LEV  FD8 isn't so bad. It does its stuff and it's easier to set up new script elements than Screenwriter. ( I'm working on a musical at the moment, which needs a LYRIC element. In FD it's a snap. In Screenwriter you have to set up an "outline element" which isn't quite so well-behaved, though it does work.)

BUT... beware. The activation system will dump you like a shot if e.g. you have a system crash and reinstall, or (as I did) you upgrade to Snow Leopard then have to roll back because SnoLe isn't really ready to print with your new HP printer (tsk). The assumption is that all users are (a) in the ConUS, (b) have an internet connection and (c) aren't doing anything particular much that day in the way of work so can wait for a support dude to reset the damn registration database.. They can do what they like, but it's annoying for the user who, as I am, is on a little Greek island trying to get some work done in peace. Thankfully I'm only using FD to read/revise someone else's work. Screenwriter is a bit more elegant in its approach. Not much; but they've at least automated the process so you don't have to make two trips into town to get the software you've paid for working again.

I don't actually understand the reasoning, really. If you're a pro, you're going to buy the software because you need it. If you're not a pro, I can't see anyone popping $250 for a highly-specialised app, although they will certainly bootleg it to sit in their rooms pretending they're Bill Goldman. But I presume they have their reasons.

Oh, one heads-up. Lord Lightning mentioned integration with Scrivener. Which is wonderful if you're using standard screenplay format. On the current job, I'm not, and Scrivener (which is marvellous) and FD don't really understand what each other are doing. That pesky LYRIC element causes mutual incomprehension. I expect the brilliant Keith Blount will fix it in Scrivener but for the moment it's no go.  
(Version 8.0)

SHADOW RAY  This is an ok screenwriting program, but this version has about 3 new features versus FD7, which was released five years ago. I have 7 and I was all ready to upgrade but after trying it decided not to. Obviously they're not putting much money into developing the program and expect screenwriters and productions to just deal with using archaic production tools.

I'm sure Final Draft 9 will have another 3-4 features that every other screenwriting program's had for years when it's released in 2014 or 2015 but I'd rather not wait.

Screenwriter 6 has a few bugs but is very sophisticated and miles ahead of this in pretty much every way. I'm buying that instead and will be encouraging my co-workers to do the same. It's not listed on this site for some reason but check it out, there's a free demo for it.  
(Version 8.0)

LORD LIGHTNING  If this was not supported by the AWG (and what the heck does that mean?), I would not use it at all. CeltX is free. Montage is becoming more and more refined and is slated to merge with Contour; the old draughthorse, Screenwriter Pro, still beats it for sheer reliability and heavy lifting. Oh! You say it integrates with Scrivener and Screenwriter Pro has an apoplectic fit when it tries to? Dang! That means I have to take it seriously all over again. Oh well.   
(Version 8.0)

GRYPHONENT  Purchased Final Draft 4, 5, 6, and 7... all buggy as hell with no support at all after purchase. Bugs remain unfixed and the developer does just not care for customers on the Mac platform. I will not pay another $80 to this company. Proposed colored index cards in version 4 years ago, now they implemented the idea. Have migrated to Montage and Scrivener... better companies, better support, better product!  
(Version 8.0)

THEIVAR  I think this is a great program. No other script-writing programs I've tested lets you write dualogs so fluently.

But the Mac version is instable and not as developed as the pc-version. For example you can't put the zoom to more than 150%, wich is quite annoying if you have a hi-resolution monitor, and not a perfect sight.  
(Version 7.1.3)

KIRSTEN THAYER, PRODUCT MANAGER  As the new product manager for Final Draft, I’d like to respond to some of the comments submitted by readers who are waiting for changes and improvements not addressed in 7.1.3.

I’m pleased with this release even though it doesn’t tackle everything. It’s come a long way since 7.0 but we know we still have more work to do. My goal (and the goal of any software company) is to ensure that any problems you are exposed to in the next release are no more than minor inconveniences.

For those of you who have constructive feedback, I'm happy to listen. You can email me directly at: pm(AT)finaldraft.com. I can’t promise you you’ll get the answer you are looking for but I promise to be responsive. Also, please assume that if you have a problem that crashes the application, we didn’t encounter it during testing so we want to know about it.

For those of you with specific technical issues, we offer free email and chat support in addition to the 24/7 phone support. We also regularly send to Apple Stores in LA and NYC representatives who can answer your questions face to face. Please visit our website for the details.

