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New Yorker Article: Can "Distraction-Free" Devices Change the way we write?
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Posted by MadaboutDana
Jun 10, 2022 at 07:55 AM
I loved my AlphaSmart Dana, and took it everywhere with me. I had a ton of Palm software on it, too, so it was seriously useful for all kinds of stuff, although I used it primarily for rapid writing.
It had a battery that lasted 20-30 hours. It was the kind of device you can literally “throw in a bag” – all solid-state, two SD card slots, clear (backlit) screen (albeit monochrome).
If they’d kept it up to date with modern connectivity, I’d undoubtedly still be using it. It synced perfectly with my elderly HP PC laptop, and I could use excellent Palm apps like ListPro on it.
IMHO it beats the ghastly, clunky FreeWriter hands down.
Posted by Chris Thompson
Jun 10, 2022 at 02:27 PM
There’s a significant demand for old Alphasmart Danas on the used market. It’s still a fairly popular device. It’s strange how the great devices like the Dana and the Pomera DM30 keep disappearing from the market while clunky, expensive versions like the Freewrite are thriving.
I do like the Remarkable, but only for notetaking. For document review it’s painful. The highlighter has the most bizarre, inconsistent behavior you can imagine, and it doesn’t even export real PDF highlights.
Posted by MadaboutDana
Jun 10, 2022 at 03:40 PM
Oh, that’s disappointing about the reMarkable. I love the concept, but have hesitated due to the (impressively high) price.
I totally agree with you about the mysterious disappearance of devices like the AlphaSmart keyboard-first devices. They’re so useful! With a little updating (connectivity, the latest e-ink screen technology), they could be thriving once again.
I’d be delighted if somebody would bring out a cheap, laptop-shaped machine with a reasonable, 12-14” (maybe even monochrome) screen that lasted 30-40 hours and just did basic word processing. Given the current state of processors, batteries and screen technology, you wouldn’t think that was a big ask. Instead, we get the grisly FreeWrite. How anyone can take that seriously is beyond me, but clearly there’s a market out there. I’m sure users would flock to a simple keyboard-led device with a good screen and battery life.
It must be said that the latest Apple machines are amazing on battery life – I happily work for a day and a half on my MacBook Pro 14, even plugged into a big screen and with many programs running. It lasts much longer than my iPad! But it’s not particularly light, and it certainly wasn’t cheap! I’m delighted they’ve dropped the price on the M1 MacBook Air, but even that isn’t cheap.
A couple of years ago, Samsung came up with an interesting concept involving the embedding of a mobile phone in an optimised keyboard/screen mounting. But as so often with Samsung, it was very experimental, quite expensive and didn’t go anywhere (too many compromises, one of Samsung’s great failings). Hm. Who fancies setting up a small company to develop a portable writing tool that people will really love… ? ;-)
Chris Thompson wrote:
There’s a significant demand for old Alphasmart Danas on the used
>market. It’s still a fairly popular device. It’s strange how the great
>devices like the Dana and the Pomera DM30 keep disappearing from the
>market while clunky, expensive versions like the Freewrite are thriving.
>
>I do like the Remarkable, but only for notetaking. For document review
>it’s painful. The highlighter has the most bizarre, inconsistent
>behavior you can imagine, and it doesn’t even export real PDF
>highlights.
Posted by Paul Korm
Jun 10, 2022 at 04:25 PM
I love my reMarkable 2 -– somewhat like I love a finely crafted pot. The pot is beautiful to look at and touch, not for cooking. The reMarkable 2 is beautiful to look at and touch. Rarely used for anything else. I would enjoy having the money back, but I am glad to have the device to admire.
I’m sure that’s not the kind of endorsement the company would welcom.
Posted by Amontillado
Jun 10, 2022 at 06:46 PM
I wanted a Remarkable. Still do, in fact. But I also discovered a silly fascination with fountain pens.
You can spend a fortune on good paper, or you can write on card stock. Regular Walmart 5x8 index cards aren’t bad.
Real field journals are, of course, nicer, and I think I cut a dashing figure in the Starbucks with my fountain pen, my jodhpurs, and the rakish angle to my pith helmet.
Fashion is never an accident.