I got my Dana wireless by AlphaSmart about thirteen months ago so it feels like a good time to comment on how well I like the electronic critter. I do this partly because last week I attended the Willamette (rhymes with dammit) Writers’ Conference a week ago. People saw me using my Dana to take notes and would ask what the little widget was and how I liked it. “I’ve seen those in The Writer magazine and Writer’s Digest but I didn’t know if they were good or not.”
I love it.
On the Plus Side I’ve found:
- It’s light and, at about two pounds, it’s quite portable.
- It’s cool, literally. The battery does not get hot, not even warm, ever.
- The battery’s charge lasts for a long time (continuously for about 24+ hours for a Dana and around 300+ hours for the AlphaSmart Neo).
- If the battery dies, it can be replaced with three AA batteries and it’s up and running again. (Try that with a Laptop/Notebook)
- No boot-up needed. It comes on instantly.
- I can use it in lowlight conditions and in full outdoor sunlight.
- It’s darn near indestructible. It’s made from durable polycarbonate ABS plastic and can operate in temperatures from freezing to desert hot.
- Both the AlphaSmart Dana and it’s little brother, the Neo, run AlphaWord which synchronizes with either a PC or a Mac. I run an Apple Powerbook G4 and haven’t had any problems with connectivity. My only admonition would be to backup any important files before syncing.
- AlphaWord is a decent word processor. Nothing fancy but it can do cut/paste; bold, italics, and underline; indents, different spacing possibilities; plus a few other features. Files are saved on the synced computer in rich text format (rtf).
- A full sized keyboard that is more comfortable to type on than a notebook computer.
- It uses flash memory so the moment something is typed it’s pretty much saved.
- It’s great for taking notes. It’s unobtrusive. The LCD screen holds just enough text to see what I’ve typed but not so much that I want to be editing a page.
- The AlphaSmart Dana has a few more whistles and bells than the Neo because it runs Palm OS v4.1 so you can keep your address list, memos, calendar, to do lists, and play some games.
- The Neo and Dana are pretty affordable. But with the decreasing computer prices are close to the same price ranges with the low end of laptops/notebooks ($220 for Neo and $350-430 for Danas).
- With the memory expansion cards, it can hold lots of text. I have the first draft of my 80K word novel on it plus plenty other files.
Some of the downsides I’ve found:
- The model I have has wireless capability to check email and access the Internet. It sounds cool, but the WiFi connection is somewhat clunky and I’ve yet to find a decent email program or web browser for it (the ones I’ve seen cost enough to give me pause—do I need it that much?).
- The small screen works in a pinch for editing document but is not optimal.
- The flash memory means that you can’t return to a previous version on the Alpha unless you saved it to another name before you started.
- The on/off button is on the keyboard. The unit can be turned on accidentally and any program files that are open can be changed.
- Some of my Alpha’s keys are loose and ajar.
[…] I prefer the Dana. Which I wrote about here. […]
I use Snapper with my Dana and the email program supports the wide-screen – absolutely the best email program for a Dana.
I haven’t. I did see Mr Powers on BookTV though and he may be the one who talked about Mark Twain getting one of the typewriters.
I have read Twain’s autobiography.
Mary and I read Innocents Abroad aloud and now often say of some notable long passed or a mummy, “Is he, is he dead?”
Have you read “Mark Twain, a Life” by Ron Powers? It’s good. Must be either preceded or followed by Twain’s own autobiography.
With regards to strengths and weakness or strengths and flaws, I find there is a correlation with fictional characters as well. For instance, with the Dana the plus is the Palm Operating System which can run lots of software including games, the downside is the Palm Operating System which can run lots of software including games.
Old Sam loved technology. He bought one of the first typewriters, and cursed its existence. I think because the keys jammed so much. I remember seeing something about that on CSPAN 2 on their BookTV.
Actually, for me I think the lack of internet would be a real plus. I thought when my family presented me with my laptop that it would be the ultimate tool for me to crank out my prose, but unless I am in a place where there is no wireless connection (which leaves out home and used to leave out the store I managed) I honestly find it too tempting to “check this” or “see if anyone has sent me a perfectly scintillating email” or “check RefDesk for a synonym or quote”.
Of course, there is always a pad and pen. That is what almost all of the first draft of “Close Enough” was written on.
I think Twain used that method too.
Although I’ll bet he would have loved the Alphasmart products.
I use my desktop computer at home for looking things up. I synch the Dana and the desktop PC often.
The Dana is a tool. I have used its internet ability to check things but the interface is not optimal.
Last time you wrote about this you nearly persuaded me to buy one, Norm.
But I think, when I do decide to get something for home, it’ll have to be a laptop. I’d miss the instant ability to look things up too much.