What Would be Useful

[mishalak]

A portable device that is light, rugged, has a keyboard that will not cramp large hands (with thin fingers) too badly, and does word processing. Anything else would be like icing, gilding, or something like that. Is such a device a PDA, a notebook computer, a touchpad thingy, laptop, or what?

I do not need it to do actual word processing, it would be just enough to be able to type stories and thoughts when out and about. I thought a PDA would be enough, but how rugged are they? I mean do they survive being in the bag with the books, pens, and whatnot? Is there a particular model that is better at that sort of thing? And I did not want to limit the question to just PDAs because perhaps that is not the correct item for a person who wants to be able to write stories and livejournal entries away from a computer and download them later. I was inspired to ask by the $100 notebook computer project which will not actually be available to the general public for sale, otherwise I might think that was my solution.

Comments

[ckd]

How much word processing? A PDA with a foldout keyboard is a very small light way to take notes and whatnot. More serious stuff? A laptop, probably.

Visit the Apple Store and try the iBook keyboard to see how it feels, perhaps?

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

I do not need it to do actual word processing, it would be just enough to be able to type stories and thoughts when out and about. I thought a PDA would be enough, but how rugged are they? I mean do they survive being in the bag with the books, pens, and whatnot? Is there a particular model that is better at that sort of thing?

[ckd]

The suggested Neo certainly looks more suited to your needs. (Too bad they don't make $5 Tandy Model 100s...)

A PDA is usually not rugged, but there are aftermarket cases made out of aluminum that make them very rugged. However, a folding keyboard really requires a flat surface to work on, and for gallivanting about and taking notes you may not have one handy.

[mrpsyklops.livejournal.com]

Take a look at the Neo or the Dana.

http://www1.alphasmart.com/danastore/neo_features.html

I haven't used them myself, but they've gotten good reviews in the education periodicals.

Robert

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

That looks to be just about right. Cool.

[julesjones]

Alex aka predatrix has a Neo, and swears by it. I saw it last time I visited her, and thought it was nifty. The Neo is *just* a wordprocessor. The Dana is more-or-less a PalmOS laptop, and as such is way more powerful than the Neo, but also way more flaky.

I have just bought a second-hand Psion, which may also be what you need. Remind me to being it with me to the next tea-n-biscuits session I manage to get to.

The Palm IIIxe and keyboard combo I was using while waiting for you at the last tea-n-biscuits seems to work well, but the keyboard is fragile and needs a hard flat surface to use it on. I don't think it's what you're looking for, although it's certainly cheap if you get lucky on ebay.

[sraun]

I know people who have been happy with their Alphasmart.

A PalmOS device with a GoType keyboard could be a good option - I had that pair at one time. The GoType keyboards are not as small as the folding keyboards, but have the advantage that they don't need the solid flat surface underneath them. I had to cross my legs to use it on my lap, but I could!

[gomeza.livejournal.com]

You might want to talk to Bonnie Doran about what she has.

[armoire-man.livejournal.com]

Anything with a "good" keyboard that lets you write stories and LJ entries is going to resemble a laptop, I'll bet.

I use a paper-based system (8"x5" 3-ring daytimer) because I destroyed two Palm Pilots in one year and decided that was too expensive.

I've never found a rugged-enough portable replacement for paper. If you do, let us know.