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Okay, I *do* want to start writing again, and I'm starting this new job, which will entail a one-hour train ride each way.
So... two whole hours a day, potential writing time. The question is, what tools are the best for use on a commuter train?
I was considering an iPad, or some other kind of tablet device. My laptop is too large for this (17"), and pencil and paper aren't terribly useful, since a) it would have to be transcribed anyway, and b) my handwriting sucks even on a rock-solid desk, let alone a swaying train.
Whatever the device, it would have to use local memory for storage, NOT network, because I doubt a network connection would be reliable.
I have an iPhone, but it's not terribly useful for this, as it's about maxed out for memory already, and a little small for writing anything more serious than a grocery list.
Any suggestions?
Comments
Netbook?
Many netbooks can be found for a similar or lower price to the fruity tablet, and tend to be fairly small and portable, with a battery life longer than a full-size notebook. However, their screen and the keyboard are smaller than a full-size notebook - so if you have chunky fingers, less-than-perfect eyesight or frequently hit the wrong keys, it might not be ideal. If those don't apply, it might be worthwhile visiting an electronics / computer store with a demo netbook or two, so you can at least have a little play around and get a feel for usability before you dig out your credit / debit card.
There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
There is a small foot print
There is a small foot print IBM lap top that would fit the bill. Mine is a X31 and it is an older IBM so it has a metal internal frame work, but it has no optical drive so the battery lasts longer. I use mine for the same thing when I go to Starbucks or on the train to Seattle. I did see an older Sony Via that was in the same class but I have no experience with it. unless you need a powerful unit any of the older but small lap tops have the power to run a word processer and do clerical work.
The only bad question is the one not asked.
The only bad question is the one not asked.
if you already have the iphone...
i'd say get the iPad.
Use DropBox as your network storage/sync location. (And no, I won't crassly try put push a referral code on you.) and use one of the text editors or word processors that can sync with that.
My preference is for an app called PlainText, as it edits plain text files, which is what I prefer to author in *and* syncs to dropbox *and* can store what you're working on locally while you're out of network reach, more or less transparently. Just make sure you've got it down before you go out of reach. Others to look at include GoodReader, Manuscript, Elements and, for a more Office-like solution, Quickoffice Connect (HD for iPad). But having tried all of these, Plaintext is where I settled.
Side-benefit of the iPad: If you have space, and you brought the extras along, you can prop it up on a stand and use a proper keyboard; while if you don't, you can carry on anyway.
Side-benefit of DropBox - It's not just for iDevices; you can also use it to seamlessly work on the same stuff when you're sitting in front of a proper computer too, of any platform - including the alternative (and good) suggestion of a netbook. I'm sure dropbox-based text editors exist for Andriod and other phones/tablets too. The point of all that being, even if you choose iPad now, you're not locked into the Apple ecosystem forever as you would be with something like, say, Scrivener or Pages. Once you're doing this though you need to take an interest in using a file format that's easily portable between everything. (Again, hence PlainText.)
Side-benefit of these apps: They all exist for the iPhone as well. In some situations you can't or don't even want to take out something as big as an iPad. For one thing, while the iPad isn't big, it's not *so* small that you'll take it everywhere. You'll take the phone everywhere. And while the typing is slower, you can thus still get stuff done with just the phone and painlessly switch back to the iPad or proper-computer later.
save the referral code...
I already use DropBox :)
Thanks for everyone's comments so far!
I like my NetBook
I've an Acer AspireOne... I find it does the job quite nicely... And, I use a USB Flash drive to copy stuff between my NetBook and this laptop.
Ditto
I have the AspireOne myself, was even fortunate to find one that had the built-in ATT dataconnect option. As I already had an ATT dataconnect USB dongle I can pull my Sim card out and plug it into the A1 and then I have Internet most everywhere. It also has 3 USB ports so you can do as Annette suggests, plus it has two SDHC slots; one is fully recessed so you can put a SDHC card in and leave it. Then it's a matter of moments to pop it out, stick it in an adapter and plug into your desktop. That way I don't have to remember my flashdrives.
