The Freewrite Alpha - thoughts and ramblings

I have long been a fan of the "distraction-free writing" principle, using as I do an AlphaSmart 3000 amongst other devices to write without the distractions/complexity/faff of a full-sized laptop. Indeed, I used that very machine to draft this as I can just about use it whilst my back recovers, whereas sitting with a laptop is still a no-no at present. Once again, thank you to my good lady for doing the transfer and layout. Anyhoo, amongst the hardware that I have mentioned in the past (but have never purchased) is the Freewrite range of writing tools from Astrohaus. The full size Freewrite and the more portable Traveller have been on the market for a while now and, whilst reviewing reasonably well, have always fallen foul at the cost-benefit analysis stage. You may be more productive but for what are effectively electronic typewriters, they are pricey - the Freewrite is £576, the Traveller £433 respectively on Amazon UK at the time of this post. According to the latest news from Astrohaus, that may be about to change. 

Screenshot of the Alpha website.

Having been teased for the last couple of weeks, Astrohaus have finally announced their latest device, the Alpha. Taking its cue from the long-dead AlphaSmart brand (including using the domain name), the Alpha is a slate style writing device that brings the concept of the AlphaSmart into the modern day. Or so it appears. 

As you can see, it's not a bad looking device, although it could be equally at home in the bathroom as well as a table top. It very much looks functional. Spec wise, it has a claimed 100 hour battery life, a reflective 6 or 4 line display (dependent on text size), low profile key switches, a kickstand for angling the device, a one million page internal storage and a weight of less than two pounds. Dimensions are 215x320x18mm. Connectivity is either via USB-C or Wifi. So what's not to like?

Buckle up, gentle reader!

Let's go with the price first. When you eventually get to this page here, you can see that the price for early bird buyers in $249, rising to $349 later on. That's about £210 and £295 (at the time of writing). For an early bird price, that's something I'd be prepared to pay, albeit at the upper limit. However, there are two issues with this: firstly, does that price include tax - in the UK, that would be VAT which is charged at 20%. If I buy either of the other Freewrite machines on Amazon, VAT is included in the price. Secondly, what are the postage costs? 

Another important question is: does this device actually exist? Aside from the images on the website, there is nothing to say that these aren't just renders. Also, Astrohaus are taking $1 payments as an expression of interest that, should you choose to, you can cancel before production begins. The website does not state how or when you will be told this - I really think they should detail the whole purchasing process. Additionally, there is no release date. Ok, you say, it's only $1, but I am still handing over money on the expectation of receiving goods when I pay the rest of the balance, but Astrohaus haven't given any indication as to when that will be. 

This very much feels like Astrohaus are trying to get a product out without using a crowdfunding site. I can understand why. Both Kickstarter and Indiegogo charge fees which would impact the overall amount they would have to earn before being successfully funded. But here's the thing. If this were a Kickstarter, there would have to be proof of hardware before the funding could begin - that proof is lacking at the moment.

Speaking of the hardware, I would like to see and hear how that keyboard performs - after all, the typing experience is a key (oh dear!) part of using such devices. I'd also like to know more about that screen - the six line 15pt option would seem to be tiny on the images displayed. I'd probably use the four line 26pt option, but I really want to see this in action before dropping the best part of three hundred quid on the Alpha. A demo video of real life hardware to go with the slick website would be wonderful.

It is not my intention to give the Alpha a kicking, nor Astrohaus' approach to selling new hardware. My concerns are valid - as any potential purchaser would want to know: what's the device like in action, how much am I on the hook for, and if I do sign up, when will I get the goods? I dearly love using my AlphaSmart 3000 but it is slowly on its way out so a replacement is going to be needed. I have emailed Astrohaus an asked about the pricing, delivery, timeline and cancellation process. If I get a reply, I'll share that on Twitter. I'll also pop it into the AlphaSmart, QuickPAD and Portable Word Processor Enthusiasts Group on Facebook here. For the time being, this is definitely a "maybe" product. If more information is forthcoming and the potential price stays closer to £200 rather than £300, then I am tempted. If not, all I can say is that I wish them the best of luck. 

The Asus Eee PC904HD (catchy name, that)

A good ten years ago, the Netbook was a lovely idea. A cheap, simple notebook that allowed you to browse the internet, get some basic productivity tasks done and play a few simple games, the Netbook product category really started with the Asus Eee PC 701, a Linux powered device with a tiny seven inch screen and a suitable keyboard to go with it. It's main selling point, apart from the basic functionality was the price, under £200 in 2008 prices. That model proved quite popular initially with consumers but there were issues with the lack of consumer familiarity with Linux and returns to shops were apparently quite high. Noting this, Asus introduced a larger model, powered by Windows Xp, the Asus Eee PC904HD (catchy name, that), the machine I am typing this post on now.

My personal machine is over 10 years old now and apart from a replacement battery pack, the hardware has held up rather well over the years. Of course, I don't have Win XP on here anymore, but I'll cover that later on.

