Portable writing options

Discussion in 'Writing Software and Hardware' started by Gholin, Apr 7, 2011.

  1. Spring Gem

    Spring Gem New Member

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    You might consider the Alphasmart Neo. I use mine to write first drafts. It has a full size keyboard and it's easy to transfer files to my computer. The only real draw back is the small screen, but even that is an advantage because it keeps me from trying to edit while I'm writing the first draft.
     
  2. kirp1234

    kirp1234 New Member

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    I do alot of script writing and use my ipad 2. Absolutley love it. If you decide on the ipad 2 go with the Scripts Pro app. I use it on my iphone and ipad!
     
  3. popsicledeath

    popsicledeath Banned

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    I'm old school, so I pull around a red wagon with an archaic typewriter everywhere I go. I'm looking at an electric typewriter, though, since there's also room in the wagon for a battery!

    Laptop, though, if I could afford it.
     
  4. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    If I'm away from home, I just use pen (or pencil) and a pocket-sized notebook (I mean a PAPER notebook!). I remember writing half a short story for a writing course I was taking in a little Moleskine notebook while I was waiting at the DMV to renew my vehicle registration. Worked really well and I didn't have to worry about the battery dying.
     
  5. Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Contributor

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    Also, when you mention functionality, does iPad support flash yet? If not, that's another reason to go with a laptop.
     
  6. hiddennovelist

    hiddennovelist Contributor Contributor

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    I thought I was the only one. ;)

    I actually do most of my first draft work by hand, so my portable option would definitely be a pen and a notebook. I keep a tiny binder (4x6, it's super cute...what can I say, I'm a girl) and a little steno pad in my purse. My husband thinks I'm insane, but they come in handy.
     
  7. popsicledeath

    popsicledeath Banned

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    I'd draft by hand, but for the fact I can't write very long before I have issues, and when I write things down they're usually terrible but then I get attached to them. So even my notebooks go unused now. I had one that had a cartoony monkey I think in a doctor regalia and said 'Monkey Business' and the other the pink/purple dears-hearts-mushrooms that Old Navy had for a while... What can I say, I'm not a girl, so it's ironic and they're super cute anyway, whatev. :p
     
  8. Velox

    Velox Member

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    I'd say a laptop -- an iPad would be harder to write with, IMO. Plus you can only do so much with it. I would get a small-ish laptop, not so small it's a netbook, but not one of those huge 17-inch laptops either.
     
  9. Trish

    Trish Damned if I do and damned if I don't Contributor

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    Why no 17-inch laptop? I love my laptop, full size keyboard and number pad, big screen, etc. It may be huge but it's awesome :p
     
  10. funkybassmannick

    funkybassmannick New Member

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    Before I bought my phone, I had to make sure it could record voice memo's. It's perfect because I always have my phone on me anyway, so I don't need to lug around a pen and paper/digital recorder. Also great because I do most of my brainstorming while driving, and it's a lot more dangerous to write and drive than to speak and drive.

    I think most phones can record voice memos.
     
  11. Velox

    Velox Member

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    I love mine, too, but unfortunately isn't very practical for portable usage. =P When I go to college I'm either getting a smaller laptop or a netbook or something; the smaller one for taking to classes and around wherever, and my current one will just stay in my dorm/apartment.

    Especially in places like coffee shops. I'd much rather have my sister's laptop [maybe about 10 inch? Don't know the exact size, as she's off to college herself] for convenience/overall ease.
     
  12. Trish

    Trish Damned if I do and damned if I don't Contributor

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    Good point :D I rarely take mine anywhere other than the front porch, so I don't really worry about that much. My sister has a little one like the one your sister has (I don't know the size either) and I can't type on that thing, lol. Typo heaven :p I know I'd adjust, but it's so frustrating.
     
  13. The-Joker

    The-Joker Contributor Contributor

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    Typing stories on your cell phone. That sounds painful. I'm glad it's working out for you. I tried it once. I kept on making mistakes.
     
