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An old AlphaSmart can be picked up for a few hundred dollars on eBay. Kind of a clever distraction-free text editor. I picked up a couple a few years ago. Pret
by JKCalhoun 1y ago
An old AlphaSmart can be picked up for a few hundred dollars on eBay. Kind of a clever distraction-free text editor.
I picked up a couple a few years ago. Pretty clever in that, one way it transfers files. You connect the device via USB to a functional computer and ready an empty document in your text-editor of choice. Push a button on the device and it sends the internal text as though from a USB keyboard to your computer: speed-typing [1].
[1] https://youtu.be/xXuRZbq8-0s?si=AbLZ4DcnhpkUYANG&t=93 https://youtu.be/xXuRZbq8-0s?si=AbLZ4DcnhpkUYANG&t=93
- specproc 1y agoI have an AlphaSmart. I never really got on with it and will probably sell it soon. I quite like the approach proposed here: can re-use your own hardware, bring your own monitor (I hated the AlphaSmart's screen), even hack around a bit from bash.
- ckz 1y agoJust a note for those in the market (as someone with the unusual distinction of owning ~30 Alphasmarts), a few hundred $ is more like a top of the line, NIB/serviced Alphasmart Neo 2 with bag, manual, etc. If you just want to try out distraction-free writing with USB a used AS3000 is easily found <$50 (YMMV re. battery corrosion).
- JKCalhoun 1y agoWhen I was shopping for one, I decided to get the one most favored (as you point out, the delta might be $150—fortunately that was not an obstacle for me). My worry was that if I got the less-favored model (or worst, a non-functioning one) my impression of the whole line might not be a fair one. And FWIW, I like the machine. But I have barely used mine. But that has more to do with my procrastination at sitting down and writing in general.