Yeah, whatever happened to Notepad with .txt files?

Webran61

These are all rather pretty... but how is it better/different than just using a console-mode text editor in full-screen? Or even just using a simple text editor in full-screen? I think we've lost track of what the point of all this was by trying so hard to emulate terminals... instead of using one. Try VIM!

FelixC

Here's another vote for a console text editor in full screen mode. Just run nano,vim, or emacs in your console and viola! Distraction free writing.

ricardo.slacker

Sorry, thought my first comment didn't post (had an error when I posted).

tblain

I've been using Q10 at it seems so much better than this type of web app. I like it too because it has a great portable version so I can take it with me where ever I'm at.

The difference for me as opposed to using something like notepad is this 1) I'm a terrible speller and need a spellchecker. 2) I want to see formatting, bold, italics, etc. 3) Two-words (that are one) Autosave 4) I just wanted a #4.

tblain

Q10 is what I've been using, seems to be the best I've found for the Windows environment as well as it having a portable version.

The problem I have with notepad and the like is that 1)I'm not the best speller, so really want a spell checker. 2)I want to see formatting, ie bold, italics, underlines, etc and notepad doesn't allow for this. 3) Autosave 4) Just wanted a 4

tblain

@joelena: agreed +1 Writer is leaps and bounds ahead of this app. you can even choose text color to whatever you want, line spacing, font settings, and online storage.

of course, all of these settings are hidden to provide a distraction-free environment, but they're there.

GrayBird

Sorry, but I just don't buy it... IMHO, going THROUGH a browser, past various distractions like my bookmarks and StumbleUpon, just to get some hard to see green on black text editing. I prefer a keyboard shortcut to launch DarkRoom/JDarkRoom. It's nice to be able to quickly launch a distraction free fullscreen app when I have something I need to get down, quickly and distraction-free. Launch Firefox and my attention's already chiseled away at by my homepage.

GilbertErik

Inferior to the previously covered Writer [lifehacker.com] which uses cookies to autosave your files online and actually has some options besides "full screen" and "save to desktop":

[writer.bighugelabs.com]

Just use F11 to get your browser to full screen.

Isn't the point of using a web app that you get some kind of online storage?

joelena

Have to agree with Joelena: Writer is a much more mature fullscreen platform if you like text editing in the cloud. I prefer to work offline, since internet access virtually negates whatever distraction filter that fullscreen mode is supposed to offer.

Tblain is right on the money with Q10. I wasn't aware that it offered bold and italic formatting, but I don't miss it. The only thing it lacks for my purposes is the ability to have multiple documents open.

Gameboy70

Have to agree that Q10 is indeed the best out there.

gtdgirl

Yes I think Q10 is the best thing going for this sort of thing. Not sure why you would want to go online to use a text editor exactly when Q10 is free. Put it on a stick if you need to move around. It blows the Mac Writeroom out of the water and is free. I'm not sure that console text editors are for everyone. Some of those editors require a lot of know how, with their esoteric scripting, and the requirement for compiling, etc. Who has time? Isn't the whole idea of the distraction free editors that you can bloody get down to writing instead of looking up script code! As for a plain old text editor, well in addition to what's been said, programs like Q10 are made so that you can easily set up wrapping and other features writers need. Text editors are too primitive or require too much fussing around to make them distraction free, which is the point. Personally, I just use Word 2007 in full screen mode because I'm an outline view writer. I do however have a separate writing profile set up without a browser and other distractions. It works pretty well.

philosopher_dog

The only online document editor that's had an interface nice enough for me to want to use it so far has been Adobe Buzzword. That thing is so aesthetically pleasing to use that I wish I had a desktop version of it as well as the online one.

Nothing else so far has compared, IMO. It isn't practical in many cases, being Adobe and not as MS-friendly as some of the others, but from a writing standpoint it's just great.

EricL

I think some of the people touting all the features of the competitors are missing the point of the whole zen software movement-- it's not about colored text or italics or bold or online saving. It's about a dark screen, green text, and nothing else.

Just you and your words. You can make it pretty later.

glitch1138

@FelixC: Oh, how you can be so close to the truth and yet... so far. I believe what our misguided friend meant to suggest was emacs.

But seriously, people will fall for anything if you make it AJAX-y.

urukhaifive

Writeroom costs money. Pyroom [pyroom.org] is open source and in python. What could be better?

ffm

@socioecoboy: BTW, I am a fulltime OSX user.

socioecoboy

on of the other things that bugs me about osx...no browser full screen support for these type of things...anybody know something I'm missing?

socioecoboy

You could go back to WordPerfect 5.1 to get full screen, color options, etc. Full screen--so old it's new again.

Capone

Q10 is the answer.

pipboy

@socioecoboy: Try Shiira: [shiira.jp]

Webkit based browser with fullscreen.

sam1am

I'll stick with Darkroom for offline editing. I'm more often offline with my laptop when I want to write, rather than online with my desktop, so an online version seems a little useless to me.

bdturner

@tblain: Thanks for the Q10 tip ....
++ marks for having a portable apps version :-)

muzee

Has anyone ever mentioned Q10 for windows? It's a full screen text editor for writers like DarkCopy with a spellchecker and it's freeware. I like it a lot.

cjayconrod

I like this, but it needs better contrast between the text and the background.

pkinsale

@glitch1138: Just you and your words. You can make it pretty later.

Yeah, but I want it emphasized now... and bold looks a heck of a lot better than *bold*.

FLEB

Thank you all who mentioned Q10. I've needed something like this for a long time and Dark Room just never really clicked with me. Having a portable version is the a cherry on top.

SA

Add me to the Q10 fanboy contingent. I wrote it up months ago, and I still think it's the best-of-breed fullscreen editor. Plus, it's the only one that offers typewriter sound effects, something that is great for annoying officemates and rekindling Selectric nostalgia!
-Marc Perton

marc

@sam1am: Thanks!

socioecoboy

VIM, baby!!
I use it for coding - I use it for my attempts at writing novels - I LOVE it. And it's distraction free!... and free!

invid

I'd rather go with Think, in combination with any productive application. It's a free download for OSX, and pretty useful.
[www.freeverse.com]

DoubleFelix

What about the Java version of this?

JDarkroom

Downloadable at [www.codealchemists.com]

mdbuangmys

I like Q10 a lot, and is probably the best for truly distraction free writing. However, Notepad++ works pretty decently in fullscreen mode, and has tabs to boot. Find whatever works for you, and keep it simple!

mig_coconut

@socioecoboy: You can try using Saft. It's not free but it's a very good application. It's got full screen kiosk mode as well.

Joseph

I second the Java version. JDrakRoom works great on any platform and requires no install.

Additionally, another web version was previously posted:
[writer.bighugelabs.com]

yitzle

Thanks for Q10 guys. I think it's just what I need to remove myself from the vicious cycle of email, forum, Stumbleupon and Netvibes checking. Curse the convenience of an always-on wi-fi connection.

Natnie