[tyingq]

In the late 70's and early 80's there were really high end CRT word processors from companies like Xerox, Wang and Burroughs. I recall managers debating buying these versus general purpose computers.

At the time, that's mostly what you did with general purpose computers...WordStar or similar. Spreadsheets hadn't really taken off yet.

Edit: Check Google for the Xerox 860. It was the Cadillac at the time. https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=488

[slantyyz]

I had a summer job around 1990 as a word processor using a Wang and a dictaphone. While this was definitely at the end of the era of the dedicated word processor, it was an interesting environment to be in. I was one of two dedicated word processors at the company.

It was quite a different world back then, because I would type up a lot of memos that would get physically posted on bulletin boards in public areas, and cc: (carbon copies), while no longer using carbon paper, meant that you were making physical cc's that were being distributed manually.

[tyingq]

I remember being very productive with WordStar, with muscle memory better than what I have now with vim. I could type like the wind, make corrections, reformat, and print in a sort of "out of body" way where my thoughts just flowed.

I haven't really experienced that since. Maybe the single tasking environment kept me more focused.

[slantyyz]

Well, back in those days, styling choices could be incredibly limited (depending on whether you were using a green screen vs gui), especially if the word processor's output was limited to a daisy wheel printer.

I think the vast number of styling and formatting options these days can easily distract writers from... writing, which is probably why Markdown and focused writing tools have become so popular.

[tyingq]

Very true. WordStar gave me headings, bullets, bold, italic, etc. But not much more. Kept my focus on the words.

[garganzol]

You may find WordGrinder by David Given a treat. It is the most close resemblance of WordStar experience nowadays and it is free.

[tyingq]

Amen. <ctrl>KP to my friends. I will check it out. The link: http://cowlark.com/wordgrinder/index.html

[thelazydogsback]

I remember playing with a Vydec word-processor as a kid and thinking it was the coolest thing ever.