I love this! I am sold on distraction-free. I am transitioning to several screen-less solutions, which makes a huge difference in my own productivity. Thanks for sharing Nick...!
@six10creative Glad you're enjoying them. I have a good variety of Playlists, but with your prompting I think I should create one just around the whole Alphasmart theme. Thanks for the encouragement. Nick
Hi Nick - thanks for this video. I purchased mine in 2016 for $35 USD and it's great. I think I changed the batteries twice since then. There are a lot of others coming out now but they are super expensive and do not have the functionality that this little machine has. It's definitely worth it to look online to find one. No emails or online chatter to distract from the writing process. I love my AlphaSmart Neo2. ❤
Thanks Maria. We are lucky to have these. I watched a bunch of reviews for the AstraHaus Freewrite product, but just can't see the value. Like you say here, the battery life on these AlphaSmart devices is just great. Happy writing. Nick
The Alphasmart NEO2 is THE ultimate writer's machine! Nothing comes close. If these Freewrite devices did NOT force you to connect to the cloud and had an SD storage device instead with ZERO internet connection, I'd buy several in a heartbeat. They have amazing keyboards and screens, but alas no arrow keys and NO SD card slot! THAT is a deal-breaker.
Afternoon Lars. Yes, I quite enjoy the sedate pace of the transfer. When I get back to my desk after perhaps 90 mins writing at a local coffee shop, I connect my AlphaSmart to the MacBook and go off to make myself a drink. When I come back to the desk five minutes later the file is finishing off and I enjoy watching the last 5 or 10% of the data transfer. Most enjoyable when so many other aspects of life are about speed
@@nicksturgeonbooks Indeed. Here in Sweden we had a philosopher, Ladislaus Horatius, that actually pulled the emergency brake on a high speed rail just to state that in the times of fast internet and speed of the broad band he wanted us to realise that it is more worth to connect with ourself, so he invented the Deep band company. "Through music, one speaks from heart to heart. It is important to find the right tempo or rhythm, not the fastest. It is about seeking harmony, not breaking speed records." It seems that I can connect more with that for every year. A big thank you for an interesting channel with great content.
I usually write in total darkness. With the AS Neo, you turn off all your lights and write away in the dark, allowing your thoughts to flow into the keyboard without any distractions from the visual realm.
Hello Joe. Sorry for the slow response, I spent much of the last ten days involved in a book marketing challenge learning about defining and placing ads. I am fascinated by your comment of using the Alphasmart to write in darkness. This is something I have not tried. After reading your message I did fit a light on a flexi chord to the USB port of my machine, but couldn't get it to power up. I have written on the Alphasmart in dim light at home as well as outside in bright sunlight. Each time the display is easy to read.
I recently welcomed an AlphaSmart 2000 into my life, eager to tap away at its keys and unleash my creativity. But fate had other plans. Just as I was getting acquainted with my new companion, a morning mishap sent it tumbling from the bed to its untimely demise. It was a brief but beautiful journey. Undeterred, I’ve now turned to the AlphaSmart NEO, a worthy successor with its sleek design and robust build. I chose the NEO not just for its durability, but also for its distraction-free environment that promises to keep my creative flow uninterrupted. Plus, the addition of a data cable ensures that not a single word of my stories will be lost in translation. As I embark on this new chapter, I’m filled with excitement for the tales yet to be told and the characters waiting to come alive under my fingertips. Stay tuned for the adventures that lie ahead with my NEO!
Good afternoon Reiana, so good to hear about your new constant companionship with the NEO! Such a great and reliable keyboard from which to write happily in pretty much any environment. Have a look at Andrea's comments here from a few days ago, where she uses a cable to connect her AS with a notes programme within her phone. I had never even thought of that and love the idea. If I take my NEO to the coffee shop or the library, my MacBook Air and transfer cable stay home and I transfer the file easily when I return. Either way, we are all fans and users of this remarkable device, here to make our writing process easier.
Great video Nick. I have a Neo for zero or rough drafting but unlike its early predecessors the batteries will drain on their own after a couple of weeks. I'm currently searching for a suitable power adaptor.
