as that might sound.
I’m playing music from the Android app for Spotify, as I type into my text editor of choice, Notion, running in a web page. I have Slack and Gmail open in tabs. My Bluetooth headphones connected effortlessly, and if they die there’s a headphone jack, as well as two USB-C ports, one regular USB port, and an SD card slot. I’ve been testing three Chromebooks over the past month across a range of prices: Google’s $999 Pixelbook, Samsung’s $599 Chromebook Pro, and Acer’s $250 Chromebook 11.
Since their in 2009 by Google’s future CEO Sundar Pichai, Chromebooks have traditionally been seen as a tool for teachers and students in the classroom, with a inside education. But for those of us out of school, Chrome OS has also evolved into an entirely functional operating system that’s streamlined and versatile. It just works For years, the answer to buying a costly Mac has been the vast menu of cheap Windows laptops available. Since the 1990s, consumers typically lived in this dichotomy: Adapt to the laptop that Apple put out that year——or do the research to buy the Windows laptop that might best suit your needs. On software, the Mac has its simplicity.
They’re laptops that anybody could use, from their simplified app installation process to the user-friendly gestures on the touchpad. On its website, Apple boasts, “When it’s simple to do everything, you can do anything.” Windows, on the other hand, isn’t as simple. I own a Windows desktop PC, but Windows 10 is still clumsy and overly complicated, with settings buried deep in Control Panel menus and a labyrinthine file system. The design of the operating system and confusing cloud storage options make it difficult to keep track of where your things actually are. Chromebooks are a middle ground between these two traditional options. Using the operating system for even a short amount of time makes it clear that the Mac and Windows operating systems were designed before the smartphone. Chrome OS can run Android apps, has a simple notifications interface that mirrors a smartphone, and doesn’t put too much else in front of you— just like your phone.
Screenshot Mobile mentality. Chromebooks use Google Drive cloud storage, meaning you have access to all of your files in the cloud when you’re connected to the internet. There’s also a small amount of storage on the devices themselves, but that’s used for files you need to access on the go and downloads like GIFs or images from the internet. Photo editing and organizing is easy in the Google Photos app, and naturally other Google apps like Docs and Sheets are built-in.
Chrome OS is perfect for looking at the internet, text editing, and writing. The laptops also work fine when not connected to the internet, and automatically sync when they’re back online. And if you’re a coder and don’t see the editing software you want, Chrome OS is built on the Linux framework, so the hardware is compatible with any Linux version that you in addition to Chrome OS. More than a laptop Apple, Google, and Samsung aren’t just in the business of making phones or computers anymore.
These tech giants have realized that robust software and services ecosystems can by locking users into their platforms. I might want to get rid of my iPhone, but then I look at the $350 Apple Watch on my wrist which would be useless if I got rid of my phone.
My Mac also factors into that equation, with features like shared cloud storage and synced passwords. Like millions of other consumers, I’ve bought into Apple’s universe. But you’ve likely already been living in Google’s ecosystem for years. If you’ve ever had an Android phone, a Gmail account, used Google Drive, or browsed the internet with Chrome, you’re in Google’s web.
With any Chromebook, the setup is immensely simple. Just log into your Google account, and everything you’ve used is on your laptop. Even Android apps like Instagram or Snapchat can be downloaded to Chrome OS, though on lower-powered laptops like the Acer Chromebook 11, apps can be a bit slow. While Google’s software is well-integrated, like photos on your Android phone automatically showing up on your Chromebook’s Google Photos, it doesn’t have some offerings that have kept me in the Apple ecosystem up to now. Android’s answer to iMessage that lets you text from your computer, Android Messages, and doesn’t have the same level of polish as Apple’s service.
Google’s wireless Pixel Buds headphones are compared to the AirPods. Hardware play. Quart/ Dave Gershgorn From bottom, the Acer Chromebook 11, Samsung Chromebook Plus, and Google Pixelbook.
There are more than a dozen laptops available with Chrome OS right now. The most expensive option comes from Google itself, the $999 Pixelbook. The laptop has a touch-screen and flips into a tablet. It’s thin, light, and angular, with soft, rubberized hand rests on the keyboard. It’s also the only Chromebook right now with access to Google Assistant, which can help manage smart homes, as well as the things any other virtual assistant, like Siri, can do. It has a minimalist perspective on ports, only sporting two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. But, it’s a luxury device and the best-feeling Chromebook to use that I’ve tested.
