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This seems rather expensive for what amounts to a keyboard + eink display. It would be nice to have an e-ink display, but I can also buy a thinkpad x201/x220 f

This seems rather expensive for what amounts to a keyboard + eink display. It would be nice to have an e-ink display, but I can also buy a thinkpad x201/x220 for <$70/<$100 usd on ebay right now. It's not the smallest thing ever, but the x201 is pretty dang small for a "writing only" machine with a good keyboard. And I can still do basic web browsing or email if I really want to.

tartoran 6y ago
There's a bunch of cheap devices/older laptops that could fill this space the problem is that it's hard to install a stripped and locked down OS if one is not a computer whiz or no such OS exists. I have a better idea for an OS that runs off a stick and only has text editor capabilities and nothing more. Once can reuse their own laptop for writing. Once they boot in the writing mode with the memory stick on there's nothing else to access. The only problem is that as of now no such OS exists. I'd also love to boot off a stick and only have access to a repl of my favorite language, nothing more. Anybody out there up for the challenge of creating such an OS?
- Something1234 6y ago
  Someone could make a distribution based on tiny core and have it boot into bash, and only install vim. Then create a separate partition to mount as a usb drive to move your work over.
  - asdfasgasdgasdg 6y ago
    You could also accomplish this by installing any random distribution, then remove the browser and network capabilities, then change the admin password to something hard to remember and either discard the password or store it someplace hard to reach.
    - Something1234 6y ago
      I was thinking something portable and immutable.
      - nitrogen 6y ago
        Like a custom LiveCD/USB?
- rendx 6y ago
  This does not address an important point made in the article: "n this way, the AlphaSmart provides an almost Pavlovian space in which to write: Get the device out, and the brain immediately moves into writing mode. This is another reason why I’ve been resistant to software on my computer that’s supposed to compel creativity and productivity. Because I do such a wide variety of tasks on my computer, my brain isn’t primed by the space to focus on one particular job. In this way, my computer’s all-purpose abilities, which is the main selling point of most laptops, actually becomes a liability. But the absolute simplicity of the AlphaSmart means that when I bring it out, I subconsciously know exactly what it is I need to do: write." Yes, you can buy a laptop that is as much different from the other laptop you use, but it will still be that, a laptop. Not a mere writing device. I instantly get how that makes a big psychological difference, even if the machine is crippled in a way that would make it "impossible" to do anything else with it. So, it is exactly NOT about any form of possible reuse for other purposes.
  - andrewzah 6y ago
    > So, it is exactly NOT about any form of possible reuse for other purposes. In one sense, sure. In another sense, it's just marketing for people who are unable to control their impulses and have a lot of money to spend. > but it will still be that, a laptop A laptop that isn't connected to the internet is a writing device. There are numerous word processors based around this concept as well. Spending $$$ on niche products won't make you write any more than figuring out a space to write in + a routine will. But people can't sell that for $400. You don't have to spend -anything- to have bouts of focus for writing. Zero. Nada. But it's easier to spend money than to figure out why ignoring notifications is so impossible.
  - tartoran 6y ago
    Could be achieved with a stripped down/custom os on existing device. At this point minting any more plastic is almost like a crime against nature
- sincarne 6y ago
  It’s not exactly what you’re asking for, but my solution has been a decade-old eeePC 701 netbook with FreeDOS. The writing is done in pico. To get files off, I need to reboot with a USB key attached. It’d be a dream if wordgrinder was ported to FreeDOS.
floatingatoll 6y ago
I think one aspect of the benefit highlighted by this article and by these devices in general is that they are not capable of being multifunctional devices, so that their inability to serve other wants is a benefit to the product category — not a drawback. You aren't wrong to highlight that good multipurpose devices exist in this size and form factor, but there are still people for whom single-tasking is non-negotiable, especially writers.
- yencabulator 6y ago
  Sure, but paying $200-300 more for an inferior experience just because you lack impulse control might be wake-up call to spend time practicing it?
  - floatingatoll 6y ago
    That doesn’t work for everyone, even if it works for you.
  - timClicks 6y ago
    You're missing the point tough, less functionality is not an "inferior experience" here. It avoids the need to fight the urge for a dopamine fix.
    - andrewzah 6y ago
      Computers have the ability to disable their connections to the internet. Recent apple products have Do-Not-Disturb modes. Maybe, one could do some introspection about why they are unable to put notifications on hold? Nah. Better spend a lot of money instead, because that will fix the root issue, assuredly. --- W.r.t my original comment: For $70-$100 (at most!) I can take a laptop, disable the wifi, and open a word processor. It is admittedly a splurge, as I already have a desktop pc and a perfectly capable macbook. However, that price point for a dedicated writing machine with a great keyboard was worth it to me. I did it for the keyboard, not the (lack of) notifications, but one could easily do it for that purpose.

