Care of The Unofficial Apple Blog (TUAW) I came across the newest software bundle for Mac users. Mac bundles are a mixed blessing, often amounting to about 70% crap and 30% gold. I’m still using a lot of the software I got in the last MacHeist, however, but the last MacPak was pretty much total garbage (at least for me.)
Unfortunately, it really looks like this MacToSchool software package is a bit overblown as well. I mean, I’ll report it, you decide (heh, as it were.) But my general take is the only two programs worth a damn in there is Mori and WriteRoom - both of which have better alternatives. Mori is easily trumped by Yojimbo or Curio, or even Soho Notes.
But, let me gently urge you to another option all together. As we are students, free rings in our ears most loudly, and what I present to you surely is.
Software For Starving Students
What is it you ask? Why it’s a one package, free download of some of the best open-source and free software for Mac and PC student users. Does it have everything? No. But it has a LOT you will use, and a lot you won’t, but its free you so you should take a look. All of this stuff is widely available, but here it is in one simple package. And a lot of the software is pretty essential to have, just in general.
Technorati Tags: backtoschool, education, software
24/08/2007 at 6:11 pm Permalink
You say WriteRoom has a better alternative, but don’t list it? In my biased mind WriteRoom is pretty good at what it does, I would venturer to say the best! There are free alternatives like JDarkRoom, but that’s not as polished in my mind. And there are programs like Scriniver that support a similar full screen mode, but to use it you must deal with a much more complex application.
24/08/2007 at 6:33 pm Permalink
You’re right, and I overgeneralized.
I don’t use such screen environments, and assumed the free alternatives or the versions built into the more robust Nisus Writer or Scriviner would be just as good or better. I have just tried your software again, it’s not for me, but it is much better than the last time I tried it. It definitely beats JDarkRoom and Nisus. I think it’s about on par with Scrivener, but as you say - that’s a whole other ball of wax. I am sorry and will immediately post a retraction. Thank you for drawing my attention to it.
Mori, I stand by my general view. It’s good software, but I prefer those other options more (and like Mori more than the many other options unnamed.) Unlike the empty screen writing environments, I did put these programs through their paces quite thoroughly and for my particular needs, found the others to be better options.
25/08/2007 at 2:52 pm Permalink
Interesting piece there… Posted from Blogger