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.
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.
^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.
Quote from: Gusington on April 13, 2012, 10:36:55 AM
^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.
^Hmm never heard of that...that my work.
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.
^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.
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:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcarryology-assets.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F12%2FDesign-Cities.jpeg&hash=4e070f86cc52411e97a492b4f11fd44ce9b23bb5)
design by Ettore Sottsass
Kenny's got the ticket. I hear the battery on those things will last as long as your fingers can type.
You know I like the idea of a typewriter. I could go all Mickey Spillane.
Quote from: Gusington on April 13, 2012, 06:21:53 PM
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
Chromebooks, eh? Very interesting.
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.
Quote from: MIGMaster on April 18, 2012, 10:52:27 AM
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.
^if they made an iThingie with a real iKeyboard i would bi it in a second.
Quote from: Gusington on April 18, 2012, 11:01:24 AM
^if they made an iThingie with a real iKeyboard i would bi it in a second.
You can buy a bluetooth keyboard for an iPad.
Personally, I think that's a loser - what you really want is a laptop (they're cheaper and more powerful). But if you insist, it does already exist.
^Yeah I know about those keyboards. Too crappy. Getting a laptop in a few weeks with a real keyboard.
Now that spring is actually here I have proven that I can stay awake on the train in the morning and will commit myself to writing one page a day like I did in college. Back then I wrote with an actual journal and pen! Wrote a full 450 page novel that way.
Should be much easier to write a [much better] story now.
450 pages by hand - that's impressive.
Sounds like my daughter's Xmas list ! :)
I did it over the course of a year and a half. I was 20 years old. It's a pretty good story too, even if a little dated now by 20 years passed.
^is there a dog in the story?
Hmm...trying to remember. It's been a while since I cracked any of those old journals open.
Now that I think about it...I think there is.
Why do you ask?
Quote from: Gusington on April 18, 2012, 02:55:37 PM
Hmm...trying to remember. It's been a while since I cracked any of those old journals open.
Now that I think about it...I think there is.
Why do you ask?
Canine Testicular Curiosity Syndrome (Literary Version)?
Quote from: Keunert on April 18, 2012, 02:22:51 PM
^is there a dog in the story?
Or better - Swiss Pikemen?
Do you use the phrase " Don't take Lassie away from the children." :D
No...no Lassie, no Swiss pikemen and God's sake no CTCS!!
no dog, no game.
But there is a dog. Several. Just none named Lassie.
I am going to buy a MacBook Air. I can finally upgrade my iTunes after ten years of swapping and also get a real keyboard. And hopefully a battery that won't scorch my groin and shrink my gnads.
Almost a new signature...but now quite. Close. Keep trying Gus.
the history of word processing
http://trackchangesbook.tumblr.com/
Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 04, 2012, 05:27:17 PM
the history of word processing
http://trackchangesbook.tumblr.com/
And you poke fun at my geekiness?
I always keep trying Toonces. Always!
Related to this thread, I am looking to build my own site for creative fiction. Anyone recommend some blogging software/site to use?
The Wife recommends Google's offerings and I have used Wordpress.
Quote from: Gusington on May 05, 2012, 03:06:21 PM
Related to this thread, I am looking to build my own site for creative fiction. Anyone recommend some blogging software/site to use?
I run GrogNews on Blogger
Blogspot.
We might be able to carve off a corner here for you, too.
^It's going to be a historical-based fiction site with heavy supernatural influence. It kinda sorta fits here but kinda sorta doesn't.
Are GrogNews and Blogger user friendly?
Also are they free? If I want more bells and whistles than something basic I am guessing I will have to pay a little bit.
Quote from: Gusington on May 05, 2012, 05:20:27 PM
^It's going to be a historical-based fiction site with heavy supernatural influence. It kinda sorta fits here but kinda sorta doesn't.
Are GrogNews and Blogger user friendly?
Also are they free? If I want more bells and whistles than something basic I am guessing I will have to pay a little bit.
If you can send an email, you can use Blogger. Seriously, a mentally deficient monkey could probably do pretty well using Blogger. And it's tied in with Google, so your Google account already includes it.
You could also try the free version of Wordpress. No idea how limited it is, though.
Did you just call me a mentally deficient monkey? Well better than midget or dwarf I guess.
Quote from: Gusington on May 05, 2012, 07:48:32 PM
Did you just call me a mentally deficient monkey? Well better than midget or dwarf I guess.
You only attain the rank of mentally deficient monkey if you prove capable of using Blogger. Fail at that and I guess you're some sort of fungus.
I did just have a nasty case of athlete's foot.
I run my blog on blogger and have been fairly happy with the service. Its very easy to use and manage. They have some nice add-ons to spruce up your blog. Its free so the worst that could happen is you try it, don't like it and move on. If you already have a G-mail account you can quickly setup a temp blog just to have a look at the blogger interface.
^Cool, thank you. Do the more snazzy add-ons for these blog platforms cost money?
Quote from: Gusington on May 06, 2012, 04:25:42 PM
^Cool, thank you. Do the more snazzy add-ons for these blog platforms cost money?
Not that I am aware of. That is to say I don't think blogger sells any add-ons (I could be wrong I've never actually looked). Also there are plenty of free add-ons floating around the internet. You can copy the code into blogger's interface and use them. Most integrate well with blogger but some need a bit of tweaking. If you know how to write code you can always make your own. :)
^I am looking at Wordpress right now. They have a nice one for image-centric sites, which mine will be. Haven't looked around at Blogger or Tumblr yet.
