Best Modern Device for a Writer?

[Gusington]

Professionally, first and foremost, I am a writer. And currently I spend 5 hours a day traveling. So my question is, what modern portable device would you guys recommend for a writer? I need it to run Word or something very similar and also browse the web for research.

I have considered an iPad but it is not really meant for doing serious work and has no real keyboard. I have also considered a new Apple laptop but they are pricey. I have also read that Apple's quality is not what it was even 3 years ago. I am still drawn to Apple though for computing that is not gaming related.

Another possible choice is a mini laptop PC. New models I have seen are as powerful as my desktop was 10 years ago, have WiFi and real keyboards, and I can buy a solid one for under $400.00.

What do you guys suggest? Do any of you have a machine that fits similar needs as what I posted above?

Thanks all.

[LongBlade]

I don't think any of the current crop of tablet devices is much of a substitute for a good laptop.

There is one ASUS tablet that comes with an attachable keyboard, but my principle concern is size. As a writer myself, I prefer a full-sized keyboard to one all scrunched up. Five hours a day, five days a week - you're going to want something comfortable. To my mind that means a full-on laptop. 15 inch should do it. Up to you whether you want to carry the weight to and fro or whether you want some kind of uber-light portable deal.

Since you'll be writing you'll likely not need any heavy gaming capability, which then comes down to price.

The only other consideration is screen size. I prefer 17 inch laptops because I like the screen size. But since you'll be lugging it hither and yon, the size (as well as weight) are going to come into play. My laptop moves on a daily basis from my lap to the ottoman (if I'm in the family room) or nowhere if I've got it in my library on the desk hooked to my speakers. You, OTOH, are going to be constantly tethered to it to and from work.

Last consideration - I've assumed you're writing a novel and/or editing material from here and will not be playing StarCraft 3 on the train. If you want to game, you're going to pay with weight - gaming rigs aren't light.

[Gusington]

^Yeah it's not for gaming at all. At least that's my intent. It is strictly for writing The Great American Novel. And accompanying research. That does not mean downloading porn in the bathroom.

The laptop I am on right now (my work machine) is an HP Elitebook 8440p. It is decent but weighs a ton. I am considering one of those mini laptops for the weight. A 15" screen would not be a problem, or even smaller. But I want a real keyboard.

[LongBlade]

^Yeah it's not for gaming at all. At least that's my intent. It is strictly for writing The Great American Novel. And accompanying research. That does not mean downloading porn in the bathroom.

The laptop I am on right now (my work machine) is an HP Elitebook 8440p. It is decent but weighs a ton. I am considering one of those mini laptops for the weight. A 15" screen would not be a problem, or even smaller. But I want a real keyboard.

I suggest you hit a local electronics store and put your fingers on them. That's the best way to figure out if you like what you see.

Some laptops come with something called a 3/4ths keyboard, which is 75% of the size of a regular one. You'll want to figure out if that works for you or not.

[Gusington]

^Hmm never heard of that...that my work.

[MIGMaster]

You may want to check out the ASUS transformer tablet with keyboard. I buddy of mine bought one, but he had to return it as his wife couldn't figure out how to use it, so I never got a good take on how it worked.

[Gusington]

^I have an aversion to the plug-in keyboards. At a minimum I would buy something with one of those 3/4 keyboards that LB mentioned and ideally I would like a real keyboard.

[Keunert]

i have the perfect device for a class act like you:
Olivetti Valentine, portable, no ink no printer no nothing needed.
and what a beauty it is:



design by Ettore Sottsass

[LongBlade]

Kenny's got the ticket. I hear the battery on those things will last as long as your fingers can type.

[Gusington]

You know I like the idea of a typewriter. I could go all Mickey Spillane.

[Staggerwing]

You know I like the idea of a typewriter. I could go all Mickey Spillane.

You could go all Jack Kerouac and write everything on one 120 foot roll of paper kept loaded into the typewriter at all times. That would be pretty butch...


Actually, there are some new lappys that run a version of Google Chrome OS that are simple, light, and fire up in about 3 or 4 nanoseconds after button press:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bkws&utm_medium=ha

[Centurion40]

Chromebooks, eh?  Very interesting.

[MIGMaster]

According to the latest issue of Maximum PC there is a whole new generation of Chromebooks on the way ! Another interesting tidbit I read was that it costs Amazon $209.00 to manufacture the 199.00 Kindle Fire. They are taking the loss to build up the an installed user base just like like the Xbox.

[LongBlade]

According to the latest issue of Maximum PC there is a whole new generation of Chromebooks on the way ! Another interesting tidbit I read was that it costs Amazon $209.00 to manufacture the 199.00 Kindle Fire. They are taking the loss to build up the an installed user base jut like like the Xbox.

All of those handheld devices are secretly stores for their creators.

Buy an iWhatever and you're paying the iTunes store.

Buy a Kindle and you're buying from Amazon.

I never used to read ebooks, but after my kindle fire arrived I've already bought close to 20. They know what they're doing.

[Gusington]

^if they made an iThingie with a real iKeyboard i would bi it in a second.