Comments on: Whitesmoke to the writer’s rescue

By: Dean Rieck

Dean Rieck — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:32:09 +0000

Graeme,
Sorry you had a bad experience. I nearly always use a separate email address for things like this. This lets me get the info I need but push spam into a little used account where it doesn’t affect me. As for the toolbar, I don’t remember having that issue. Maybe that’s a recent addition.

By: Graeme Roberts

Graeme Roberts — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:45:38 +0000

Dean,

I took you advice and checked into WhiteSmoke.

I have now deleted the evaluation copy from my computer but I am still experiencing the consequences of my brief trial.

The product may be great but the company appears to be sleazy. They bombard you with pop-ups and e-mails, but most offensively they add in the Yahoo! toolbar (which Sun at least makes an option in the Java installation process), make Yahoo! the default search engine, and WhiteSmoke the default home page.

I despise sleazebags, and I bet that you do too!

Please be careful about recommending this company.

Graeme

By: David M Goodman Sr.

David M Goodman Sr. — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:19:35 +0000

Hello Dean, you have an informative and easy reading site that I enjoy reading. Just a word or two on WhiteSmoke. There are several grammar and punctuation proofers on the market right now. I know for a fact they are a necessity for me and many others. I run every document and blog post I do, through one of these. My blog touches on these points. I am still amazed at my oversites when writing. The best part of these programs is you are free to write and not constantly edit as you go. When you finish, run your work through, correct and publish. Thank you for this very useful post .-= David M Goodman Sr.'s last blog ... Websites…Do it your way…Children’s books…Sidewalk cafe…Right writer =-.

By: Dean Rieck

Dean Rieck — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:07:51 +0000

Well, Windows is about 95% or more of the market. So that explains why there’s no MAC option.

I can relate to proofing and deadlines. I used to hire a proofreader to read everything, especially articles. The trade magazines don’t even read what you send them and they miss errors. Clients usually have various people proof copy, so that’s generally not an issue.

I think some people will like Whitesmoke and others won’t. But it’s a decent alternative for the price. I don’t recommend using it while you write, but as a proof afterward. It gives you too many suggestions along the way, which I find annoying.

By: TC/Copywriter Underground

TC/Copywriter Underground — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:27:36 +0000

Given that today’s deadlines don’t often allow time to route my copy through a proofer (yes, I used to do that), this seems interesting. Unfortunately, it’s a Windows only product.

No love for Macs or Linux. Ah well.
.-= TC/Copywriter Underground’s last blog … Comfort Is Your Enemy (or, Why Throwing Bricks Through Windows Is a Good Thing) =-.