Word processing on the go

October 18, 2017 7:50 PM

I need suggestions on technology that will let me take notes quickly on the go. Writing by hand is too slow for my purposes, so I need something as portable as a journal that I can type on with a QWERTY keyboard. Netbook? Some other solution I'm not thinking of?

A netbook seems like slight overkill since all I need is word processing. It basically just needs to be a compact machine that will let me type with all ten fingers, not just my thumbs. Would a smartphone or tablet with an external keyboard do this? I can't handle laggy typing, so it would need to be seamlessly integrated.

I would haul around my laptop for this, but it's too big and heavy to put into a tote bag or roomy purse.

Thanks!

posted by delight to Computers & Internet (12 answers total)

Do you know about AlphaSmarts? They're small portable word processors, and they were supposed to be really great for people who just wanted to concentrate on writing, but the company went out of business a few years back.

You can still get used ones for something like $20, though.
posted by ernielundquist at 8:11 PM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]

I love Notability on my iPad. Sometimes I use the on-screen keyboard, sometimes the smart keyboard, sometimes hand written notes. I use it on my phone, too. I also to use it to record lectures and meetings; you can add notes to the audio recording with timestamps and everything. It's fully searchable, and you can jump to the point in the recording where a note is.
posted by xedrik at 8:22 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

I use a setup much like this—a bluetooth keyboard + iPhone. Once you've set it up, you should be able to turn on the keyboard, open your app, and type right away. You could do this with an iPad, of course, if you have one; there are special bluetooth keyboard + stands designed for iPads.

On the iPhone, I run 1Writer, which runs fast and is great for sorting and searching text files.

For the keyboard—something like the Logitech Easy-Switch (or anything with a full, roomy keyboard with a good amount of travel in the keys, if you're looking for the most desktop-like experience). Or the Logitech Keys-to-Go (thin, made to be thrown into a bag and carried around, if you care more about portability). There are lots of options on Amazon. You could look for something with a cover, too.
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 8:29 PM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]

I got through grad school with an iPad and a Bluetooth keyboard.
posted by We'll all float on okay at 8:33 PM on October 18, 2017

Nthing smartphone + bluetooth keyboard, and I can confirm that it works on Android as well as it does iPhone. In my experience, even lower-end Androids do this pretty much seamlessly. I did it with Google Docs and a Word knockoff from the app store.

I would say to get a stand for phone--peering down at it, even if it's propped up, is harder on your neck than you'd expect.
posted by mishafletch at 9:16 PM on October 18, 2017

Back when PalmOS devices walked the earth I had an ingenious folding keyboard that I used with my PDA for exactly this scenario, and for basic note-taking it struck a really good balance between utility and portability; I imagine that modern bluetooth descendants would work just as well with a smartphone.

More recently, I got to try a friend's Apple's Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro, and I was really impressed at both the quality and integration (it attaches and connects magnetically and also serves as a cover when not in use, no cable or bluetooth pairing required.) I spend most of my time programming on a laptop, but I were writing plain text I'd look pretty hard at switching to an iPad/keyboard combo.
posted by Funeral march of an old jawbone at 5:25 AM on October 19, 2017

I use my Samsung Android tablet and the Microsoft folding keyboard for that. I hate most of the writing apps I've tried as they have eaten various drafts, but writing or text into evernote, word or just email is fine. Then it gets exited later on from the dropbox sync on my laptop proper. The weight difference and relative thinness of the two pieces is insane, plus their battery life.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:58 AM on October 19, 2017

My 11 inch Asus Chromebook is super light, small, and robust, with a long battery life, and I highly recommend it for a variety of uses.

However, based on a recent question I'll second ernielundquist's suggestion to at least look into the AlphaSmart. I just ordered an AlphaSmart Neo2, based on answers to the previous question. I haven't gotten it yet, but it seems like a great solution to distraction-free writing without a lot of expense or worry. My use will be for writing blog entries and stories, but it might work for your needs as well. It's decidedly low-tech, and you plug it into your "real" computer to transfer the text, but that's the appeal. Rather than explain it all here, just Google for info and I think you'll know if it's something to consider. I will add the caveat, based on my Google-aided research, to go for the Neo2 version. eBay has tons of them, many for under $30. I purchased mine through Amazon for $40 including Prime shipping.
posted by The Deej at 7:49 AM on October 19, 2017

The Gemini is aiming for just the niche you're talking about. It's going to have basically the old PSION keyboard, which was pretty legendary for letting you type properly, only it was tiny.
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 8:03 AM on October 19, 2017

I use a kindle with a nifty little Bluetooth keyboard case. Super light and tiny and I can use it to check email, Skype, and read as well. In total my whole kindle/case setup was $40 for the Kndle and $35 for the case.
posted by forkisbetter at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2017

A note on Bluetooth keyboards - my experience with an inexpensive Kindle-paired keyboard was less than stellar, but if you have a tablet and want more screen space, it's an inexpensive addition that only adds some bulk to carry.

More specifically, my inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard didn't catch all my keystrokes, which got pretty annoying, so I stopped carrying the keyboard and just typed on the screen, which on a 8.9" model Kindle Fire is pretty doable.

That said, I'm not saying all Bluetooth keyboards have this issue, only mine, so I'm chalking it up to going with the cheapest option available instead of doing more research on different makes and models.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:13 AM on October 19, 2017

AlphaSmarts are indestructible, and since they have a low-contrast dark-gray on light-gray screen, the battery lasts for months. I used one for six years--without a case! and its keyboard is delightful.

But they have a low-contrast screen so the type is hard to read. No wireless, and not much of an editor. You type into a buffer, then attach it via USB cable, and push a button that sends the buffer contents to the "real" device.
posted by Jesse the K at 11:29 AM on October 19, 2017