The Ausu Eee PC904HD (catchy name, that) plus Ubuntu.

Netbooks don't exist as a hardware category anymore due to the rise of the ubiquitous tablet, specifically, the Apple iPad. You see, the netbooks of old started to get bigger, to bring more power and functionality to the type. However, that increase in size negated the very reason for their existence. The prices went up, more powerful laptops became smaller and the tablet market took care of the content consumption market. Over time, the limitations of the type gradually killed them. That and the introduction by Google of the Chromebook. This did the job of the Netbook in a similar sized package, without the Windows operating system tax and without the need for better hardware to run said Windows.

That's not to say the Netbook was a bad idea, just one that was overtaken by technology and marketing. It is but a mere footnote in the history of personal computing though given the prices they still fetch on e-Bay and other sales sites, I am not the only person still using one.

The Asus Eee PC904HD (catchy name, that) was released to the public in 2008 and not only added Win XP to the type but also an 8.9 inch 1024x600 screen, a bit too grainy for truly comfortable viewing but good enough to do the job. An Intel Celeron processor running at 900MHz, 1GB of RAM and an 80GB hard disk make up the rest of the main spec. Not exactly a powerhouse at the time but enough to get you a decent, if basic Windows experience. No optical drive was included (the chassis is too small), but you could easily add one via one of the three USB ports, nestled alongside the Ethernet and VGA ports as well as an SD card slot. An optical drive would have missed the point of the Netbook anyway – it was designed for connected use at all times and the thought process around that was carried on with Google's Chromebooks.

A workable screen, nothing more.

Priced at about £250 at the time, I bought mine as part of a 3G broadband dongle package on the Orange mobile phone network. The price per month wasn't extortionate, certainly not by the current monthly packages being advertised for modern day mobile phones, and I don't think it was bad value considering the hardware itself is still running.

Now the device itself is quite chunky, a sign of its age and the change in fashion in laptop computers. The bulk, however, is reassuring in that whilst the shell is plastic, it still feels quite sturdy and has, over the years, survived may journeys in rucksacks. It also has quite a decent sized battery that in Win XP territory, gives about 3 to 3.5 hours. Under the current OS (and the replacement battery), that's about 2.5 hours which is... OK. Compared to modern day devices, that's less than half of anything outside of a gaming laptop but it suffices for use for me. Even though the Asus is over an inch thick and chunky to boot, it has a certain charm that current hardware lacks, at least in my view.

The keyboard is reasonably sized and takes up the full width available. Much better than most hunt and peck keyboards, the keys have a decent amount of travel and feedback and there is a soft click upon each key press - nothing overly obtrusive at all. Overall, it is far superior to most Chromebook/tablet keyboards I have used through the years and even gives the Alphasmart a run for its money – though that one is a tad bigger but clackier and a bit more loose with the key tops. The trackpad is a bit too small and for those with largish hands, I'd recommend a USB mouse wherever possible. It must also be noted that the wrist rest gets a little bit warm on the right hand side but nothing too bad.

It's decent...

and not too much smaller than the Alphasmart.

After about 2014, I got a little bit bored with the chugging of XP and decided to replace it with Ubuntu 11.10, the then most suitable stable release for the spec of the machine. Performance wise, it was a breath of fresh air and the user interface is very easy to follow even if Windows was the only OS you had used up to that point. Some of you might think it is a bit reckless still running such an old version of Ubuntu, but this machine is kept off networks and the only file transfer occurs via USB or SD card and whenever that happens, full scans are undertaken.

So why still use it?

Well, the hardware still works, and I have never been rich enough (or reckless enough) to replace hardware on a willy-nilly basis. I still like the format of the device, the keyboard is good, the additional screen area over the Alphasmart comes in handy sometimes plus it feels rather rugged. The Alphasmart's unprotected screen and keyboard do give rise to some cause for concern, even with the rucksack I use. Ok, the Asus is thicker and a bit heavier but not by much and the footprint of the Asus whilst closed is smaller. Even with the additional bulk of the charger, it doesn't take up that much more room.

The modern day market has no room for the Netbook. The Chromebook has taken over the budget (and not so budget) basic laptop niche, especially if you want a bit more of flowing user experience, the lower priced Windows laptops (sometimes marketed as Cloudbooks) simply don't have the oomph to run Windows 10 smoothly under anything other than basic use. Tablets are now the go to consumption device and given the number of add-on “pencils” and keyboards, seem to be making a grab at content creation too. Saying that, no device I have tried in either category gives me a keyboard I like and typing is the main use for such a device for me. Indeed, the seemingly ever present need to make laptops thinner means, for the foreseeable future, shallow travel keyboards will keep me from any kind of new hardware – especially, but not uniquely, Apple laptops. For me, despite it's shortcomings, the Asus Eee PC904HD (still a catchy name, that), continues to fill in a gap that modern hardware doesn't. Combined with the Alphasmart (and NC100), this hardware combination gives me multiple choices for what I need.

