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I just had a thought. People have these tiny little laptops, and they have simple function DVD players, and so on. Do simple function computer-like typewriters exist? You open it up, turn it on, and you can open one file or another maybe (somehow
) and write on it using a keyboard. No formatting on screen. Just letters and a shift key, maybe something like ctrl+B for bold and so on. Anything you type is saved (or perhaps you hit a key for that as well. Ctrl+S?) no mouse, no internet, no pretty colors. Just black and white, simple. Does anything /like/ this exist?
I apologize if this is in the wrong forum, thank you for your help! -
I think that yoou're ganna just have to get yourself an old typewriter becuase, as far as i know, there is no such thing.
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I actually thought of this as well. I can see both ups and downs though.
For the price of what they would most likely cost, I would probably like to see a DVD player etc. within it. Also, if it were to crash without you first backing it up (via USB drive, most likely) you're basically screwed.
However, due to the idea that you would never hook it up to the internet, and because they would probably be able to afford a little more durability, the likeliness of it breaking would be pretty low.
Moreover, it may be a slight waste of a processor
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do you count the 80s as modern?
y'all never heard of an electric typewriter?
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The typewriter I used in highschool was electric and had a tiny screen that printed the letters as you typed (well, I think they waited until you hit return so you could delete). Those things were so bulky though. I think he means something portable.
EDIT: a quick google search shows they're still selling these and they're "portable" but still bulky.
Also back in the 80's there were "word processors." They were very simple computers that did pretty much what your asking, but it had a screen where you type the file, you could save and what not, but there was no other function to it, no other programs could be installed, and I think it had a printer in it. Again not portable.
They have tiny portable printers now, I don't see why anyone would have a need for a small typewriter. Many times I've had a contractor come up type something on his laptop (even saw one do it from a palmpilot type device) then print it out right there. People are so enamored by color and multi-tasking now I doubt there'd be much of a market for such things as you're asking about.
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I saw what you are describing recently, within the past two months, in a magazine, but I can't remember the brand name of the device. It is a word processor only, but it is like a typewriter. It has a screen, but is very basic in its programming. It's kind of like a starting computer for young people. It doesn't have a link to the internet and is only used for word processing, but it does print out what is typed. It was advertised in a parenting magazine, I believe. I thought it to be a unique device.
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I think I've satisfied my curiosity with your answers. Thank you very much all of you! Personally I'll perhaps just go the old fashioned route with a traditional typewriter.
The closest I found to exactly what I was looking for was a 'netbook'. Essentially a tiny laptop, uses much less power and an adaption of the windows, Mac OS or Linux system interface. They also range from $200 to $800 typically. Memory is substantial, and also ranges. These netbooks have, I assume, a wireless type of internet connection that might not necessarily be hooked up.
Aside from that, the Word Processors of the 80s are the next closest thing. I hope anyone else wondering about this also found something that helped them along in the right direction and I hope I don't discourage anyone from adding anything else to this topic. -
My question is: What's wrong with a laptop?
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Laptops are capable of connecting to the internet, running multiple applications, and contracting viruses. This, in turn, can make a laptop more susceptible to breaking, and therein creating the possibility of losing all your work (not just writing).
A device with a single function like word processing would inevitably be more stable. But like I said before, the price probably wouldn't make up for it
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still laptops don't HAVE to be connected to the internet or anything else installed on them. Up until my desktop died a few months ago my laptop was purely for writing only. No other programs and no connection to the internet. A cheap laptop would work just as easily as this "netbook" though that looks like a viable option also. The point about less power is certainly a good thing.
I personally miss my old palmpilot with the thumbpad, small, portable, and did everything except print that I needed. I could type fairly easily on it and that's about all I used it for when I was away from my desktop. Unfortunately the only ones like it you can get anymore are phones. -
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Very true. Actually, you could build your own laptop to have the bare minimum requirements to run a word processor, and use it only for that. The price would end up being hundreds cheaper than any decent laptop on the market, but still probably upwards of $200 (between the motherboard, Microsoft Word (if you get it), operating system, and the CPU).
And I wonder if I could write stories on the new phone I'm getting with the full keyboard hm...
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Anything electronic is susceptible to breaking. That's why people shouldn't rely on one computer or one harddrive. Anything important should be backed up almost all the time.
I don't think I would buy something which only had simple word processing ability. Even if that's practically all I used it for. True, I don't use everything my computer is capable of as it is but I really do find certain extras (related to writing or not) very handy.
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Just go out and buy an old IBM one there great they dont break and you can throw it around and it will still work. Computer are good and all but there is something great about a typewriter.
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dreaminghour
Feb 14 9:06 AM
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