I need a gadget.

[Jamastiene]

I want to start back writing, but I do not want to always be tied to my desktop computer to do so. I do have flash drives to move from one machine to another. So, that part is good to go.

I need a gadget that is cheap but would work like a laptop that just does word processing only. Is there such a gadget? Is it cheap? Or would I be better off looking for an older cheap laptop?

[taterguy]

1. Notebook + pen

About five bucks

[Jamastiene]

2. What are these notebook and pen things of which you speak?

:P

[quakerboy]

3. Man, what kinda Elitist shops do you go to?

thats like $1.58 max. Unless you need a waterproof Arugula wrapped one or something like that.

The upside is that the technology is pretty well tested and proven, and it seems to be reasonably user friendly, though mine absolutely refuse to take voice commands.

[ghostsofgiants]

14. Nah, drop a few more billz and get a nice Moleskine notebook.

*drool*

[Orrex]

4. You can probably pick up a manual typewriter from your local thrift store for under $20

Paper is extra, of course!


I'm only half-kidding, by the way. I find that working on a typewriter is greatly helpful in streamlining my thoughts and cutting down on distractions.

The typewriter is rather noisier than a computer, though...

[Jamastiene]

5. Hmm, I wonder if they have any typewriters that let you save the

words to a jump drive and put it on the computer after you are done?

[hippywife]

6. Netbooks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbook

[deucemagnet]

7. There are nice netbooks available for less than $300.

http://tinyurl.com/bqzx475

on edit: fixed link

[Nickster]

9. I got mine on closeout at BestBuy for 150. Great for writing.

[pokerfan]

8. The only downside to a netbook for writing

would be the small (85%) keyboard.

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Definitely takes getting used to.

But I love mine for writing when I'm not at my desktop.

[Bossy Monkey]

10. Yes there is, and it runs on 3 AA batteries: the AlphaSmart

Apparently they've changed the name and raised the price http://www.neo-direct.com/default.aspx but you can still get the AlphaSmart 3000 (what I have) used, for instance on eBay. Great little machine. The keyboard is slightly different, as is navigation, but you pick it up in no time. I did a lot of writing on it at one time, and then sort of faded away, so it isn't a magical portal to productivity, but if you like to go to the park to write, say, it's ideal. USB links to PCs or laptops, including this one with Vista.

[Orrex]

11. I saw that one advertised in Writer's Digest

It looked pretty cool, but I hadn't gotten around to hunting down any testimonials. Glad to hear that it works for you--I'll have to keep it in mind!

[Bossy Monkey]

15. Here are my threads about it from five years ago for further testimonage

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1283123
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1317309

[Orrex]

17. Cool!

How much memory does it have on board? And can it accept a USB flash drive?

I'm seriously tempted. Finances aren't super-great at the moment, but it's definitely something I want to keep in mind...

[Bossy Monkey]

18. I don't know about memory; I'd say very, very little. It can't accept a flash drive

and couldn't do anything with it if it could. The way you upload is that you open any word processing software on your PC or laptop right down to Notepad. Link the Alphasmart to the computer with the cord that comes with it; the USB connector is only for the computer end. Push a button on the Alphasmart that probably says "Upload" (I could go look, but there's a very comfortable cat lying on me who would disapprove of such an action:)) and watch your deathless prose type itself across the monitor. It holds I think 9 (maybe 10) files; each holds several pages' worth of text. So it'll take you a good few uploads to write the Great American Novel. The longest piece I wrote petered out after 17 pages and that was, maybe still is, spread across 4 Alphasmart files. So it'll hold a maximum of 40, maybe 50 pages worth of text. On the other hand, as formatting is minimal (tab, ie paragraph indent is just a bunch of spaces), it's much better to use your favorite word processing program for editing and formatting anyway. This is just a cool toy for writing anywhere, basically made for kids.

[ghostsofgiants]

12. Netbooks are decent for that. The small form factor takes getting used to but I love mine.

I have the Acer Aspire One.

[liberaltrucker]

16. www.adameve.com

oops...not...THAT...gadget

:blush:

:hide:

:rofl:

[BarenakedLady]

19. Great minds think alike.

Either that or perverted minds think alike.

:D

[liberaltrucker]

20. Most likely the latter

:toast: