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Portable Word Processors?

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?

2 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.