Good afternoon to you @justaworkingbloke6537 Thanks for your comment and I am really glad you like the video. A couple of things come to mind. Have you put in a new cell battery? I changed mine this summer after ca three and a half years. In November this year I also figured it was time to change the AA batteries in the panel at the back of the Neo. I bought a new power adaptor last month as well, figuring it would make sense to freshen up the gear with my #alphasmart. (Previously I was using an adaptor that I use to charge my Roberts radio). Here are the details of the one I got from Amazon. It is by Huawei Model : HW-120200B6W. Input : 100-240V=2.0A Another thought. The same USB end to printer end cable that you and I use to transfer files from the Alphasmart to laptop or PC, if the laptop is on charge and the alpha plugged in you also get a slow trickle charge to your alpha this way, confirmed by the green charging light on the top right edge. (I wasn't sure but have just tested this now while writing to you). Hope this helps you. What are you writing on your Alpha?
Thanks for the feedback Nick. For some silly reason I forgot to mention my Alpha is the Wireless version and is known for battery drainage because of this feature. I will certainly look into the adaptor you mentioned. I write primarily poetry and short stories and alpha has been a great help!
@@justaworkingbloke6537 OK. Never new there was a wireless version! Fascinating to learn this. Mine has an Infrared option, but I've never had reason to use that. Good luck with sourcing the right power adaptor.
@@nicksturgeonbooksNever had a problem with batteries 🔋 🔋 running down when not in use. However, bought a spare second hand Neo 2 and should have replaced the cheap and nasty batteries it came with, with high quality ones. Didn’t use it for 9 months and the batteries leaked all the way through it. As with most battery operated devices, if you’re not using them for a considerable time, remove the batteries.
… as a German Biologist - Every day I am amazed and Stunned What great Artists created by HAND Paper, Ink, a Pencil… Goethe wrote 1000´s of pages BACH created the fascinating Compositions all by Ink The more tech we use The worse it gets… The key board alone is a STOPPer Of flow I prefer Ink Pen and paper … Thank YOU! Lovely
Hi there! I have an Alphasmart Neo 2 word processor, which I LOVE using! I wish the company that originally made 'em would CONTINUE making NEWER models! Yeah, I think that would be a GREAT idea, don't you? I think the NEW, IMPROVED models should feature MORE USB connectors and come in a WIDE VARIETY of COLORS too! What do YOU THINK, huh?
Hello again Saffire. Nice to see you back and commenting here. No, I think that the incredible work done by Joe Barrus and Ketan Kothari, along with Ketan's brother Manish, was very much of it's time, reflecting the innovation and technology then available. When they created AlphaSmart, Inc., formerly Intelligent Peripheral Devices, Inc., it was very much as an education technology company and they completely achieved their goals, bowing out at the right time and having contributed some amazing low tech products to the market. Very happy with my Alphasmart
Great device for the past 20 years... Should add the font hack and get hat sucker at 8 lines. Runs all the more better being able to see the full paragraph (Purchased mine in 2010 for 15 bucks).
Agreed. The Traveler looks to be a good machine and I like how compact it is. Still tempted by that beauty. But, just for now, I am sticking with the rotation between iPad 3 with a logitech keyboard, my MacBook Air and the much respected AlphaSmart.
Thanks for sharing, Nick! My Neo is one of my favorite devices. Any thoughts about the Freewrite devices/do you own any? (I think they're releasing an Alpha-like device next month.)
Good morning @Squizzums They are such great devices! After November and that particular writing challenge I wanted, and also needed, a break. While considering some new writing ideas I looked online at several products from @Astrohaus / @getfreewrite and mainly their Freewrite Traveler. (I had asked them earlier in the year for a review product, but they declined), and so I began to look at my #alphasmart again. The simplicity of this machine appeals so much for being low tech.
@@nicksturgeonbooks I am sorry that they decided against sending you a review product. I guess this means you won’t get any of their devices. But at least it sparked a renewed interest in your Neo!
@@squizzums Me too. Their devices look to be very useful. They have the Freewrite which is the larger device in a metal case, then the Traveler with a folding case. the new one to be launched, as you say, very soon, is the Alpha and looks to be very similar to the AlphaSmart. Let's see what happens with the launch. the best thing is that it will introduce more people to the concept of helpful and productive distraction-free writing. One reason ,for which they may have declined my offer, could be that my channel is small, but the other more likely reason is that the Traveler has already been out in the marketplace almost three years and so they realistically don't need more brand ambassadors. @getfreewrite if you are reading this, please get in touch via the email you already have for me. I would love to write a book on one of your devices and provide regular updates and technical review content to share publicly. Thanks!
@@jessicairish4598 Evening Jessica. Really simple process. You send one of the 8 files directly to your MacBook, opening a Pages file there first. The text from the AlphaSmart transfers across and you print from your laptop
HELLO! Um, tell me, WHERE did you buy your Alphasmart word processor from? I ordered mine from Amazon for over $100.00. PLEASE TELL ME, WHERE can I get 'em CHEAPER!