Finally, for those of you looking to participate in the development process, we have an active Product Usability Group that provides feedback and direction for the product. I encourage you to sign up: http://www.finaldraft.com/cpp/application.php.  
(Version 7.1.3)

FERRUCCIO BUSONI  Still my favorite screenwriting software, for the following silly reasons:

1. I can trust it — because it is an industry standard, I don't have to worry about formatting, fonts or anything. I just write. ("Just add words.")

2. It has a very simple interface. There's just a window with your script in page layout — or, if you want, note cards next to it.

That said, it isn't work the price if you're presently looking for software — but that is only because of Celtx.  
(Version 7.1.3)

STEVEHOPS  Still the most buggy software I have every used! And I've been using it since version 5.

Still, 7.1.3 has fixed many of the previous bugs, but for the price this should be more stable.

Can't wait to try Celix or Montage. On the Windows side there is Sophocles. They say they are also working on an Mac version.

http://www.sophocles.net/  
(Version 7.1.3)

LORD LIGHTNING  You will experience profound cognitive dissonance if you pay for this. Wait for Movie Magic ScreenWriter Pro, now in very advanced version 6 development. Try Mariner's Montage, which is in the hands of very responsive developers. Better still, try Scrivener which is about to be released as beta version 4 - probably as soon as this weekend). Go to the Scrivener forums to get the information you need.

http://www.literatureandlatte.com/  
(Version 7.1.3)

THEALLSEER  In other non-crappy software news, Celtx is free and just added a lot more new features. Don't waste any of your time or money on this program. It was the defacto standard because there weren't any viable options, but now there is:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/19246  
(Version 7.1.3)

DMU  I love Final Draft. Although I'm not sure if it's because I've used it for so long that it's what I've gotten used to, or if it really is a superior product. I just like the way it works. I tried shifting over to the free Celtx, but that has a lot of problems that overshadow the fancy extras. So, Final Draft has made the actual reality of writing get out of the way and just let me go, go, go. For that I'm appreciative. However, there are a few minor issues. Cursor ghosting and a fickle toolbar to name two. Nonetheless, with the arrival of relatively fast Universal Binary support, it's clear that Final Draft is going to be one of those rare companies that remembers that its Mac user base is what built its business.  
(Version 7.1.2)

JOHN F.  Not great. As somebody mentioned before, scene navigator doesn't navigate anymore. You double click on a scene header, and nothing. Only seems to work when you have a split window view. But moving from different views within one window is much time consuming. You have to delve into menus, split window, resize windows and views, etc. I don't want to work in one window, except when it's worked out thoughtfully. Version 7 experience isn't good. Version 6 simply presented you your script, and you had a seperate window for your outline and index cards. It works much better. Also, the index cards don't navigate anymore, so no more shuffling and double clicking to move to a scene in the script. Version 6 was much, much better. Aarggh, it seems that Final Draft isn't designed to meet the needs of writers.

I really hope that Mariner Software Montage will make a better app and, for once, listen to the needs of the writer. But it will cost $150 and that's not cheap either. Well, if it's better than this software, it might be worth it.  
(Version 7.1.1)

COURIER 12 POINT  Been using Final Draft for the past 3 years ... and looking forward to an alternative application that is native to OS X. Looks like the wait will be over soon with the just announced Montage!

http://www.marinersoftware.com/sitepage.php?page=104  
(Version 7.1.1)

ANONYMOUS  What happened to Scene Navigator in version 7.x? It doesn't navigate to anything; it just lists the scenes. Double click on a scene - nothing. In version 6.x it used to take you to the scene. In other words, it would "navigate" to the scene. It did this in the Index Card view as well. Not anymore.

Tell me the wisdom behind taking useful features out of an upgrade. Terrible work FD7.  
(Version 7.1.1)

MATTHEW  Here we go ... I'm running Mac OS X 10.1.5 (haven't spent the $130 for the upgrade because the Final Draft Software set me back $190). I've been using Final Draft on my Mac without any problems ... then I tried to save a file as a .pdf and the whole program crashes. "The program Final Draft 7 has unexpectedly quit." I was on the phone with tech support several times deactivating and activating my software, uninstalling and reinstalling ... everything you can think of. They have never received a report of this happening on a Mac, but, guess what, it's happening on my computer. Now I call tech support and they want to charge me $2.50/minute when before it said my tech support was free. The tech support guys are completely baffled as to why it would crash when saving as a .pdf. Anybody else having this problem? Any idea how to fix it? Do I need to upgrade my OS? Is version 5.0 of Acrobat Reader unable to handle the conversion? Is this just an anomaly? Anybody have any suggestions for alternate screenwriting programs?

