05-14-2014, 05:33 PM | #1 |
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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 |
05-14-2014, 05:45 PM | #2 |
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He could have easily used notepad for Windows.
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05-14-2014, 05:55 PM | #3 |
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05-14-2014, 05:56 PM | #4 |
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That's a silly excuse; there's no word processor I know of that doesn't allow you to turn off auto spelling correction.
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05-14-2014, 06:00 PM | #5 |
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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. |
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05-14-2014, 06:45 PM | #6 |
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I think it's little more than an attention thing at this point. "Look at what an eccentric anachronism I am."
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05-14-2014, 08:00 PM | #7 |
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What? Not quill and parchment?
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05-14-2014, 08:03 PM | #8 |
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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?
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05-14-2014, 08:26 PM | #9 |
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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?
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05-14-2014, 09:07 PM | #10 |
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He can use whatever he wants as long as he writes the darn book!
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05-14-2014, 09:18 PM | #11 |
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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.
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05-14-2014, 09:23 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
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 Last edited by fjtorres; 05-14-2014 at 09:27 PM. |
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05-14-2014, 09:31 PM | #13 |
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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, 09:34 PM | #14 | |
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05-14-2014, 09:39 PM | #15 |
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Hmmm, maybe the reason why his books take so long is that he prints them out on a dot-matrix printer?
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