tartoran 6y ago

There's a bunch of cheap devices/older laptops that could fill this space the problem is that it's hard to install a stripped and locked down OS if one is not a computer whiz or no such OS exists. I have a better idea for an OS that runs off a stick and only has text editor capabilities and nothing more. Once can reuse their own laptop for writing. Once they boot in the writing mode with the memory stick on there's nothing else to access. The only problem is that as of now no such OS exists. I'd also love to boot off a stick and only have access to a repl of my favorite language, nothing more. Anybody out there up for the challenge of creating such an OS?

Something1234 6y ago
Someone could make a distribution based on tiny core and have it boot into bash, and only install vim. Then create a separate partition to mount as a usb drive to move your work over.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 6y ago
  You could also accomplish this by installing any random distribution, then remove the browser and network capabilities, then change the admin password to something hard to remember and either discard the password or store it someplace hard to reach.
  - Something1234 6y ago
    I was thinking something portable and immutable.
    - nitrogen 6y ago
      Like a custom LiveCD/USB?
rendx 6y ago
This does not address an important point made in the article: "n this way, the AlphaSmart provides an almost Pavlovian space in which to write: Get the device out, and the brain immediately moves into writing mode. This is another reason why I’ve been resistant to software on my computer that’s supposed to compel creativity and productivity. Because I do such a wide variety of tasks on my computer, my brain isn’t primed by the space to focus on one particular job. In this way, my computer’s all-purpose abilities, which is the main selling point of most laptops, actually becomes a liability. But the absolute simplicity of the AlphaSmart means that when I bring it out, I subconsciously know exactly what it is I need to do: write." Yes, you can buy a laptop that is as much different from the other laptop you use, but it will still be that, a laptop. Not a mere writing device. I instantly get how that makes a big psychological difference, even if the machine is crippled in a way that would make it "impossible" to do anything else with it. So, it is exactly NOT about any form of possible reuse for other purposes.
- andrewzah 6y ago
  > So, it is exactly NOT about any form of possible reuse for other purposes. In one sense, sure. In another sense, it's just marketing for people who are unable to control their impulses and have a lot of money to spend. > but it will still be that, a laptop A laptop that isn't connected to the internet is a writing device. There are numerous word processors based around this concept as well. Spending $$$ on niche products won't make you write any more than figuring out a space to write in + a routine will. But people can't sell that for $400. You don't have to spend -anything- to have bouts of focus for writing. Zero. Nada. But it's easier to spend money than to figure out why ignoring notifications is so impossible.
- tartoran 6y ago
  Could be achieved with a stripped down/custom os on existing device. At this point minting any more plastic is almost like a crime against nature
sincarne 6y ago
It’s not exactly what you’re asking for, but my solution has been a decade-old eeePC 701 netbook with FreeDOS. The writing is done in pico. To get files off, I need to reboot with a USB key attached. It’d be a dream if wordgrinder was ported to FreeDOS.

floatingatoll 6y ago

I think one aspect of the benefit highlighted by this article and by these devices in general is that they are not capable of being multifunctional devices, so that their inability to serve other wants is a benefit to the product category — not a drawback. You aren't wrong to highlight that good multipurpose devices exist in this size and form factor, but there are still people for whom single-tasking is non-negotiable, especially writers.

yencabulator 6y ago
Sure, but paying $200-300 more for an inferior experience just because you lack impulse control might be wake-up call to spend time practicing it?
- floatingatoll 6y ago
  That doesn’t work for everyone, even if it works for you.
- timClicks 6y ago
  You're missing the point tough, less functionality is not an "inferior experience" here. It avoids the need to fight the urge for a dopamine fix.
  - andrewzah 6y ago
    Computers have the ability to disable their connections to the internet. Recent apple products have Do-Not-Disturb modes. Maybe, one could do some introspection about why they are unable to put notifications on hold? Nah. Better spend a lot of money instead, because that will fix the root issue, assuredly. --- W.r.t my original comment: For $70-$100 (at most!) I can take a laptop, disable the wifi, and open a word processor. It is admittedly a splurge, as I already have a desktop pc and a perfectly capable macbook. However, that price point for a dedicated writing machine with a great keyboard was worth it to me. I did it for the keyboard, not the (lack of) notifications, but one could easily do it for that purpose.