CNET Editors' review
Bean is a free, compact, easy-to-use text editor that occupies the middle ground between bare-bones apps like TextEdit and more full-featured (and more expensive) word processors.
Bean launches quickly and uses minimal resources, while giving you access to rich features such as live word count, tabbed documents, templates for boilerplate and automatic dates, page layout settings and in-line graphics, dictionary integration, word completion, plenty of import and export options, a search panel that can handle regular expressions, and an Inspector panel for making tweaks to text, format, and spacing.
Bean can't handle some specialized tasks, like footnotes and predefined styles, but this open-source editor gives you a lot of functionality at no cost--in a well-designed, pleasant-to-use interface, including optional split-screen editing and a two-up layout view.
Anyone looking to get a little more out of a free word processor with strong basic features and some extras should give Bean a try.
Publisher's Description
From Bean:
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 TextEdit but have to jump through hoops just to get a word count or change the margins, try Bean. If you desire a simple, beautiful writing environment, try Bean.
What's new in this version: Bugfixes, Enhancements, German Localization.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 81 votes
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Current version:
4.8 starsout of 5 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-5 of 5
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"flick it ;-)"
Version: Bean 3.0.9
Pros
I switched from TextEdit because I'd had finally enough of Lion's save issues and ridiculous headache-inducing glitchy zoomy animation when opening a file. I'm so glad I did.
Love the tabs but also that you can still have separate windows.
Love the fact that you have some white space at the bottom of the document so that you're not writing up against the bottom of the screen.
Love the full screen option, great for beating procrastination.
Adore the simple, no-fuss word and character count.
View options - excellent.
Love the easy zoom change so I can have things at 12 point as required, but can use zoom to make viewing easier on my small screen.Cons
I have to work out how to get a new document to show how I want it (have changed the prefs?) but that's probably me not Bean.
Summary
It's just the little things that make Bean so great for writing reams of text — I don't care about formatting, I want it down in a simple no-clutter way, and this just works, intuitively and very fast.
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"Really Great and Efficient Productivity Application"
Version: Bean 3.0.9
Pros
Free, Really fast, Full Screen Mode (no distractions), most formatting is available
Cons
- Not COMPLETELY compatible with formatting in full-fledged word processors such as Word, LibreOffice (OpenOffice)
- Some formatting features are cumbersome to accessSummary
Bean is a great productivity application. If you do note taking, write essays, or write anything that doesn't require a HUGE amounts of formatting, then Bean is a great option! It's not the most compatible word processor on the planet, but its one of the fastest! Opens in no time. Overall, it is a great, lite word processor. NOTE: use the "inspector" if you want easier access to formatting
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"Great Product"
Version: Bean 3.0.9
Pros
Works flawless all the time
Cons
None to report
Summary
Thanks for a Great program!
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"So far, does everything I've asked it it to do!"
Version: Bean 3.0.9
Pros
Easy formatting
Cons
Nothing so far
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"Best word processor"
Version: Bean 3.0.9
Pros
GUI is much better than any other word processor, lots of functions.
Cons
I have no cons.
Summary
The aplication is just what i need and it works smart and fast. Strongly recommended.
Results 1-5 of 5
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