With Markdown Here, you can write an email using Markdown, and then hit Alt+Ctrl+M and watch it transform into a beautiful, richly formatted message. Code listings get syntax highlighting, you can ...

Though not ideal for non-Markdown writing, if you use Markdown and want a minimal tool to write with, Byword is a good choice.

Simplenote, the free writing app from Automattic, is now available for Windows and Linux for free. Oh, and it's open-source too.

Markdown is a markup language for writers, especially those who write for the web. It lets you write and format text using plain text and easy-to-remember syntax.