3 ms·

That's no reason to switch. Why switch from a system that works well for you to one which requires you to configure settings before you can use it?

baddox 13y ago
There is a distinct possibility that modern word processors or text editors actually would be worth the transaction cost, as judged by Martin himself, even though he currently predicts otherwise.
petersellers 13y ago
Because the newer stuff probably has at least a few features that will make him more productive in the long run, once he spends the initial time investment to configure the software for his needs.
- danielweber 13y ago
  I really doubt what's holding up the next book in Game Of Thrones is the fact that Martin cannot type fast enough. His editor and publisher can still use the modern tech to do whatever it is you kids use these days to blog your books.
- Semiapies 13y ago
  Such as?
criley2 13y ago
"No settings, no nonsense" is the default for the MANY programs that exist to serve the "distraction free writing" niche. General wisdom in author circles is that you write THEN edit. Having spell check and other tools only hampers the creative process. Darkroom/WriteRoom (and the dozen+ similar programs created over the past decade or two) http://jjafuller.com/dark-room/ http://jjafuller.com/dark-room/ offer zero nonsense, zero setting, zero hassle, text entry programs geared towards authoring a book. They get rid of pretty much everything on screen except for text and background. No UI, no features, nothing. Just the way it should be. I've used them for NaNoWriMo for years and years.
- Semiapies 13y ago
  But he has a program he likes already.
mscarborough 13y ago
Or, why write books when you can just dick around and pretend to be an 'author'?
- eightofdiamonds 13y ago
  Yes he's slow, no doubt about it. But if you had read any of the books he's written you'd see he's a legitimate author. Quality of writing, to me, is a more important trait of an author than volume of output. It would be nice if he got moving though.
izzydata 13y ago
I was mostly thinking along the lines of what if his machine dies? Instead of hunting around for old obsolete hardware it would be easier to find modern hardware that you've adapted to and configured to be as productive as your old hardware.
- danielweber 13y ago
  If it dies he will ask his fans for one, or rustle through his couch cushions for a few thousand bucks to buy one from a willing seller.
- falcolas 13y ago
  The old machine is probably less likely to fail than a newer one. I know of many machines which are still running today that are 10+ years old. Survivorship bias, sure, but if his writing machine has lasted this long, it's well on the "will last even longer" side of the bell curve.

baddox 13y ago

There is a distinct possibility that modern word processors or text editors actually would be worth the transaction cost, as judged by Martin himself, even though he currently predicts otherwise.

petersellers 13y ago

Because the newer stuff probably has at least a few features that will make him more productive in the long run, once he spends the initial time investment to configure the software for his needs.

danielweber 13y ago
I really doubt what's holding up the next book in Game Of Thrones is the fact that Martin cannot type fast enough. His editor and publisher can still use the modern tech to do whatever it is you kids use these days to blog your books.
Semiapies 13y ago
Such as?

criley2 13y ago

"No settings, no nonsense" is the default for the MANY programs that exist to serve the "distraction free writing" niche. General wisdom in author circles is that you write THEN edit. Having spell check and other tools only hampers the creative process. Darkroom/WriteRoom (and the dozen+ similar programs created over the past decade or two) http://jjafuller.com/dark-room/ http://jjafuller.com/dark-room/ offer zero nonsense, zero setting, zero hassle, text entry programs geared towards authoring a book. They get rid of pretty much everything on screen except for text and background. No UI, no features, nothing. Just the way it should be. I've used them for NaNoWriMo for years and years.

Semiapies 13y ago
But he has a program he likes already.

mscarborough 13y ago

Or, why write books when you can just dick around and pretend to be an 'author'?

eightofdiamonds 13y ago
Yes he's slow, no doubt about it. But if you had read any of the books he's written you'd see he's a legitimate author. Quality of writing, to me, is a more important trait of an author than volume of output. It would be nice if he got moving though.

izzydata 13y ago

I was mostly thinking along the lines of what if his machine dies? Instead of hunting around for old obsolete hardware it would be easier to find modern hardware that you've adapted to and configured to be as productive as your old hardware.

danielweber 13y ago
If it dies he will ask his fans for one, or rustle through his couch cushions for a few thousand bucks to buy one from a willing seller.
falcolas 13y ago
The old machine is probably less likely to fail than a newer one. I know of many machines which are still running today that are 10+ years old. Survivorship bias, sure, but if his writing machine has lasted this long, it's well on the "will last even longer" side of the bell curve.