I have also made the realization that once I start this thing I will have to join Facebook and the 21st century for some exposure. Not excited about that really.
Quote from: Gusington on May 07, 2012, 10:57:16 AM
^I am looking at Wordpress right now. They have a nice one for image-centric sites, which mine will be. Haven't looked around at Blogger or Tumblr yet.
I have also made the realization that once I start this thing I will have to join Facebook and the 21st century for some exposure. Not excited about that really.
The key to Facebook is in how you use it.
I almost never go on there to catch up with people. I use it to upload images of my family for family members.
The other thing is that you'll want to seriously consider every friend request. Not all "friends" are "friends." Grousing on FB about work can land you in serious trouble if you have a co-worker who can see your post and decides to make an issue of it.
FB has become better at allowing you to create groups from which you can wall-off certain info, but the truth is I don't trust it. I think it's a must to have a FB account, but I prefer the info be predominately one-way: from FB to me. I send up very little to it.
+1 on the FB care and feeding. I don't join ANYTHING on FB. No games, no groups, no nuttin'. Read the small print. Many of those things require you to give them permission to pass on your private info as well as postings and also linking to your account for others to see even if you've firewalled it off from anyone other than chosen friends. No thanks!
^I'm pretty much going to use it to spread the word of my blog/site. I'm good at reading fine print and never store personal stuff anywhere, even at Steam.
Thing is every one of my real life friends and family (except one curmudgeon like me) is on there and has been brow-beating me for years to join. I don't just to annoy them :)
I'm hoping a little discipline with FB goes a long way.
Quote from: LongBlade on May 07, 2012, 11:01:15 AM
Quote from: Gusington on May 07, 2012, 10:57:16 AM
^I am looking at Wordpress right now. They have a nice one for image-centric sites, which mine will be. Haven't looked around at Blogger or Tumblr yet.
I have also made the realization that once I start this thing I will have to join Facebook and the 21st century for some exposure. Not excited about that really.
The key to Facebook is in how you use it.
I almost never go on there to catch up with people. I use it to upload images of my family for family members.
The other thing is that you'll want to seriously consider every friend request. Not all "friends" are "friends." Grousing on FB about work can land you in serious trouble if you have a co-worker who can see your post and decides to make an issue of it.
FB has become better at allowing you to create groups from which you can wall-off certain info, but the truth is I don't trust it. I think it's a must to have a FB account, but I prefer the info be predominately one-way: from FB to me. I send up very little to it.
True confession: I just look at your dog pictures.
Quote from: Centurion40 on May 07, 2012, 02:01:45 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on May 07, 2012, 11:01:15 AM
Quote from: Gusington on May 07, 2012, 10:57:16 AM
^I am looking at Wordpress right now. They have a nice one for image-centric sites, which mine will be. Haven't looked around at Blogger or Tumblr yet.
I have also made the realization that once I start this thing I will have to join Facebook and the 21st century for some exposure. Not excited about that really.
The key to Facebook is in how you use it.
I almost never go on there to catch up with people. I use it to upload images of my family for family members.
The other thing is that you'll want to seriously consider every friend request. Not all "friends" are "friends." Grousing on FB about work can land you in serious trouble if you have a co-worker who can see your post and decides to make an issue of it.
FB has become better at allowing you to create groups from which you can wall-off certain info, but the truth is I don't trust it. I think it's a must to have a FB account, but I prefer the info be predominately one-way: from FB to me. I send up very little to it.
True confession: I just look at your dog pictures.
Well, I have three videos of Max and a Mystery Stump if you need something new.
On your FB??!! I'll check it out! Doggies!! :D
Quote from: Centurion40 on May 07, 2012, 02:18:23 PM
On your FB??!! I'll check it out! Doggies!! :D
Hang on. Gotta upload it. Gimme a few. It'll be in three parts.
Goddam FB timeline really grinds my gears!!
It's my first trilogy. You can imagine how complex orchestrating that was.
Vids are up. Enjoy!
Quote from: Gusington on May 07, 2012, 10:57:16 AM
^I am looking at Wordpress right now. They have a nice one for image-centric sites, which mine will be. Haven't looked around at Blogger or Tumblr yet.
I have also made the realization that once I start this thing I will have to join Facebook and the 21st century for some exposure. Not excited about that really.
The free version that they host, or the kind where you'll run it off of some rented server space?
And why would you have to join Facebook? I'm not there. And I'm pretty damn cool. 8)
Quote from: Arctic Blast on May 07, 2012, 03:04:13 PM
And why would you have to join Facebook? I'm not there. And I'm pretty damn cool. 8)
Living in the Arctic isn't the kind of "cool" he's talking about...
I don't know anything about WordPress so I can't speak to that. However, with my blogger blog I have never advertised or really shared my posts on FB but I've slowly garnered a small following posting on web forums containing people of similar interest.
I think it all depends on what you really want to get out of your blog. If you are in it to make money and get tons of followers then you probably should advertise it everywhere you can. If you just want to share you work with people who would actually be interested in it then you probably only need to share it on like minded websites and the word will spread from there.
A little bit of both. Plus I will use it as practice to keep my writing skills from shriveling again.
Arctic will probably go to FB to give it more exposure.
Quote from: Gusington on May 07, 2012, 08:36:45 PM
A little bit of both. Plus I will use it as practice to keep my writing skills from shriveling again.
Arctic will probably go to FB to give it more exposure.
I don't see how sharing naked pictures of yourself is going to help, but more power to ya.
^You haven't seen them yet. They are extraordinary. And I don't mean just the pictures themselves either.