George RR Martin: 'Why I still use DOS'

alanHd · 05-14-2014, 04:33 PM

Game of Thrones author George RR Martin has explained why he does all his writing on an obsolete disk operating system (DOS) computer - because it does not correct his spelling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27407502

RZetlin · 05-14-2014, 04:45 PM

He could have easily used notepad for Windows.

tubemonkey · 05-14-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RZetlin

He could have easily used notepad for Windows.

My favorite word processor

HarryT · 05-14-2014, 04:56 PM

That's a silly excuse; there's no word processor I know of that doesn't allow you to turn off auto spelling correction.

JAcheson · 05-14-2014, 05:00 PM

This isn't all that shocking. He's been doing this for decades, and he has a system that works for him.

I had a teacher in college who preferred using a typewriter because it forced him to compose his paragraphs in his head. He was an excellent and accomplished writer, so obviously it worked for him.

As for DOS vs. Windows, a lot of people who prefer DOS do so because it is pure text, and they are not distracted into fiddling around with formatting instead of concentrating on writing. For people that use Windows, there are specialized word processors that mimic the low-tech DOS UI, and have light text on dark backgrounds because it is easier on the eyes.

DiapDealer · 05-14-2014, 05:45 PM

I think it's little more than an attention thing at this point. "Look at what an eccentric anachronism I am."

Is it a Commodore 64 or a TRS-80?

geormes · 05-14-2014, 07:00 PM

What? Not quill and parchment?

delph · 05-14-2014, 07:03 PM

I have to agree with JAcheson. Reading the article, he seems to be perfectly rational about it. Sure, he could update and use Notepad or Notepad++ or something like that. He has his system and it works for him. If it's not broken, why fix it?

DiapDealer · 05-14-2014, 07:26 PM

I'm sure his publisher/editor loves getting stuff on 5 1/4 floppies. Do they have to keep a special machine around that has software capable of opening his Wordstar 4.0 files?

PurpleStar · 05-14-2014, 08:07 PM

He can use whatever he wants as long as he writes the darn book!

fjtorres · 05-14-2014, 08:18 PM

Well, Wordstar was/is purely controlled by control key combinations, which means touch-typists don't have to move their hands off the keyboard for anything. For old-school typists that is priceless. After 30-plus years his muscle memory on those commands has to be so ingrained he probably gives no conscious thought to anything but the words.

fjtorres · 05-14-2014, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm sure his publisher/editor loves getting stuff on 5 1/4 floppies. Do they have to keep a special machine around that has software capable of opening his Wordstar 4.0 files?

Most likely not.
He has a conventional PC for non-writing work and there are plenty of ways to get his files around without floppies. Just because he works using 80's software doesn't mean he doesn't use newer tech.

Here:http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...sb-drivers-dos

http://www.wordstar.org/index.php/wo...rtors-for-word

DiapDealer · 05-14-2014, 08:31 PM

I don't really care WHY he uses what he uses. I just get tired of the conversation coming up all the time (over the last 5-6 years). He loves talking about it, and people love asking him about it because he loves talking about his steampunk authorial difference engine.

fjtorres · 05-14-2014, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I don't really care WHY he uses what he uses. I just get tired of the conversation coming up all the time (over the last 5-6 years). He loves talking about it, and people love asking him about it because he loves talking about his steampunk authorial difference engine.

Probably because when he gets people talking about his process they're not asking about the next book in the series.

FizzyWater · 05-14-2014, 08:39 PM

Hmmm, maybe the reason why his books take so long is that he prints them out on a dot-matrix printer?

05-14-2014, 04:33 PM	#1
alanHd Addict Posts: 374 Karma: 1408579 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, Ipod Touch, Ipad Air	George RR Martin: 'Why I still use DOS' Game of Thrones author George RR Martin has explained why he does all his writing on an obsolete disk operating system (DOS) computer - because it does not correct his spelling. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27407502

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05-14-2014, 04:45 PM	#2
RZetlin Addict Posts: 383 Karma: 3461302 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura HD (RIP)	He could have easily used notepad for Windows.

05-14-2014, 04:56 PM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That's a silly excuse; there's no word processor I know of that doesn't allow you to turn off auto spelling correction.

05-14-2014, 05:00 PM	#5
JAcheson Tech Writer Posts: 211 Karma: 1745785 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Device: Palm TX, Nook Color, Nook Simple Touch, Vizio Tablet, Nexus 10	This isn't all that shocking. He's been doing this for decades, and he has a system that works for him. I had a teacher in college who preferred using a typewriter because it forced him to compose his paragraphs in his head. He was an excellent and accomplished writer, so obviously it worked for him. As for DOS vs. Windows, a lot of people who prefer DOS do so because it is pure text, and they are not distracted into fiddling around with formatting instead of concentrating on writing. For people that use Windows, there are specialized word processors that mimic the low-tech DOS UI, and have light text on dark backgrounds because it is easier on the eyes.

05-14-2014, 05:45 PM	#6
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,970 Karma: 198535232 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I think it's little more than an attention thing at this point. "Look at what an eccentric anachronism I am." Is it a Commodore 64 or a TRS-80?

05-14-2014, 07:00 PM	#7
geormes Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 216188 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook Classic, Kobo Touch, Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Aura	What? Not quill and parchment?

05-14-2014, 07:03 PM	#8
delph Tabby Posts: 154 Karma: 225372 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portland, OR, US Device: Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Mini, Lenovo Yoga 2 10"	I have to agree with JAcheson. Reading the article, he seems to be perfectly rational about it. Sure, he could update and use Notepad or Notepad++ or something like that. He has his system and it works for him. If it's not broken, why fix it?

05-14-2014, 07:26 PM	#9
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,970 Karma: 198535232 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I'm sure his publisher/editor loves getting stuff on 5 1/4 floppies. Do they have to keep a special machine around that has software capable of opening his Wordstar 4.0 files?

05-14-2014, 08:07 PM	#10
PurpleStar Wizard Posts: 1,622 Karma: 11387182 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Clara Colour	He can use whatever he wants as long as he writes the darn book!

05-14-2014, 08:18 PM	#11
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Well, Wordstar was/is purely controlled by control key combinations, which means touch-typists don't have to move their hands off the keyboard for anything. For old-school typists that is priceless. After 30-plus years his muscle memory on those commands has to be so ingrained he probably gives no conscious thought to anything but the words.

05-14-2014, 08:31 PM	#13
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,970 Karma: 198535232 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I don't really care WHY he uses what he uses. I just get tired of the conversation coming up all the time (over the last 5-6 years). He loves talking about it, and people love asking him about it because he loves talking about his steampunk authorial difference engine.

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05-14-2014, 08:39 PM	#15
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Hmmm, maybe the reason why his books take so long is that he prints them out on a dot-matrix printer?