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Portable Word Processors?

Posted by Cliff on from the digital-portable-typewriters dept.

paulcole asks: "I am currently an English major and short story writer, who is in the market for a word processor. My laptop is a good enough tool, but I feel that it isn't quite what I need for a portable writing tool. Namely, I want something smaller, more portable, and easier to use. Right now, I am looking at the QuickPad Pro and the AlphaSmart Dana. Any insight on either of these products, or any others out there, would be very helpful." Do these 'smaller and more portable' devices necessarily justify the trade-offs in power and flexibility that a laptop with a full fledged word processor would provide?

6 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. I'd opt for the Dana by almaon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why? Palm OS, there's flexibility in the software choices. Choice is a good thing. Easier to sync with another computer, for printing, email, whatever. WiFi option could be a butt saver on occasion.

    I always thought there should be more devices similar to this. A full blown laptop is great, but you lose some qualities like stellar battery life, low cost, lightweight. It'd be cool to have laptops with grayscale screens (if anyone made them anymore to keep the cost down in volume). I think it'd be great to have even 20 hour battery life, the thought of 100's of hours on AAA's sounds pretty damn good to me.

    Exhalted dreamer...

    1. Re:I'd opt for the Dana by CastrTroy · · Score: 4, Informative

      If ones gets the Palm Keyboard they can have a full size keyboard in much smaller and extemely less weigth than any regular laptop. The batteries also last for a great deal longer. I got an m100 and the keyboard. Covers all my word processing needs

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  2. Why not just use a PDA? by jkakar · · Score: 3, Informative

    You can get relatively inexpensive keyboards for most PDAs nowadays. The Palm ones fold down pretty small... not quite small enough to fit into a pocket, but close. The screens on newer devices are clear enough that you'd probably be able to work without too much discomfort.

    1. Re:Why not just use a PDA? by siriuskase · · Score: 3, Informative

      That's what the Dana is, just a large Palm OS with an oversized screen and a keyboard. Plus it has Documents To Go built in and wireless. And USB ports, so it has more than a typical PDA for about the same cost. It just won't fit in your pocket.

      --
      If you must moderate, please moderate as irrelevent, not something bad, because I'm sure someone will find this interest
  3. Apple eMate by sakusha · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sounds like the long-discontinued Apple eMate is just what you want. I saw a new-in-box eMate 300 on eBay for a buy-it-now price of $200, you could probably find a good one for around $100. It's basically a Newton with a keyboard, it seems designed for writing, good keyboard, basic B&W screen, good battery life. Zap your text over a serial cable to your main CPU for further work.

  4. Tools. by saintlupus · · Score: 3, Informative

    When I was working on my BA in English, my preferred writing implement was a Pilot Precise pen, Very Fine tip, and a stack of legal pads.

    When I started working on my thesis, I bought a Powerbook Duo because it weighed less than most of the books I was toting around already.

    Since your laptop seems to be unsatisfactory for some reason (too heavy, maybe?) you might want to look at either an older subnotebook (a Duo, or perhaps a Toshiba Libretto or a Sony Picturebook) or something smaller. Apple made a Newton with a built-in keyboard called the eMate that was pretty nice. Fantastic battery life, decent screen, and designed for elementary school kids so its damned near indestructible.

    --saint