Ever since I’ve converted to Mac it’s really only been a matter of time until I finally made the switch.  I held out as long as I could, but then my VMware Fusion installation of Windows XP died (big shock) on me and it finally pushed me over the edge.  I was going to try to hold on for another year if I could, even though I wanted to convert, but I just got tired of increasingly diminished performance and pounding a square peg in a round hole.

I’ve converted to Accordance.

There, I’ve said it.  Now I feel better.

Look. I love BibleWorks.  In fact, there are many things about BibleWorks that I’d love to see implemented in Accordance.  BibleWorks kept my love of working with Greek and Hebrew alive and well long after most pastors decide that it’s just not “their thing.”  BibleWorks is powerful stuff, the UI isn’t bad, and what you get in their default package is truly remarkable.

It just doesn’t run on Mac.  I’ve begged BW to create a Mac version for years (it’s a perfect app to use QT 4 with), but they don’t have the resources to do that and support their Windows product – and I understand.  For years on Linux I was OK with that becuase I could just fire up a Virtual Machine, or run BW on WINE at about 80% functionality with only a few crashes.  Even when I switched to Mac I was running BW on VMware Fusion, but in the end I just had to give up.  When my friend Jamison transferred his Accordance License  to me I decided it was time to switch to a application that was actually designed for the platform I’m using.

After just over a week of using it, I’ve got to say I’m impressed.  There’s been some growing pains, but I’m getting used to the UI and I’m getting better with the tools at my disposal.  I’ve got BW installed using CodeWeavers for a couple of tools, but it’s less stable than on Linux (and in BW7 the functionality under Wine drops significantly).  Here’s some thoughts so far on the switch:

• I like how Accordance uses natural language for searches.  While having an honest-to-goodness command in BW thrills the Geek in me, I have to admit it’s easier to construct a complex search in Accordance than with BibleWorks.
• I actually prefer the way that BibleWorks uses characters in the search string to change the context of the search.  If not character appears before the first word, it automatically realizes that you’re looking for a verse.  If a symbol appears before the first word it knows that you’re searching a word or phrase. Accordance accomplishes the same using mouse clicks, I like less mouse clicks.
• I like the way that BibleWorks gives you the ability to have several searches open at once in different tabs, rather than windows as in Accordance.
• I like the single window interface of BibleWorks, it’s less to keep track of.  Though I like how Accordance has an auto-info window up by default (which Bibleworks makes you switch tabs for now).
• I like the way Accordance handles statistics, there seems to be more flexibility in how you arrange them.
• I like how Accordance will accept just about any decent shortening of a book name as valid – whereas in BibleWorks you could only use their three character abbreviations.
• I don’t like having to repay for modules I own in BibleWorks.  Isnt’ there a way I can transfer my BDAG license over to Accordance?  C’mon folks throw us a bone!
• I really didn’t like paying for the NIV so I could prepare worship slides, yick.
• I love the bang for the buck that BibleWorks gives it’s users.  Can we have the same person negotiate for both programs please?  Merge the companies and kick butt.
• I love being able to switch layouts to match my study goals easily.  That’s just cool.
• I’m still up in the air whether I prefer Accordance or BibleWorks for parallel version display.
• I love the way that Accordance handles version notes.
• I appreciate that both programs have active communities of users, because it adds so much support as you learn to use the program.
• Accordance needs an actual editor somewhere.  The tool editor isn’t as nice as BW’s near word-processor.
• At this point I prefer the way BW keeps search results in a box that swiches the context of the browse window when you click on each.  I think that’s less confusing than the way Accordance handles search results (throwing them into a glob and tossing them in the screen).
• Accordance has text critical apparatus, I’ve been wanting that for years.

So, I have growing pains, but it’s worth it.  I’ll have to wait until next year to get BDAG (at this rate I may never get HALOT) for Accordance, but if I really want it I can fire-up BW and hope it doesn’t crash under CodeWeavers).  I didn’t want to switch at all this year, given the economy, but I also had to stop spending so much time trouble-shooting why my tools weren’t working.  Now I have a new piece of software to learn, and I’m more productive to boot.  It pans out in the end.