Old Tech = Useless Tech???

During my recent post about computers I wanted to own when I was younger, I spent a modicum of time on e-Bay, searching for those bits of old kit and seeing how much they were going for. As well as being a bit of an eye opener, it also dropped a couple of old pieces of tech that, whilst they fell out of the purview of that post, were interesting when they were released and might still have a use today. Since the prices weren't silly, I ended up buying two pieces of portable tech that I think still have a use. Today, I'm stalking about the AlphaSmart 3000.

The AlphaSmart 3000 was part of a range of battery powered word processors released by NEO Direct Inc. and the range was on sale from 1993 (the original AlphaSmart) until 2013 when the Neo model was discontinued. There were several models throughout the years but the one I bought appeared around the middle of the lines existence in 2000 and was discontinued in 2006.

Includes carry case, quick start sheet and manual

The 3000 I bought is in good condition and cost £40. I have seen them for a tad less but the condition, case and accessories made the price quite decent anyway.

Remember the Bondi Blue iMac? This was inspired by that due to the inclusion of USB connectivity.

The monochrome display shows four lines of text, the memory holds eight files of approximately 12.5 pages of text and connectivity is either by a USB port or 8-pin serial.

USB to the left, Serial to the right...

Power is provided by three AA batteries which have a life of around 700 hours(!). As a practical guide, I have had the AlphaSmart for two months and the first set of cells are still going strong. Whilst it would be nice to have a backlit display, I can certainly understand why one isn't present and with the use intended, it isn't needed. This also helps battery life.

The screen is very clear, but not backlit.

As designed, the AlphaSmart was meant for children in a classroom environment. The light, compact design and plastic case make it easily portable and quite durable. The keyboard is a tad on  the small side for an adult but still very useable, indeed, most of this was typed on the 3000 and transferred over to a Chromebook for posting and images. The keys are a bit clacky and lightweight but they do have a decent amount of travel and I have used far worse in my time.

Operation is simple, the functions keys are pretty straight forward and there is even a cheat sheet of key commands on the back of the device.

Handy help guide on the base of the device

Whilst earlier models used infra-red to transfer files, and later devices had memory card slots, it was either USB or serial port for this one and as a cable wasn't included with mine, I did wonder how I would transfer text over. I needn't have worried. You see, the USB port is of the kind found on most printers so that solved the cable issues. As for compatibility issues, not a bother. Once plugged into my desktop, the 3000 detected the connection and asked me if I wanted to send a file over (file 1 by default but you can change that with a couple of key presses). I opened Google Docs in a browser window and hit the Send key on the 3000. Within a few seconds, the test had appeared line by line in the document. It was that easy. Talk about user friendly. Incidentally, once connected, the AlphaSmart goes into keyboard mode and you can use it as a regular keyboard. Just watch out for the swap between " and @. That caught me out the first time.

So what do I use it for? Well, it's a text entry device, so typing on the go. The 3000 has been to Amsterdam twice and proved a boon each time. Okay, it's not as compact as a laptop and it's a one purpose device, but what more do I need? The battery life is not an issue, the storage is more than enough and the keyboard is far more comfortable to use than my Chromebook. It does for me very nicely.

That it's not sold today is a reflection of changes to the market. Ever since cheap (under £200) laptops became available, educational buyers have flocked to the more versatile option. That this plays to the big businesses like Google and Microsoft misses the point of having such devices. If all you want is text entry for classroom and homework use, then additional features just get in the way, but since the big corporations want you to use more of their features, of course they are going to up-sell. 

Is there still a market for text entry devices like this in the age of cheap Windows/Chromebook laptops? Well, kinda. You see, if you want a no frills portable electronic typewriter, you are limited to the second hand AlphaSmart market or the Astrohaus Freewrite. This started as a crowd funded electronic typewriter called the Hemmingwrite, based on the practice Hemmingway used to write on the fly and not edit. The Freewrite is a far bigger device but with a proper Cherry-switched keyboard and an e-ink display. The battery life is far shorter and whilst you can connect via USB, they promote cloud services to send the files you create to your service of choice. It only holds three files but storage is much larger than the 3000. To be honest, it looks okay, the major problem being the price: £383 as of the last time I checked. That is a serious wodge of cash and for a one task only device, that is not justifiable to me. Yes, it gives you distraction free writing that a traditional laptop doesn't but at a price. Plus, its portability is suspect. 

For me, and maybe others, since the AlphaSmarts on e-Bay always sell, these devices are certainly useful today and prove that just because the tech is old doesn't mean to say it no longer has a use. Yeah, it's a niche use, but compared to the Chromebook I have used for the last four years, the 3000 is much better at text entry and will continue to be used for as long as it lasts. After that, maybe another trip to e-Bay.