Sorry if this isn't much of a review. I guess my review can be seen in the stars. Tech Support ... not so good. I like the layout ... I've been using FD since version 6. I don't do all the features with notes and different views ... I just write the screenplays and do the other work the old fashioned way. If tech support was helpful and I could save as a .pdf, I would love this program.  
(Version 7.1.1)

ANONYMOUS  Terrible. Awful. Pathetic.

And I make my living writing scripts.  
(Version 7.1.1)

ANONYMOUS  Screenwriter hasn't been updated for a while, far as I know. But I've used it without a problem for over a year. I love it. I'm still on Panther, though, so... we'll see. I wonder if FD still requires the CD to be in the drive? Screenwriter does not.  
(Version 7.1.1)

ROB  Well, looks like 7.1.1 returns the live page scrolling feature that I complained was lost below. Makes you wonder why it was removed in the first place, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. My other comments, however, still stand. This is not worth $200 plus dollars. I encourage any developers working in the word processor arena to develop a cocoa-based shareware screenwriter for the Mac and undercut this stale piece of software. Nissus, Mariner, any others, lets get something out there!

Ultimately, we want to encourage people to write screenplays and be creative, not worry about how they're going to pay for a bloated, outdated, clunky piece of software. Oh, and don't worry about Final Draft's claims of being a screenplay submission standard. The truth is, most of the work coming into development is via PDF. You can convert that from Word, Pages, anything. Okay... I've editorialized enough.  
(Version 7.1.1)

ROB  I work as a professional story analyst, so I got a free copy. Glad I did, because I would never pay for this upgrade. The more I tried it, the more I returned to Final Draft 6.x. I tried to like Final Draft 7.1. I really did But it just took too much effort. They almost fixed the antiquated interface, so that was almost a plus. But they also took some functionality out of features that I thought were once useful. The Scene Navigator no longer navigates. The page numbers don't update in the status bar when you scroll, making hunting for a particular page a stop-start affair. It's gawky, awkward and hardly worth the price. The biggest improvement seems to be that it can now convert documents to PDF. Mac OSX has been doing that as part of the system for quite a while.

Dear Final Draft - it's time to rework your business model. Too expensive and not enough innovation lately. You've been resting on your laurels for too long.

Rob   
(Version 7.1.1)

T  I've just been pointed to this app: Celtx @ www.celtx.com

It's a free app for Mac, Windows and Linux.

Also look at celtx.mozdev.org/ for the source code.

It isn't great yet, so it's up to us to participate and make this new app work on the Mac platform.  
(Version 7.1)

MIKE  With the bugs being worked out, I believe that Final Draft is a great writing app. People, let's just move on and see what 7.1 and beyond brings us. The negative feedback don't really reflect the usefulness of this writing app. Let's be constructive, shall we? Let's give our feedback directly to the team and help our app constructively. I will keep using this app for my writing because it suits me. I also use Movie Magic Screenwriter and I don't know which I like more. I find FD interface nicer - Screenwriter's interface doesn't feel very OS X. Formatting acts in Screenwriter is very good, though. Good thing you can try them both out a little before you buy. And to the team: Keep up the work.  
(Version 7.1)

ANONYMOUS  Hi Final Draft users,

As many of you may now be aware, we have released a 7.1 update to Final Draft. This update addresses many issues from previous releases including PDF file sizes and the much requested return of Speed and Normal Views as well as a handful of other improvements.

Please go to http://www.finaldraft.com/ to check it out.

We will be continuing to make improvements and advances including but not limited to merely what's been discussed here. That takes time yet I hope you see 7.1 as a first step in the right direction.

I encourage you to submit any suggestions or feedback you have on Version 7.1 or Final Draft in general. They should go to feedback@finaldraft.com. All emails get read although please understand that we do not have time to personally reply to every one that comes in. (If you have tech support questions you should submit them via http://finaldraft.custhelp.com/)

If any of you are interested in applying to our Customer Participation Program, please go to www.finaldraft.com/cpp.

Thanks for your support and use of Final Draft and much success with all your writing.

