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Final Draft Page 5
rip it off the net, have a play with it for free then - if you like it - you'll know how much you are willing to pay for a genuine copy and you can delete your ripped one.
I don't agree with piracy. Somebody creates something, somebody nicks it. It's bad karma man.
Quote: Griff @ July 21 2009, 11:52 PM BSTThus speaks someone beginning to visualise 3 million copies of his e-books walking the plank.
Don't get me started on royalties on e-books!
Quote: Lazzard @ July 21 2009, 3:29 PM BSTAnd in all honesty you don't really need to 'buy' a computer.
It's just a lot of wires and shit joined together.
Beats me why people shell out for these 'off-the shelf' solutions when a few months work with a soldering iron will get you something just as good for a fraction of the cost.
It's more about redundancy than cost. If you've got a word processor you don't need FD.
If you've only got a text editor it's a different matter. I suppose most people who buy it think it validates them as a writer.
I use BBC Scriptsmart; but then again I am shit.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 22 2009, 1:17 AM BSTI suppose most people who buy it think it validates them as a writer.
And what do you suppose we do? Some writing? Bah! 
Quote: Leevil @ July 22 2009, 1:57 AM BSTAnd what do you suppose we do? Some writing? Bah!
We? I thought it was your friend who had FD, Leevil? 
He lets me use it sometimes, purely for my own validation.
Quote: Badge @ July 22 2009, 1:32 AM BSTI use BBC Scriptsmart; but then again I am shit.
I use WordFist or ScriptMonger Plus. Before that it was Vanity Publisher Pro - or DialogueWhip.
I couldn't decide which formater I preferred so used to send producers multiple versions of the same script.
Silly Godot.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 22 2009, 1:17 AM BSTIt's more about redundancy than cost. If you've got a word processor you don't need FD.
If you've only got a text editor it's a different matter. I suppose most people who buy it think it validates them as a writer.
1. Need and want are two different things.
2. If like me you simply glide across the surface of IT without the faintest idea of what actually goes on beneath, posts about style-sheets etc etc might as well be in Belgian.
3. The 'validation' swipe is a little un-called for - it's about as valid as me saying people who don't use them aren't serious writers.
4. Why do people get so cross about other people using these softwares? I don't get cross about people writing/adapting their own.
Having said all that, each to his own.
And,has been said before, try out the freebie and see if it enhances your writing experience.
Personally I think MMSW edges FD BTW.
Oh, and to rub salt in the wound - there's a stunning piece of outlining software called StoryView. If you write anything that runs to more than half-a-dozen scenes it's brilliant.
For screenplays I find it indispensable.
I agree with Lazzard.
I would urge anyone considering either to read the Amazon review I linked to earlier.
MMSW is slightly better than FD.
But, you know, horses for courses and all that.
Haven't tried Story View though.
If they can invent a script-writing tool which puts in the jokes for you then maybe I would buy it. Otherwise, whatever you're using at some point you have to put some good material into it. I'm one of those who's just happy with something I've become familiar writing with, hence FD fits the bill for me.
This has all become very annoying for "my friend". He hasn't been able to activate any torrents he's downloaded for final draft. He is reluctant to buy the proper version because he knows there are ways of getting it for free.
What should he do? All the codes etc he has tried appear to be blocked.