Installed Vim on Debian with i3wm on a Toshiba NB505. Replaced the battery for $40. As an aside an iPad with a keyboard on Airplane mode isn't a bad idea if you already own one.
I bought an an Onn tablet for about $50, a Bluetooth keyboard with mouse for another $20, never connect it to internet while writing (usually done in public or nature), and only have it connected to my home wifi to upload my writing. I stripped it of all apps that I could, installed just a couple of useful apps for writing. I have a small solar panel I picked up for cheap to charge the setup when I am out of the house writing. I had a small older school Chromebook, but found it didn't really inspire me to write, mostly because it was a laptop, I couldn't really separate the screen to set it at a comfortable viewing level while keeping the keyboard lower for typing, like a desktop. I can set my tablet up anywhere for a comfortable view, and keep the keyboard low for my hands to be comfortable. I am thinking of taking an older phone with a Bluetooth keyboard as my next set-up for even more portability.
If you want to go really cheap and compact, you can buy an old smartphone without a SIM-card and a keyboard for it - Microsoft's Universal Mobile Keyboard works very well for me. Just fire up a plain, distraction free app like vim and you've got your writing device with SD card and Wi-Fi support. Also, old laptop-type palmtop PCs, such as HP Jornada, 95LX and Psion devices work very well if you want to go small. Unlike smartphones, they do not have flashy menus or notifications. Just a very basic, plain GUI or command-line (in 95LX's case).
A Raspberry Pi 3 and up is power hungry in regards to batteries. I have a couple of "pocket pi's" and the Zero W in a GamePi20 case is the best so far. I created a computer with the Pico just now which can become something too. If I just make it battery driven (basically a VGA display powered from USB) then I'm pleased. A good keyboard in the end of that is on my list, but that's more complicated.
@@gigsplain True, however, for all the years I've used tablet + bt keyboard for writing I've never needed one to last more than a single day before recharging overnight. And besides, the e-ink screens are simply horrific on the eyes, between the annoying display lag and the lack of any real color theme choice besides black on WHITER THAN WHITE!
I use an AlphaSmart Neo2, and it works just fine for me. 🤗
The Alphasmart line would be prefect if it wasn't for those tiny screens..
@@looneyburgmusic The screen is the best part of the Neo2 along with the keyboard and the almost endless battery life
@@RobertDeloyd Personal opinion, which you are free to have.
Personally, I prefer the Dana screen, mostly because my eyes aren't what they used to be.
Installed Vim on Debian with i3wm on a Toshiba NB505. Replaced the battery for $40.
As an aside an iPad with a keyboard on Airplane mode isn't a bad idea if you already own one.
I bought an an Onn tablet for about $50, a Bluetooth keyboard with mouse for another $20, never connect it to internet while writing (usually done in public or nature), and only have it connected to my home wifi to upload my writing. I stripped it of all apps that I could, installed just a couple of useful apps for writing. I have a small solar panel I picked up for cheap to charge the setup when I am out of the house writing.
I had a small older school Chromebook, but found it didn't really inspire me to write, mostly because it was a laptop, I couldn't really separate the screen to set it at a comfortable viewing level while keeping the keyboard lower for typing, like a desktop. I can set my tablet up anywhere for a comfortable view, and keep the keyboard low for my hands to be comfortable. I am thinking of taking an older phone with a Bluetooth keyboard as my next set-up for even more portability.
If you want to go really cheap and compact, you can buy an old smartphone without a SIM-card and a keyboard for it - Microsoft's Universal Mobile Keyboard works very well for me. Just fire up a plain, distraction free app like vim and you've got your writing device with SD card and Wi-Fi support.
Also, old laptop-type palmtop PCs, such as HP Jornada, 95LX and Psion devices work very well if you want to go small. Unlike smartphones, they do not have flashy menus or notifications. Just a very basic, plain GUI or command-line (in 95LX's case).
What about an older MacBook Pro? could that be converted to distraction-free mode?
I am not an expert on Macs but I should think you can.
Maybe with Linux. You can uninstall more in Linux.
Thank you this video helped a lot.
A Raspberry Pi 3 and up is power hungry in regards to batteries. I have a couple of "pocket pi's" and the Zero W in a GamePi20 case is the best so far. I created a computer with the Pico just now which can become something too. If I just make it battery driven (basically a VGA display powered from USB) then I'm pleased. A good keyboard in the end of that is on my list, but that's more complicated.
"Tablets are not terribly battery efficient"?
Huh?
My Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 will last ~10-12 hours screen-on no problem, meaning most of the day.
Comparatively. A Freewrite device will go for days or weeks with the screen on depending on model with a smaller battery than any Samsung.
@@gigsplain True, however, for all the years I've used tablet + bt keyboard for writing I've never needed one to last more than a single day before recharging overnight.
And besides, the e-ink screens are simply horrific on the eyes, between the annoying display lag and the lack of any real color theme choice besides black on WHITER THAN WHITE!
gym teacher in rural Saskatchewan haha