Good morning Saffire. As shown in the video images I downloaded from eBay. Even places there where you will see you can buy a bulk order and sell off the ones you don't want.
Hi Nick! Well, those Alphasmarts are definitely making a HUGE COMEBACK in POPULARITY! I was just on the Ebay shopping site. They're charging over $100.00 for NEW ones! Exactly WHEN did you post your product review video? I'm posting my questions to you in January 2024.@@nicksturgeonbooks
@saffirechanning7286 Hi again. This video was published three weeks ago on 19 Dec 23. (You can find the publication date of any video by looking at the details). I just looked on eBay now and can see ca 30 Alphasmarts (2000, 3000, Neo and Neo2) listed today. So there are plenty of options available if you are tempted to grab a second device. Enjoy your writing experience.
You just kept me from giving my NEO2 to Goodwill! The cord was lost in moving. Guess I'll buy another one. Thank you for this great review and explanation of this little machine,
Delighted that this video has helped you get hold of a cable to charge your device. You can get the USB to Print cable easily enough online in order to charge the device and it also serves to transfer your written file into your laptop or PC. I also got myself a simple Huawei power adaptor for longer charging when at my desk. (This is model HW - 120290B6W. Input: 100-200v-59/60Hz.0.8A and Output: 12.0v=2.0A). I didn't buy that especially as it powers a radio in my study and I realised that it also serves to power the AlphaSmart.
My weekly Newsletter is 'Notes from the Desk' and available here : nick-sturgeon-books.ck.page/dc20c708fc
Oh yes, I have one. Great for distraction free writing
I love this! I am sold on distraction-free. I am transitioning to several screen-less solutions, which makes a huge difference in my own productivity. Thanks for sharing Nick...!
Hello @IAmThor Screen time is what I need for finished projects and final edits. Yet the ink on paper seems to be where my thinking is done.
Been catching up on all your Alphasmart videos!
@six10creative Glad you're enjoying them. I have a good variety of Playlists, but with your prompting I think I should create one just around the whole Alphasmart theme. Thanks for the encouragement. Nick
Hi Nick - thanks for this video. I purchased mine in 2016 for $35 USD and it's great. I think I changed the batteries twice since then. There are a lot of others coming out now but they are super expensive and do not have the functionality that this little machine has. It's definitely worth it to look online to find one. No emails or online chatter to distract from the writing process. I love my AlphaSmart Neo2. ❤
Thanks Maria. We are lucky to have these. I watched a bunch of reviews for the AstraHaus Freewrite product, but just can't see the value.
Like you say here, the battery life on these AlphaSmart devices is just great.
Happy writing.
Nick
You can also save your eight main buffers into named files. I did that as a constant practice for years.
I miss the Neo!
The Alphasmart NEO2 is THE ultimate writer's machine! Nothing comes close. If these Freewrite devices did NOT force you to connect to the cloud and had an SD storage device instead with ZERO internet connection, I'd buy several in a heartbeat. They have amazing keyboards and screens, but alas no arrow keys and NO SD card slot! THAT is a deal-breaker.
I really do love the slow pace of the transfer. in some way there is a respect of all the work in the text.
Afternoon Lars. Yes, I quite enjoy the sedate pace of the transfer. When I get back to my desk after perhaps 90 mins writing at a local coffee shop, I connect my AlphaSmart to the MacBook and go off to make myself a drink. When I come back to the desk five minutes later the file is finishing off and I enjoy watching the last 5 or 10% of the data transfer. Most enjoyable when so many other aspects of life are about speed
@@nicksturgeonbooks Indeed. Here in Sweden we had a philosopher, Ladislaus Horatius, that actually pulled the emergency brake on a high speed rail just to state that in the times of fast internet and speed of the broad band he wanted us to realise that it is more worth to connect with ourself, so he invented the Deep band company.
"Through music, one speaks from heart to heart.
It is important to find the right tempo or rhythm, not the fastest.
It is about seeking harmony, not breaking speed records."
It seems that I can connect more with that for every year.
A big thank you for an interesting channel with great content.
@@LarsDahlin I shall enjoy reading about the commitment of Mr Horatius!
I usually write in total darkness. With the AS Neo, you turn off all your lights and write away in the dark, allowing your thoughts to flow into the keyboard without any distractions from the visual realm.
