The great Scrivener conversion update.

I mentioned a few weeks ago I'd had to ditch my previous writing program SuperNotecard due to it totally fucking not working anymore problems with it after a Java update broke it and the programmers' not giving a shit lack of a timely response to addressing the issue. Thus since word slinging is sort of how I pay my bills and put food on my table, and my writing software is an invaluable part of my writing process, I switched to Scrivener.

Well, ironically, now that I've switched to a MacBook Air from a PC-flavored laptop, I had to get the Mac version of Scrivener which I already knew had more features.

And now, the same company's come out with Scapple for Mac, an AWESOME mindmap software that totally gets me. (I think I'm in lurrrrrve!)

No, it's not available for PCs as of this writing, although they say they're working on it.

I tried it the other day and immediately bought it. (Shut up and take my money!) Especially when I found I could literally drag and drop my entire mindmap from Scapple into a corkboard folder on Scrivener, in the SAME arrangement as it was in the mindmap (Mac Scrivener has a free-form corkboard that the PC version doesn't yet.)

Oh.

My.

Goddess!

Yes, I'm hooked. I'm in love, and definitely not regretting my decision to switch to the MacBook Air. (Also, was able to stream something from my MacBook Air to our Apple TV device so we could watch it on the living room TV the other night. WOW!)

So if you're considering a Mac, GET IT. Yes, they're more expensive, but now I'm mentally whacking myself on the head for not getting one sooner. And if you're on the fence about Scrivener (in either flavor) don't be. BUY. IT. Do yourself the favor and use the free trial, and get the Dummies book for it. I know there are more advanced features I haven't even tapped into yet, but I'm really loving the software now that I've totally made love to it gotten to know it better.

Scapple is definitely worth a look-see if you like free-flow note-taking. I've already transcribed a shit-ton of handwritten notes from my WIP notebook into Scapple and dragged them into Scrivener.

Now, please excuse me while I go get cuddly with Spunky (my MacBook Air) and get this WIP cranked out.

I went to the Dark Side. (And the cookies are nommy!)

Grimmy trying to "help."

I had a scare a few weeks back with my Toshiba Satellite laptop, where a security software update farked the boot process and for the better part of two days I was in panic mode trying to straighten it out.

Fortunately, I did get it straightened out, but it was a grim reminder that I was due for a new one. (I prefer to upgrade while the old unit is still working, because one of my early laptops died and while I was waiting for it to be fixed, I was stuck writing on a tiny Asus teensy mini netbook.)

I should note I go through laptops at a rate of 1 about every 2-3 years. That's not a statement on the quality of the laptops--that's a statement about how much I put them through the wringer. (And to be fair to my little red Toshi, the issue was software, not hardware or firmware or bios.)

I've been an ardent and devout Toshiba person for the past three laptops of my own, in addition to one for Hubby, one for my son, and a shared one for Hubby and myself that is a monster, wide-screened workhorse containing my Adobe Photoshop and other software. I'm pretty loyal, and they're good computers.

But.

And again, this isn't Toshiba's fault.

Nope, the fault lies squarely on Microsoft this time. Windows 8, from everything I've read and heard and seen, is NOT an OS I want to upgrade to. I'm the kind of person, when a new OS is released, I'll wait until its been out a loooong while, usually until one or two service packs come out, to upgrade/change over.

So Friday, Hubby and I took a trip to the Apple store. I'm not Mac-averse, but I've never personally had a Mac-flavored machine of my own. I've used them before with no issues, and I have an iPod, iPad, and iPhone.

Well, we came home with a 13" MacBook Air. It was a decision I needed to grit my teeth to make, because the math in my head kept coming back with the reply of, "You can buy THREE OR MORE DAMN TOSHIBAS FOR THAT MONEY!!" We dipped into savings to get it, but I have to say, I love it. And considering what I've heard from everyone so far, this laptop should easily last me 3-5 years (or longer) making it worthwhile.

Another consideration, since I'm now using Scrivener, the Mac version of Scrivener has more features than the PC version. And they just came out with Scapple, the PERFECT mind-map software for how I work...but only available for Macs at this time.

The MacBook Air has good battery life (another consideration for me), and is VERY lightweight (yet another consideration for me). So I still have my little Toshi as a good back-up machine, and now have all my important files transferred over to the new one. After a few hiccups caused by user error (I'm used to tapping, not clicking, the trackpad LOL) and then overcoming that by hooking up my wireless mouse, I've settled in quite nicely with "Spunky."

Yes, I name my computers and my cars. Shut up. Don't judge me.

So I am now a fully Mac person. Honestly? I didn't cross over sooner because of the cost differential. I think Apple could fully give Microsoft a complete run for their money if they figured out how to drop the price of their units. I had NO problems with software installs, or hooking up to my network, or anything. It's been completely painless and went far faster than I imagined it could.

So are you a PC or a Mac person? Or, like me and Hubby, a hybrid of both? (Before my iPhone I had an Android, so I was split three ways then. LOL) Or do you run a Linux-flavored machine? Do you have a Mac and what do you think of it? Are you interested in a Mac? Are you a Mac wanting to switch to PC? Sound off in the comments.