  14. Trish

    Trish Damned if I do and damned if I don't Contributor

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    Ditto. I'm lucky text messages make sense and I have qwerty on my phone... it's just so small :(
     
  15. Caldenfor

    Caldenfor New Member

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    I do not like to sit at a desktop and type for prolonged periods of time and that could be what has lead me away from novel attempts. I have my trusty notebook and pen, but then typing that all up just gets boring for me. If I typed a little at a time it would work, but I end up writing so much on paper that it is impossible for me to type it all up.

    Perhaps a notebook or some sort of translation system would be best employed, but to pick one... tricky. I can't always be noisy, so sound recordings may not be the best method. I can sure type though.
     
  16. spklvr

    spklvr Contributor Contributor

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    It took a little getting used to, I'll admit that, but now it's relatively easy and painfree. Can write for hours. Though for the last few days the shift button keeps getting stuck... that's annoying. I may have abused the poor machine a bit too much.
     
  17. rikithasta

    rikithasta New Member

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    I actually just took out my Toshiba Satellite L64 today and am loving it. It's very light and pretty small - but then I carry my backpack everywhere. I have a friend who carries an ipad with a portable bluetooth keyboard, sometimes you could find fairly small/ light weight keyboards. And then there's the pen and notebook, you can't get much more portable than that. They work in any light too.
     
  18. Gigi_GNR

    Gigi_GNR Guys, come on. WAFFLE-O. Contributor

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    When I was writing a story that was divided into three parts, I'd take pocket notebooks with me and whenever an idea came to me, I'd scribble it down in the notebook for that particular part of the story.
     
  19. Velox

    Velox Member

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    Yeah, I could never do that. I'll use my cell phone to make notes or to write down ideas and such, but to actually write I think that'd be very difficult and frustrating. Even with my Qwerty keyboard.
     
  20. MJLowson

    MJLowson New Member

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    I plan everything on the laptop, but do a mini written pad version, writing out bits of the next chapter, easier to do when having lots of small chapters.
     
  21. barnz

    barnz New Member

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    My ideas go on a pocket-sized notebook that goes with me wherever I go, sketching into a college-rule notebook (more detailed notes but less than an outline, more questions to myself than anything), and I do drafts on my laptop that goes anywhere I go -- as long as I have a few minutes to write where I'm going. My laptop cfan get cumbersome though, but I'm looking into a netbook like you to ease the process. In the end, pen and paper is what I fall back upon for sheer portability, but that may change if I get one of those newfangled netbooks! I say try both the iPad and the netbook - type up some flash fiction, see which one is more transparent.
     
  22. Chrysostom

    Chrysostom New Member

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    I use tablet to write and there's a free Office app called Kingsoft Office. It's great for writing. The only negative part is that you have to realign your writings when you open it in Microsoft Word and vice versa. Otherwise, it works great.

    If I don't carry tablet, I'll use Inkpad app on my android phone to write temporarily.

    If I my phone battery is low, I'll just write it in my brain lol.
     
    Vandor76 and minstrel like this.
  23. Vandor76

    Vandor76 Senior Member

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    @Chrysostom : how did you find this 3 years old thread? :)

    For me (and I'm sure for many others) a touch screen keyboard is out of question as I need to write text with accented letters and it is really hard to write them on the screen. Character recognition softwares are a bit better but still not 100%.
    A keyboard with separate keys for these letters is a much better option. I have a laptop with such a keyboard but it's too heavy to take with me all the time so I'm thinking about buying a small netbook.
     
  24. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    I've been going through the heavily overused General Writing subforum and redistributing threads that should have gone to other sub-forums (like this one). Chrysostom must have seen it pop up during the move. ;)
     
  25. Larissa Redeker

    Larissa Redeker Active Member

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    I like to use my 7" tablet (android), with a simple but good text editor, and I use Dropbox app to synchronize the file between the tablet and my computer.

    But when I'm waiting for the bus I use a simple notepad and pen to write or draw.
     

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