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DESCRIPTION
Bean is lean, fast, and uncluttered. If you get depressed at the thought of firing up MS Word or OpenOffice, try Bean.
If you use Text Edit but have to jump through hoops just to get a word count or change the margins, try Bean.
If you're pining away for Write Now-esque simplicity or just want a low-pressure writing environment, try Bean.
Features:
- a live word count
- a Get Info panel for in-depth statistics
- a zoom-slider to easily change the view scale
- an Inspector panel with lots of sliders
- date-stamped backups
- autosaving
- a page layout mode
- an alternate colors option (e.g., white text on blue)
- an option to show invisible characters (tabs, returns, spaces)
- selection of text by text style, paragraph style, color, etc.
- a floating windows option (like Stickies has)
- easy to use menus
- remembers cursor postion (excluding .txt, .html, .webarchive formats)
- all of Cocoa's good stuff (dictionary, word completion, etc.)
- please keep in mind that Bean is betaware
WHAT'S NEW
Version 2.4.1:
- the most current version of Bean should now always work with CopyPaste Pro. Note: the CopyPaste Pro command Open Selection in Editor will start the most current version of Bean present; Open Editor however starts whatever version of Bean is contained within the CopyPaste Pro bundle. Thanks to Peter Hoerster for the code.
- added up-to-date French localization (thanks to Daniel Elmiger) and a new Italian localization (thanks to Stafano Carlini)
Notes
- Users have reported that Bean runs well on Snow Leopard, except for Preferences > Advanced > Interface > Suggest filename at first save. I believe there is a new API for that in Snow Leopard, so that will be fixed whenever I can do the first Snow Leopard build. My Powerbook G4 (not Snow Leopard compatible) somehow knew its days were coming to an end; it died. Happily, I now have an Intel-based Apple and will be installing Snow Leopard soon. ;-)
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
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| Bean User Reviews (60 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Nov 26 2008 |
MACSTERDAM I can't believe this is free. For me, Bean has replaced Word and TextEdit for about 95% of the writing I do. Best feature for me is how it handles full-screen writing. Thanks very much!!
(Version 1.3.3) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Sep 12 2009 |
DR. GIRLFRIEND Bean is so d@mn fast, it loads before you finish taking your finger off the button! If you want a no-nonsense, unbloated, easy to use word processing app, look no further. Bean is The One. Bean is peerless; it makes you proud to own a Mac. Along with WriteRoom, it meets 95% of my word processing needs. Once in a blue moon, I'll open up Word to make sure everything looks right (it always does) and using Word for just a few minutes will remind all over again of why I love Bean so much. Can't believe it's free! I donated anyway. If I ever meet the developer in real life -- he'd better watch out, 'cause I'd smother him with kisses!
(Version 2.4) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Sep 12 2009 |
DR. GIRLFRIEND Pardon my mistake: that sentence should read, "I'd donate anyway." I tried to donate, but the developer is unbelievably sweet and doesn't take donations.
(Version 2.4) | |
| Dec 20 2008 |
FYREFLYE Easily one of the very best free applications for Mac.
(Version 2.0.1b) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Aug 31 2009 |
MWSCHMEER Another stellar update, and it's still all good! This is by far my go-to word processor. As a college professor, I truly appreciate the new Notes function--now I can easily add in-text comments with a few quick keyboard shortcuts. Yes, I'd love to see footnotes/endnotes, columns, and floating images, but as the developer points out on his web site, those features are outside the bounds of what he's attempting to do with Bean. This is a great app, and it just keeps getting better.
(Version 2.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Mar 9 2009 |
MWSCHMEER Simply one of the best styled word processors for the Mac. Sure, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Nisus Express or even iText Express, but then, how often do you really need all the bells and whistles? This is the right tool for writing 95% of the time if you are not in school writing documented research papers. And even then, you could probably crib along OK. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that this is simply one of the best free pieces of software out there. It is one of the first apps I install on any Mac I use; I even carry it around on a thumb drive for when I am away from my home Mac (note to developer: might want to make an option to save/use the preference file from a local directory).
(Version 2.2) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Nov 4 2008 |
JOMAMA7366 I absolutely love this program. It has everything that TextEdit lacks in terms of features I want. I've actually started using this little program instead of Microsoft Word. For users who want to WRITE, and do not need a lot of bells and whistles, I highly recommend checking out this great program.
(Version 1.3.3) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Sep 21 2008 |
WILMA GREAT little program! Bean is small, fast, very stable, and it's simple and easy to use. It also includes some great features. Among my favorites: + A slider that zooms the text size (handy when you want to see the monitor from farther away). + An RTF format that can be read by virtually any app (including some Classic apps that can't read TextEdit's RTFs). + Various toolbar and ruler options, which can be hidden or shown via menus and Preferences. + Automated switching between straight and curly quotes (very useful when working with dictation software). + Multiple levels of Undo -- a NECESSITY when dictating. I do most of my typing with MacSpeech Dictate. Bean is my favorite app to use with it. I tested a bunch of word processors for dictation, and Bean had the best combination of speed, low CPU use, low memory use, and features. By creating some global commands for formatting (such as Italicize That, Boldface That, and Underline That), I can do the same tasks Dictate's built-in commands allow in TextEdit, but with a much better interface. For simple note-taking tasks, Bean is much easier to use than other word processors. Check it out for yourself -- it's fun and it's FREE!
(Version 1.3.3) | |
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| Sep 13 2009 |
BRAMHUBBELL I absolutely love this program. I haven't opened up Word in months.
(Version 2.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Sep 12 2009 |
DR. GIRLFRIEND Correction to my earlier review: I tried to donate. This guy is just too sweet! He flat out refuses to take donations. James Hoover, you are a scholar and a gentleman. Thank you for this wonderful free program.
(Version 2.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 1 2009 |
SJHA Bean has made it possible for me finally to accept the loss of WriteNow! A brilliant programme - congratulations to the developer.
(Version 2.3) | |
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