Warm regards,

Bobby Pappas

Product Manager, Final Draft

Final Draft, Inc.  
(Version 7.1)

JOHN F.  With the quality control in high gear again, and reversing some elements back to version 6 usability, as stated below by T, this app can be quite good. We, as Mac users, need this app to be good, as this is one of few screenwriting apps on the Mac. Please show us with the next version that the company is responding. Show us Mac excellence.

I don't want to be negative, but this company has to get involved, and let users be involved. I don't want this app to slip any more as it already has. These negative responses may freak out the guys at Final Draft, what matters is that they think carefully about how they should proceed.

Many smaller companies have great user forums in which users and app writers can actively communicate with each other. This way, bugs can be addressed very quickly and users can easily make suggestions. Final Draft also needs such a forum - or does such a forum already exist? Look at Hog Bay Notebook or Circus Ponies NoteBook forums. It is great to communicate with the app writers to work out bugs and add features. Maybe it isn't corporate culture for companies like Final Draft to provide such a forum, but it will make sure that apps stay fit, so to speak.

And last, I don't think that the Windows and Mac version have to be identical. Let the Mac version be true to the Mac. It shouldn't be too much of a problem.

It's hard to stay positive, but here we go... And I will make more of an effort to communicate with the Final Draft team regarding bugs and features.  
(Version 7.1)

T  There are still a couple of redraw bugs remaining in this version and build. I will report them to support.

I have both version 6 and 7 and I hate to say this, but I prefer 6 over 7. This is not good at all. But version 7 just breaks with my established workflow. A new version of any app shouldn't do this. A new version should enhance but never break. It should add and not change. The previous version of the app let me switch to the scene navigator (index cards) via a toolbar button, and I could double click on any index card and it would switch to the scene in my normal script view. Why doesn't version 7 do this? Is it because the index card view isn't a separate window anymore? I also hate that for the scene navigator to work, you have to use a split window.

I, like so many other, am a little disappointed with both the quality control and the way the new version 7 concept is worked out. The new version almost forces you to use a split screen, even if you don't want to. And, again, double clicking on an index card doesn't navigate to the scene in the script. I think the concept of navigating and the split screen has to be reworked. Here's what I would do in a next version or build:

When in single (unsplit) window view, I want a button on the toolbar to let me switch to index cards - within the same window. Then, when I double click on an index card, I want it to leave the index card view and return to the normal script view and go to that particular scene. The same goes for the scene navigator. And I want the old outline view to be reinstated.

What I also would like to see, is for the split window view to be used for loading up two separate documents. This way, I writer can drag and drop script text of separate versions of a script, or separate episodes of a series, within one window. Now that would be handy!  
(Version 7.1)

LORD LIGHTNING  I have moved away from FD for much the same reasons everyone else has. My choices now are Writer's Cafe and Storylines - www.writerscafe.co.uk

I also use Movie Magic Sceenwriter even though it doesn't have the fantastic notes and writerly assitance that Writers Cafe and Storylines offer.

One day the movie Write Brothers people will integrate their software offerings. Imagine Dramatica Pro, Power Structure, Screenwriter, and MM Budgeting and Scheduling all seamlessly integrated! WOW, fantastic!

FD7 NIX. total junk.  
(Version 7.1)

ANONYMOUS  "... switched to another recently released text editor since it uses templates"

Can you please let us know what this text editor/template alternative is, that you are satisfied with?  
(Version 7.1)

ANONYMOUS  Can't say who we are or deal with but this productino company has stopped using FD and switched to another recently released text editor since it uses templates. Our clients have been very pleased so far. The key is to get a so-called standard template before you start typing up pages.

And with a slight workaround you can even alter the background color of the pages. Once a feature like that (and three more things) are added in to this new text processor FD will start to rightfully die off.  
(Version 7.1)

ANONYMOUS  I've been using Final Draft since version 4. Final Draft 7 is horrid. Right now I'm using Version 6 on my old laptop because both machines running 7 don't work. For example, it redraws revision marks where there were no revisions. Every time I pull up the script, there pops up new revision marks for no reason. I had to constantly go through the script manually removing each one. This is not a guy sitting around writing scripts as a hobby, I'm in production. So I broke out my old laptop with version 6 and finishing up on that one.