Quartz/ Dave Gershgorn Samsung’s Chromebook Plus. A mid-range option is Samsung’s Chromebook Pro. It comes with a stylus that slips into the body of the laptop, and a touch-screen that also flips into a tablet. It also has two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, plus an SD card slot. Since each of these PCs have flexible hinges allowing them to convert into tablets, the laptop screens do have a tendency to jiggle a bit when typing especially fast or using the touchscreen. You could reasonably buy the Samsung’s Chromebook Plus model for $100 less, and not see much of a difference. The Acer is outfitted with a litany of ports and looks a lot more like a traditional laptop.
The thick plastic around the display looks slightly out of place next to the two more modern computers, but the hinge connecting the screen to the laptop’s base is sturdier, meaning no matter how hard you type, the screen won’t jiggle like the others. For my money, I’d buy Samsung’s Chromebook, but if you’re looking to buy a PC for a high-schooler who just wants to surf the internet, the Acer is a solid purchase. The Samsung is bigger, has a nicer screen, and a stylus for taking notes: Definitely a pick for a college student. The Pixelbook is for the professional who has the money to spend on a laptop but wants the mobile-first features of Chrome OS.
Final verdict If you want a simple laptop, own an Android phone, or just can’t stomach the $999 starting price tag of a Macbook, the Chromebook is now a strong alternative to Windows and Apple. And I’ve found that nearly all the reasons we’ve told ourselves that a Mac is a simpler, stronger alternative to a Windows laptop are present in Chromebooks, and often for a far more palatable price.
Posted on by A woman walks into a coffee shop to find two writers, one for a website and the other a novel. An argument is brewing over which writing software is the best. The novelist swears Scrivener is the one and only, while the content writer asks why yWriter is such a bad choice. An internet-old debate of freelance writers everywhere, Scrivener and yWriter each hold their own when in a comparison. Determine which writing software is best for your personal craft by exploring the pros and the cons.
The Low-Down Why should you use writing software instead of your basic word processing program? Functionality and organization are two of the main factors.
Say you are researching a nonfiction book. You’ve got loads of interviews, telephone messages, photos and notes.
If you were using a word processor, then each of these pieces of data would be cordoned into a file and then a folder. To access anything you have to open the folder, find the file and copy-paste to transfer the information. There is no way to organize everything you have so you can easily access your data. When it’s time to write the book, in a word processor you can save each scene or chapter into a separate file. However, once you are ready to print the draft or restructure your chapters, it will take you ages to sort through all your documents.
In comes writing software, capable of organizing scenes and chapters using digital index cards and bulletin boards. You can also look at your entire novel at a glance using the indexes and binders. Printing your manuscript or exporting it for publishing is as easy as exporting in a couple clicks. You can also look at the plot line, sort by keyword, or rename characters in a few easy steps with writing software. Windows Versus Mac Users Scrivener and yWriter are two types of writing software that allow writers to compile anything from research to chapters in a single location., created by Literature and Latte, was originally created for Mac OS X, but it has since been formatted for Microsoft Windows.
Users of the program state that the Windows version is clunkier in terms of functionality than its predecessor Mac. However, if you are like me and have never owned a Mac, chances are you won’t know what you might be missing. The writing software deemed more Windows-ready would be. Even on the yWriter site, it blatantly states that Scrivener is recommended for Mac OS X users, while yWriter is suggested for Windows PCs. Affordability The most prominent concern of any struggling writer is cost.
Scrivener comes with a free trial version that is functional for 30 days’ worth of use. If you don’t use it but one day per month, you can maintain free access for a year and a half. To purchase a copy of Scrivener, it is 40 bucks.
Additionally, the license code is sent to you via email, so in case your hard drive crashes or you purchase a new computer, you can upload the paid version as long as you have that access code. Trust me on this; I’ve had to use mine four times since I paid for Scrivener. If you don’t want to pay anything, then yWriter is perfect for your budget. Created by Spacejock Software, yWriter offers full service without charging a cent. You can opt to register your copy for $11.95 or $24.95, but this registration is mainly a way to support the program financially. You may also receive perks like discounts on book publishing and possible extended features for registered owners. Is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.