Xah Lee, 2010-05-06, 2010-08-11
This page is a guide on what emacs distributions are there, which one you should use, for Windows or Mac.
This is the official GNU Emacs, build for Windows by FSF.
http://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/windows/
You want to download the one named like this: “emacs-23.2-bin-i386.zip”.
Just download, unzip, and use right there. No installation step needed.
For a alternative download location, built by Manish Parashar (aka yamaraj), see: http://ntemacs.sourceforge.net/.
To un-install, just delete the folder.
This is a emacs distro created by Lennart Borgman. It is a emacs with Windows specific patches, with some extra elisp packages bundled.
Main feature includes the ability to use the Alt key to invoke menu like other Windows apps; set Win key as Meta; use OS-wide Sticky Keys from Windows's “Ease of Access Center”, fixes such as to make printing easier, makes emacs ftp work, bundled nXhtml mode for working with mixed HTML/CSS/Javascript code, …
Download at: ourcomments.org.
You want to download the one named “EmacsW32 + binaries for Emacs”. Then, run the installer.
To un-install, run the un-installer.
ErgoEmacs is a distro created by Xah Lee (me) and David Capello.
Main feature includes a ergonomic based emacs keyboard shortcut set, fixes so that many emacs features work in Windows, bundles the whole unix command tool utilities (grep, find, diff, patch… from MinGW), and bundles many Windows specific language modes. For detail, see: ErgoEmacs Features.
Download at: ErgoEmacs.org.
Download and run the installer.
To un-install, run the un-installer.
EmacsForMacOSX.com. This is plain GNU Emacs, built by David Caldwell.
Aquamacs Emacs is a emacs with complete Mac user interface, by David Reitter.
Aquamacs's interface is similar to BBEdit or TextMate or in fact any modern Mac software. It uses the same keyboard shortcuts Mac users are familiar. Also uses tabs, multiple windows, pop up dialogs, Apple's help documentation system, etc., and bundles many extra packages, in particular LaTeX support.
If you never used emacs before, or never used a text terminal or unix, this is a great choice.
Download at: aquamacs.org.
Carbon Emacs is a emacs distribution designed for Mac, by Seiji Zenitani.
You get all options such as using ⌘ Cmd or ⌥ Opt key for Meta, drag and drop support, and anything specific for Mac, and with many bundled packages including AUCTeX, etc.
If you have used emacs before, and want a emacs on the Mac, Carbon Emacs is a excellent choice.
Download at: Carbon Emacs.
Personally, on Windows, i use my own distribution ErgoEmacs, of course. On the Mac, my choice is Carbon Emacs with ErgoEmacs packages.