It's sooooo sad. I will not recommend version 7 to anyone. In fact, I think Final Draft has finally put the final nail in its own coffin because, as someone else stated here, its quality control keeps getting worse and worse. It's as if NO ONE tested this AT ALL. Totally unacceptable considering the millions and millions of dollars that are dependent on its ability to function well.   
(Version 7.0.0.54)

BOBBY PAPPAS  Dear Final Draft Users (& MacUpdate Posters):

As Final Draft's new Product Manager (post FD 7), I've been paying attention to your posts. The company hears you and we understand your concerns.

While this isn't the forum to discuss our past missteps (we're only human, after all) know that we're a small but dedicated company. We take our software and our commitment to you very seriously. I am certain that in the coming months and beyond that you will see that for yourself.

We've addressed many of your reported issues in our current version (7.0.0.54) and will continue to do so in future updates over the coming months. For example, we'll be re-engineering the PDF feature shortly.

We'll continue making real improvements and advances far beyond what's been discussed here on these boards or anywhere else.

If you would like to best help us help you, we encourage you to send us any suggestions or feedback you may have directly to feedback@finaldraft.com. We read each and every one of these and they are read and evaluated with care and interest. (Just remember, however, that this is for feedback sumbission only and Tech questions or problems are not handled from this address.)

Furthermore, if any of you would be interested in applying to join our new Customer Participation Program, we'd love to have you. You can sign-up at http://www.finaldraft.com/cpp

Thanks for taking the time to write your posts and continued success with your writing.

Warm regards,

Bobby Pappas

Product Manager, Final Draft

Final Draft, Inc.   
(Version 7.0.0.54)

LORD LIGHTNING  This is really embarrasing! When you consider the crappy licensing system in your consideration of this amateur application, it's unforgivable. Half a mark for sheer stupidity. Hey! for crying out loud its a text formatter, not the secret to the universe.  
(Version 7.0.0.52)

DOMINICANIS  I've used Final Draft on an Apple computer from v.4 on to 7 now, and the Final Draft programmers have always struck me as irritating, lame, "not ready for primetime" software engineers and designers. Even now, after years of experience, their first release of 7 was a scandal. The first update of 7 was a desperate save to make it just barely WORK. The second update, 700043, CAN'T BE DOWNLOADED! They screwed up a DOWNLOAD --one site, one BUTTON where it's available, and it doesn't work. A BUNCH OF CLOWNS work for this company. Having said this, and having tried other screenwriting products, they seem the lesser of the evils--butt the only thing keeping them viable is the poor competition.   
(Version 7.0.0.40)

ANONYMOUS  It sucks, v6 is better. Try Screenwriter 2000.  
(Version 7.0.0.40)

MRMISTER  Stick with version six--this thing is a disaster.  
(Version 7.0.0.40)

ANONYMOUS  talk about not being ready for primetime. they just pulled the updater because ... it's been failing to update a large number of installations. oops. to add insult to injury, the online readme file still points to 7.0.0.33 while the actual updater refers to itself as 7.0.0.39. who's running this two-bit outfit? are the lights even on?  
(Version 7.0.0.40)

ANONYMOUS  Talk about not being ready for Prime Time. Final Draft released version 7 WAY before it proved stable. They've introduced some very nice (in theory) features in this version, but what's the point if the basic, fundamental features no longer work?

Shame on them for this turkey. Stay with (or employ recidivism back to) FD6 until another update. Take it from a professional screenwriter who uses these programs all day every day... FD7 is worse than most of the scripts in this town. Abysmal.  
(Version 7.0.0.40)

MPRESS  Be forewarned: If you are planning on upgrading from FD6, stop! This is a very buggy upgrade! There have been a number of serious issues that have yet to be corrected -- especially scrolling and printing.

The makers of this upgrade should be more than ashamed. They should return all monies with a letter of apology because there is no way this could have passed testing.

Until further notice, stay away from Final Draft 7!  
(Version 7.0.0.33)

ANONYMOUS  i'm really quite astonished how buggy and bad this release has been. basic functions like cutting, copying, pasting are still erratic. the program is borderline unusable. i've had to revert to final draft 6 on one of my computers. i can't believe they released what appears to be development code to the public -- with a rather meaningless full-number upgrade, no less. shareware authors with no resources have written far far far cleaner code. final draft is merely a simplistic word processor with some automated macros. someone ought to be eating their lunch.  
(Version 7.0.0.33)

ANONYMOUS  Update??

Fixes some bugs but introduces a whole new batch. What a piece of junk!  
(Version 7.0.0.33)