I had the same dream as you about a computer for us writers, and then I found the Jornada 728. 80 bucks on eBay, amazing condition. I got used to the keyboard in no time. 76% full. Now I have a computer that is cheaper and more portable than a laptop. I can pull it out of my bag and use it anywhere. It boots in a millisecond and is quite unique. I get asked about it a lot. :D It's also got a lot of nice features besides a word processor that keep me entertained.
There's a Compact Flash slot and a PCMCIA slot, but it can also read many other cards (Secure Digital/MultiMedia cards, SmartMedia cards, etc) through a PCMCIA adapter.
Portable word processors are really awesome and useful, but for some reason they've never had much visibility outside school settings (where they are popular in classes to teach kids typing, since they don't cost as much as regular laptops) and communities of writers and journalists who do a lot of writing "on the road". They aren't really heavily advertised so few people even know they exist. But they're great little machines for people who just want basic writing functionality.
Wow. Thanks for all the info. If I hadn't just bought a drum today, maybe that's what I would have spent the plastic on. I once wrote to one of the contacts at One Laptop Per Child suggesting there would be a market for an adult version. OOH -hey, how does your 'puter and others you mentioned do in summer-day light? Most laptop screens aren't visible.
The Jornada (the computer in my video) has good visibility in a variety of lighting conditions. It has "indoor" and "outdoor" settings, as well as individual controls for brightness and contrast. The other portable word processors (as far as I know) don't have backlights, but there might be some that do. My Laser PC6 isn't backlit, but so far I've found that the only lighting condition that's a problem in is total darkness, and I'm not generally typing in total darkness.
It's far more than a portable word processor. You can browse the Web on it, listen to MP3s, watch videos, create spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, and lots of other things. There's even a new piece of software out there that allows you to run Windows Mobile 2003 programs on it. (Search "RedGear" for a video on this site.)
Also, while I like this computer due to its VERY small size (it's small enough to put in a jacket pocket, while still having an actual keyboard) and the ease with which I can transfer files between it and my desktop PC, there are actually a number of devices out there that are just as you described: stripped-down word processors. Look up the Alphasmart, the Quickpad, the Laser PC6 -- all these can generally be found on ebay for $70 or less, and some of them have GREAT battery life (20-100 hrs!)
The suction cup looking thing is an Altec-Lansing speaker meant for ipods and other portable devices. It has much better sound quality than other small speakers I've tried, and the external speaker on the device itself (the HP Jornada) is just awful.
The computer itself cost me $165 on ebay, but they were a whopping $900 or so when they first came out. I'd never have paid that much!
The battery will last about 9 hours on one charge, which is way better than a regular laptop.
I had the same dream as you about a computer for us writers, and then I found the Jornada 728. 80 bucks on eBay, amazing condition. I got used to the keyboard in no time. 76% full. Now I have a computer that is cheaper and more portable than a laptop. I can pull it out of my bag and use it anywhere. It boots in a millisecond and is quite unique. I get asked about it a lot. :D It's also got a lot of nice features besides a word processor that keep me entertained.
EnglandBeat 3 years ago
What type of storage media does it take? (flash drive, SmartMedia, etc.)
therockyjones 3 years ago
There's a Compact Flash slot and a PCMCIA slot, but it can also read many other cards (Secure Digital/MultiMedia cards, SmartMedia cards, etc) through a PCMCIA adapter.
535stimuli 3 years ago
is it possible to get a usb input some how??
ausuomi 3 years ago
Only through a Compact Flash-to-USB adapter, and they're very hard to find and expensive.
535stimuli 3 years ago
what about, can you use cf to sd converters?? theyre not to hard to find. and sd card are cheaper than cf, and are also easier to find
ausuomi 3 years ago
Sure, those will work too.
535stimuli 3 years ago
hahahahalol @ the end ;D
FraterO 4 years ago
Portable word processors are really awesome and useful, but for some reason they've never had much visibility outside school settings (where they are popular in classes to teach kids typing, since they don't cost as much as regular laptops) and communities of writers and journalists who do a lot of writing "on the road". They aren't really heavily advertised so few people even know they exist. But they're great little machines for people who just want basic writing functionality.
shinymetalbrain 4 years ago
Wow. Thanks for all the info. If I hadn't just bought a drum today, maybe that's what I would have spent the plastic on. I once wrote to one of the contacts at One Laptop Per Child suggesting there would be a market for an adult version. OOH -hey, how does your 'puter and others you mentioned do in summer-day light? Most laptop screens aren't visible.
therockyjones 4 years ago
The Jornada (the computer in my video) has good visibility in a variety of lighting conditions. It has "indoor" and "outdoor" settings, as well as individual controls for brightness and contrast. The other portable word processors (as far as I know) don't have backlights, but there might be some that do. My Laser PC6 isn't backlit, but so far I've found that the only lighting condition that's a problem in is total darkness, and I'm not generally typing in total darkness.
shinymetalbrain 4 years ago
It's far more than a portable word processor. You can browse the Web on it, listen to MP3s, watch videos, create spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, and lots of other things. There's even a new piece of software out there that allows you to run Windows Mobile 2003 programs on it. (Search "RedGear" for a video on this site.)
535stimuli 3 years ago
Also, while I like this computer due to its VERY small size (it's small enough to put in a jacket pocket, while still having an actual keyboard) and the ease with which I can transfer files between it and my desktop PC, there are actually a number of devices out there that are just as you described: stripped-down word processors. Look up the Alphasmart, the Quickpad, the Laser PC6 -- all these can generally be found on ebay for $70 or less, and some of them have GREAT battery life (20-100 hrs!)
shinymetalbrain 4 years ago
The suction cup looking thing is an Altec-Lansing speaker meant for ipods and other portable devices. It has much better sound quality than other small speakers I've tried, and the external speaker on the device itself (the HP Jornada) is just awful.
The computer itself cost me $165 on ebay, but they were a whopping $900 or so when they first came out. I'd never have paid that much!
The battery will last about 9 hours on one charge, which is way better than a regular laptop.
shinymetalbrain 4 years ago
FIRST COMMENT!! WQOOO
WiiFanaticDude 4 years ago