Читать книгу Start & Run a Copywriting Business - Steve Slaunwhite - Страница 41

You won’t get far as a freelance copywriter without a computer. In fact, you won’t get anywhere. No client I know of accepts typewritten copy anymore.

If you don’t currently own a computer, your first decision will be “laptop or desktop?” A laptop computer takes up less space than a desktop does and is, of course, portable. But a good desktop model is more comfortable to work on.

The good news about purchasing a computer is that the technology is maturing, and prices are constantly tumbling. In this morning’s newspaper, I noticed a flyer from my computer manufacturer offering a model with virtually the same features I have now — at half the lease price. And I leased my computer from this company just a year ago!

You’ll find, when spending hours at a computer, that little enhancements make a big difference. When I leased my computer, I paid extra for an ergonomically shaped keyboard. It looks odd, but is tremendously more comfortable and a lot easier on my hands and wrists than a conventional keyboard. When my conventional mouse broke, I purchased a cordless mouse as a replacement. Now, instead of fighting with a cord, I easily and effortlessly move the cordless mouse and can place it anywhere on my desk. I also invested extra money in a 19-inch monitor that is great for clarity and easy on my eyes, and enables me to view two pages at once, which is handy.

Mac or pc? I choose a pc because that’s what I started with. Virtually all advertising agencies use Macs, but can convert pc files with little problem. And most of my corporate clients use pcs. If you already own a Mac, stay with it. Your ad agency accounts will love you. And, with products like Adobe Acrobat and other software innovations, I find that the problems of sharing files across different platforms is becoming a thing of the past.