Hello Joe. Sorry for the slow response, I spent much of the last ten days involved in a book marketing challenge learning about defining and placing ads. I am fascinated by your comment of using the Alphasmart to write in darkness. This is something I have not tried. After reading your message I did fit a light on a flexi chord to the USB port of my machine, but couldn't get it to power up. I have written on the Alphasmart in dim light at home as well as outside in bright sunlight. Each time the display is easy to read.
I wish you "Happy Keyboarding!"💙🖥⌨💻
I recently welcomed an AlphaSmart 2000 into my life, eager to tap away at its keys and unleash my creativity. But fate had other plans. Just as I was getting acquainted with my new companion, a morning mishap sent it tumbling from the bed to its untimely demise. It was a brief but beautiful journey.
Undeterred, I’ve now turned to the AlphaSmart NEO, a worthy successor with its sleek design and robust build. I chose the NEO not just for its durability, but also for its distraction-free environment that promises to keep my creative flow uninterrupted. Plus, the addition of a data cable ensures that not a single word of my stories will be lost in translation.
As I embark on this new chapter, I’m filled with excitement for the tales yet to be told and the characters waiting to come alive under my fingertips. Stay tuned for the adventures that lie ahead with my NEO!
Good afternoon Reiana, so good to hear about your new constant companionship with the NEO! Such a great and reliable keyboard from which to write happily in pretty much any environment.
Have a look at Andrea's comments here from a few days ago, where she uses a cable to connect her AS with a notes programme within her phone. I had never even thought of that and love the idea.
If I take my NEO to the coffee shop or the library, my MacBook Air and transfer cable stay home and I transfer the file easily when I return.
Either way, we are all fans and users of this remarkable device, here to make our writing process easier.
Great video Nick. I have a Neo for zero or rough drafting but unlike its early predecessors the batteries will drain on their own after a couple of weeks. I'm currently searching for a suitable power adaptor.
Good afternoon to you @justaworkingbloke6537 Thanks for your comment and I am really glad you like the video. A couple of things come to mind.
Have you put in a new cell battery? I changed mine this summer after ca three and a half years. In November this year I also figured it was time to change the AA batteries in the panel at the back of the Neo. I bought a new power adaptor last month as well, figuring it would make sense to freshen up the gear with my #alphasmart. (Previously I was using an adaptor that I use to charge my Roberts radio).
Here are the details of the one I got from Amazon. It is by Huawei Model : HW-120200B6W. Input : 100-240V=2.0A
Another thought. The same USB end to printer end cable that you and I use to transfer files from the Alphasmart to laptop or PC, if the laptop is on charge and the alpha plugged in you also get a slow trickle charge to your alpha this way, confirmed by the green charging light on the top right edge. (I wasn't sure but have just tested this now while writing to you).
Hope this helps you. What are you writing on your Alpha?
Thanks for the feedback Nick. For some silly reason I forgot to mention my Alpha is the Wireless version and is known for battery drainage because of this feature. I will certainly look into the adaptor you mentioned. I write primarily poetry and short stories and alpha has been a great help!
@@justaworkingbloke6537 OK. Never new there was a wireless version! Fascinating to learn this. Mine has an Infrared option, but I've never had reason to use that. Good luck with sourcing the right power adaptor.
@@nicksturgeonbooksNever had a problem with batteries 🔋 🔋 running down when not in use.
However, bought a spare second hand Neo 2 and should have replaced the cheap and nasty batteries it came with, with high quality ones. Didn’t use it for 9 months and the batteries leaked all the way through it.
As with most battery operated devices, if you’re not using them for a considerable time, remove the batteries.
… as a German Biologist -
Every day
I am amazed and Stunned
What great Artists created by HAND
Paper, Ink, a Pencil…
Goethe wrote 1000´s of pages
BACH created the fascinating Compositions all by Ink
The more tech we use
The worse it gets…
The key board alone is a STOPPer
Of flow
I prefer Ink Pen and paper
…
Thank YOU!
Lovely
Thanks Raginald. Creativity and self-expression comes to us in many ways. Glad you are enjoying pen and paper. What are you writing?
no one asked you, benchode
Hi there! I have an Alphasmart Neo 2 word processor, which I LOVE using! I wish the company that originally made 'em would CONTINUE making NEWER models! Yeah, I think that would be a GREAT idea, don't you? I think the NEW, IMPROVED models should feature MORE USB connectors and come in a WIDE VARIETY of COLORS too! What do YOU THINK, huh?