Of course it also has built-in wifi.
Karen J.
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Before choosing a tablet...
...take the time to attempt writing anything longer than a tweet on it. On your lap. In a moving place.
Tablets and similar form-factor stuff like the Kindle are great for reading, but lousy for writing. The UI ideologues at Apple may rave and rant all they want, but virtual keyboards are crap. The Ipad and its imitators are devices to consume content, not to create content. Yes, you can attach a keyboard; but you have to have a table to use that, in practice. Somehow I have my doubts that you will be able to do that on the train.
Netbooks have a number of shortcomings of their own, beginning with the small screen, but at least they have a real keyboard. Typing on your lap is not great, but you should be able to write at least.
Agreed
I use my iPad for input only in desperation. The virtual keyboard stinks. :) I can't see any pad or tablet type input device being better since the flatness of the keyboard is what is the problem.
There are good cheap netbooks out there or if you have the money, the new Apple small-form factor MacAir which cost three to four times as much as a netbook but is a real Mac.
hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
My Writing Laptop
I have full sized laptops, and netbooks, and even a tablet PC. I don't have an iPad or slate style tablet...
For writing on the go, I prefer my old G3 500mhz 12inch Apple iBook. It's not as small as my netbook, but still fairly portable. It has a more comfortable keyboard and I can run OS X 10.4.11 with Office X. It's not fast by any means, but with the addition of a airport card under the keyboard, or a simple Wireless N USB adapter, or even a USB Bluetooth dongle, I can tether with my android cellphone wherever I need :)
Best of all, they can be had used for around $100 or there abouts on eBay!
-HuGgLeS-
-P/KAF/PT
I plan to buy ...
... the next generation iPad when it comes out (if I can scrape together the cash), and I'll use a handwriting-to-text application like WriteNow with a stylus for writing. I'm working with the software on my iPhone, and it's quite good. That being said, I do almost all of my writing on Macs running OS X 10.6.6, and I don't plan to change that. Handwriting notes on the iPad for meetings and such promises to be a lot less intrusive than lugging my laptop into meetings, and i think the iPad will be a good back-up for taking with me so I can write in odd places without dragging the laptop case around like a boat anchor. *grin*
Randa
I have an eemachine.
If you have seen the little eemachines, I have one, and it is just too small for anyone but a small woman, or child. I thought mine would be great, but ended up using it with an auxilary keep board and screen.
Jolly good
A
Growing young gracefully.
Growing young gracefully.
Eee machines
My son took an Asus Eee (7") with him when he back-packed around southern Africa - up as far as Nairobi, in fact. He used it all the way round to write and upload blogs for fifteen months and also used it heavily to search for and buy tickets and accommodation between the various places he was going, not to mention write a very detailed diary of his entire trip*.
It was a little worse for wear by the the time he got back but that was to be expected. It still worked completely but a couple of the keyboard keys were a bit sticky. He immediately went out and bought another one, a model with a flash disk.
So, Eees can be successful if used the right way. No, my son is not a midget.
Penny
*My son does not fly.
I would say a pocket notebook as in pen and paper
yes you have to re transcribe but as a past commuter, my experiences are that the other choices are:
1) awkward to use in a moving environment with no proper place to rest the laptop, or tablet
2) invite theft
3) open to snooping
I am sure that there is a pc tablet that you can transcribe into with a stylus or pen but I still see the same three problems but to a lesser degree.
I also found that just jotting down sections of ideas allows them to firm up upon a second look when I come back to work with them. Also if you pick up "Dragon Naturally Speaking" you can read back what you have written to your computer at home and then edit it. I noted that some computers also have other speech recognition programs on them also.
I know that I have little work here to judge what I am saying, but my answer is based on work done for school and work in the past.