I’m currently splitting my time between a big-ass iMac and a shiny new 12" retina Macbook.
On the iMac, I’m working with Scriv in a window, stretching more or less top-to-bottom of the monitor (but considerably narrower). On the Macbook, with its smaller screen, I’m writing with Scriv in full-screen mode. And I’m moving my project between machines using Dropbox for sync (obviously only working on one machine at a time).
Here’s an irritation: my Scrivener project carries its window settings with it between machines, so that it opens the same way on the iMac as it did in the previous session on the Macbook, or vice versa – whether full-screen or in a window, and the window geometry (both main window size in pixels and relative size/position of the binder and synopsis/notes panes). What looks write on a Macbook looks dwarfish and weird on a big iMac screen; while, going in the opposite direction, the binder opens to the same width in pixels as it did on the larger machine, eating half the screen.
Am I missing some preferences checkbox for “keep separate per-machine window settings”, and if not, is this something that could be added relatively easily?
I can’t answer your last question … only Keith (or perhaps Ioa) can … but could you not on each machine save a layout — Window > Layouts > Manage Layouts — and when you switch between the two, first off call up the appropriate layout for that machine?
I haven’t done it, as I tend only to use Scrivener on my MacBook Air (1440 X 900), not my 17" MBP (1920 x 1280) or on my wife’s 27" iMac, but I imagine it would work. If you gave each layout a uniquely identifiable name, you could assign a shortcut to it through the system preferences.
Just a thought.
Mr X
Post Edit: I am quite jealous of your new MacBook. I was playing with one in the Apple Store here in Exeter … downloaded Scriv and ran it from the DMG … Beautiful machine, and I thought it would be great to use, even though, at over 6’ tall, standing at the display table was not the optimum position to be typing from. My only wonder was how long it would take to get used to the extremely short travel and different feel of the keyboard, but I suspect the answer would be “not long”. This MBA is getting a bit long in the tooth and can struggle under Yosemite, but I don’t know that I can really justify buying a MacBook.
The keyboard travel has been the subject of a fair amount of criticism on t’Internet, I believe - for example here. When you see a still of the device’s innards - at least 70 per cent battery - the design-decision is perhaps less surprising.
Been using Scriv for years, have written (and sold) upwards of six books using it(!) and I had never noticed the “Manage Layouts” option before you mentioned it.
Live and learn, I suppose …
The Retina Macbook keyboard has short travel but feels really nice; if you’re a touch-typist who’s used to the chiclet keyboards it’s a bit better than the retina Macbook Pro keyboard in my opinion. (If you want an IBM Model “M” feel, then sorry, you’re outa luck here.) Battery life seems comparable to the original Core i7 11" Macbook Air, i.e. not as good as the recent Ivy Bridge or Haswell machines, but certainly acceptable – and to offset against that, you can extend it using an external USB battery.
Not just the design decision about the batteries, but the fact that it is so thin that there isn’t room for further travel on the keys.
Given that I also have an iPad Air 2 with a Logitech keyboard, which combined probably weigh more or less the same as the MacBook, though the screen is smaller and the keyboard is more cramped, I’m going to wait for Scrivener for iOS to come out before I make any moves. In the meantime, the 13" MBA works beautifully with Scrivener, and the only Retina screens I’ve ever had are on my iPad and iPhone, so I’m not spoiled for one on my computer, unlike the reviewer you link to.
That’s what life is about, living and learning? no?
I prefer typing on my MBA to typing on my 17" MBP, which presumably has the same type of keyboard … I think it’s due to the slight angling of the MBA keyboard, and the MacBook has that. On the other hand, I don’t really like typing on the bluetooth or wired keyboard on my wife’s iMac, as it feels weird to me. But although I taught myself to more-or-less touch type with 10 fingers — well, 8 fingers and 2 thumbs — I am not an proficient typist, made more complex by my (in-)essential tremor!
I think I’d quickly get used to the MacBook keyboard. The trackpad might be another issue, given my tremor; as it is, I have to have all clicks except the most basic turned off on both my laptops.
That’s what Unicomp is for, if you’re using your Mac (or Windows machine for that matter) at a desk with a larger external monitor. I suffer wrist stress and migraines if I don’t pay attention to my ergonomics, and the Unicomp keyboards have really helped with the former through a series of Mac and Windows machines.
I love my Unicomp keyboard at home, but that thing probably weighs as much as five or six MacBook Retinas (and takes up about that much desk space, too).
I tried one out at a local store last week. While I’m not a true touch typist, I found it easy to use after a couple of minutes getting used to the minimal travel.
It is LIGHT!
My wife finds it too small and will stay with her 13" Air, though I’m tossing up with replacing my iPad with one of them
Oh, pshaw. It only takes up the desk space of two MBRs, side-by-side. Granted, you create two stacks of three MBRs and that’s the volume of the Unicomp…
That’s what life is about, living and learning? no? 