Hello again Saffire. Nice to see you back and commenting here. No, I think that the incredible work done by Joe Barrus and Ketan Kothari, along with Ketan's brother Manish, was very much of it's time, reflecting the innovation and technology then available. When they created AlphaSmart, Inc., formerly Intelligent Peripheral Devices, Inc., it was very much as an education technology company and they completely achieved their goals, bowing out at the right time and having contributed some amazing low tech products to the market. Very happy with my Alphasmart
Great device for the past 20 years... Should add the font hack and get hat sucker at 8 lines. Runs all the more better being able to see the full paragraph (Purchased mine in 2010 for 15 bucks).
Thanks @arepas Where do I get the font hack? That could be a useful addition!
I also use mine and if I don’t have my laptop at hand I connect the AS to my smartphone and send it directly to word…
Great idea! I never thought about sending one of the 8 files direct to my android phone. Genius!
i have two. i liked the freewrite travelor and wanted it but not for the price it sells for
Agreed. The Traveler looks to be a good machine and I like how compact it is. Still tempted by that beauty. But, just for now, I am sticking with the rotation between iPad 3 with a logitech keyboard, my MacBook Air and the much respected AlphaSmart.
Thanks for sharing, Nick! My Neo is one of my favorite devices. Any thoughts about the Freewrite devices/do you own any? (I think they're releasing an Alpha-like device next month.)
Good morning @Squizzums They are such great devices! After November and that particular writing challenge I wanted, and also needed, a break. While considering some new writing ideas I looked online at several products from @Astrohaus / @getfreewrite and mainly their Freewrite Traveler. (I had asked them earlier in the year for a review product, but they declined), and so I began to look at my #alphasmart again. The simplicity of this machine appeals so much for being low tech.
@@nicksturgeonbooks I am sorry that they decided against sending you a review product. I guess this means you won’t get any of their devices. But at least it sparked a renewed interest in your Neo!
@@squizzums Me too. Their devices look to be very useful. They have the Freewrite which is the larger device in a metal case, then the Traveler with a folding case. the new one to be launched, as you say, very soon, is the Alpha and looks to be very similar to the AlphaSmart. Let's see what happens with the launch. the best thing is that it will introduce more people to the concept of helpful and productive distraction-free writing.
One reason ,for which they may have declined my offer, could be that my channel is small, but the other more likely reason is that the Traveler has already been out in the marketplace almost three years and so they realistically don't need more brand ambassadors.
@getfreewrite if you are reading this, please get in touch via the email you already have for me. I would love to write a book on one of your devices and provide regular updates and technical review content to share publicly. Thanks!
But how do you print from it? Is it compatible with current-day computers? I have a Macbook Pro and a desktop PC (Microsoft).
@@jessicairish4598 Evening Jessica. Really simple process. You send one of the 8 files directly to your MacBook, opening a Pages file there first. The text from the AlphaSmart transfers across and you print from your laptop
Probably, using the Alphasmart Neo is better than using a typewriter, as for typing on the keyboard.
HELLO! Um, tell me, WHERE did you buy your Alphasmart word processor from? I ordered mine from Amazon for over $100.00. PLEASE TELL ME, WHERE can I get 'em CHEAPER!
Good morning Saffire. As shown in the video images I downloaded from eBay. Even places there where you will see you can buy a bulk order and sell off the ones you don't want.
Hi Nick! Well, those Alphasmarts are definitely making a HUGE COMEBACK in POPULARITY! I was just on the Ebay shopping site. They're charging over $100.00 for NEW ones! Exactly WHEN did you post your product review video? I'm posting my questions to you in January 2024.@@nicksturgeonbooks
@saffirechanning7286 Hi again. This video was published three weeks ago on 19 Dec 23. (You can find the publication date of any video by looking at the details). I just looked on eBay now and can see ca 30 Alphasmarts (2000, 3000, Neo and Neo2) listed today. So there are plenty of options available if you are tempted to grab a second device. Enjoy your writing experience.
$100 is pretty inexpensive for an AlphaSmart Neo 2 in good condition. I’d gladly pay that, plus postage in an instance.
You just kept me from giving my NEO2 to Goodwill! The cord was lost in moving. Guess I'll buy another one. Thank you for this great review and explanation of this little machine,
Delighted that this video has helped you get hold of a cable to charge your device. You can get the USB to Print cable easily enough online in order to charge the device and it also serves to transfer your written file into your laptop or PC. I also got myself a simple Huawei power adaptor for longer charging when at my desk. (This is model HW - 120290B6W. Input: 100-200v-59/60Hz.0.8A and Output: 12.0v=2.0A). I didn't buy that especially as it powers a radio in my study and I realised that it also serves to power the AlphaSmart.