I do most of my writing someplace else. Coffee shops, parking lots, rest stops, picnic tables, train stations, ferry terminals. I don't do it to be bohemian, I do it because it's easier to be anonymous in a public place. Otherwise, distractions abound: The TV, family, pets, projects, and the computer. If you're like me, trying to compose on the computer is a hit or miss proposition; you might be able to work a short story or poem in between crises, events, or simple day-to-day life. But if the thought of having a moment of rare inspiration interrupted by a dog soiling your carpet or your sudden desire to check on your eBay bid will divert you from your writing schedule, getting out of the house may be your only option. Before the current microgadget explosion, your options were a notebook (the paper kind) or a portable typewriter. If you sat in a café, the latter would have been a tad ostentatious. And if your brain tends to demand several subjects and themes, you would have ended up carrying several notebooks, as I was. Your other option was to drop anywhere from 1500-3500 bucks on a PC or Mac laptop, and to lug it wherever you ambled.

If the paragraph above describes your situation, this article might help. This review examines four portable word processing, sub-laptop devices. They use the latest advances in technology to produce wondrously simple, light machines that do everything a writer demands of them, plus a bit more, but only if you want them to. And all of this comes without the bulk, cost, and guaranteed obsolescence of a laptop.

The four machines in question are the AlphaSmart 3000, the Alpha Smart Dana, the QuickPad Technologies QuickPad IR, and the QuickPad Pro.

The four machines represent two different classes of device: The QuickPad IR and the AlphaSmart 3000 are bare-bones word processing devices designed primarily for schools and the education market, though writers are also beginning to embrace their usefulness. The QuickPad Pro and the Dana represent the higher-end machines of their respective companies; they also aim at the education market, but since the functionality of these devices far exceeds their low end machines, they are touted as low-cost laptop replacements.

NOTE: Each section of this review was composed on its respective device.

Overview

On the QuickPad IR, everything is pretty much where you expect it to be in a typical QWERTY layout. The F keys range from 1-10, after which there is the power button, calculator, print, send, delete file, and the delete keys. Down the right side are home, page up, page down and end keys. Cursor keys are arranged logically to the right of the shift key. As with the QP Pro, the keyboard favors the Wintel crowd with a menu key and Windows key. To the left of the spacebar, wedged between the Ctrl and Alt keys is the spell check key. A function (Fn) key allows access to a numeric keypad superimposed on the standard keyboard, as well as special functions unique to the Quickpad.

The display is clear, but I'm beginning to get a little stiff in the neck as I crane a bit to see the four-line screen. The QP relies on a two-step approach to angling the display toward the reader; the unit itself is angled up toward the reader with two taller back feet, and the display has only a slight forward pitch. This avoids, to some degree, the problem of a too-sharp angle fouling the sleek lines of the Quickpad, thus making it appear too bulky and less portable. It's a bit of the form vs. function dilemma here, and the user will have to decide which is more important.

As I type, I notice these light-touch keys require a surprising amount of force. This won't be a problem for those used to manhandling a geriatric Smith-Corona, but for those raised in the digital age, it might be a bit disconcerting. And do be careful with the Delete vs. Delete File key. If you're not careful, it would be very easy to delete hours of work instead of an errant letter or number. Performance in general, though, is quite acceptable.

Features and Interface

The QP relies on the PC world for file management analogies. For those of you used to this sort of thing and its attendant complexities, you'll feel right at home. When you turn the QP on, you're dumped into a small Main Menu where you can create new files and name them. Files are something of a misnomer here: If you press the F1 key, which implies File1, you're actually in a directory. Within this directory is where you create individual files--the ones you can name. You have 32 characters to get the job done. When you first turn the unit on, you're given a sample file to show you where your files will be kept. A little clunky, but it seems to work, and again, if you're used to that sort of thing, it won't bug you all that much. For me, though, when I want to write, I want to turn the unit on and go. This delays that process a little.

Saving files is automatic, to some extent. You can't simply power the unit off. At first I didn't know what to do without the aid of a manual. You simply press the ESC key, which flips an Updating Files message at you, then dumps you into the Main Menu. At that point, you can power the unit down. When you power up again, you're prompted to choose file 1-10, which defeats the purpose of naming them in the first place.

This unit is far more intuitive than its big brother, the QP Pro, but some of the functions and interface quirks might still keep me way from the unit if I were a technophobe (as some writers still seem to be), which would be a shame; word processors like this have encouraged me to write more and more often, and I highly recommend them to those who tend to be dissuaded by easy distractions, or those who just plain procrastinate. The QuickPad IR would be favored by the PC crowd--especially those who remember DOS--but because of its USB connection, Mac users aren't left out of the mix, either. The QP is a neat little workhorse, compact and fairly easy to use, once you conquer its nuances.

File Transfer

As with all of the units reviewed, communication with a computer is accomplished by USB or infrared (IR) ports. If you use USB, it's simply a matter of plugging the unit into the PC or Mac and pressing send or send file, while you have a word processor (e.g., Word, WordPerfect) or blank text file open. The unit is then a keyboard buffer, spewing text into the document like a typist after a gallon of coffee. After the transfer is complete, you have a Word document (for example) on your computer, and you still have the original on your QuickPad (or AlphaSmart). In either case, you could finish editing and formatting on the computer, then save the document there, allowing you to delete the file from your QuickPad or AlphaSmart.

The QP transfers files very quickly in its default setting, which is a good thing, especially if you've been on the road all day and haven't had a chance to download all your files, and you're out of space.

Overview

The AS3000 is a study in elegant simplicity. The small display shows four lines at a time in a monospaced 12-14-point font with excellent clarity. The display is also angled toward the writer when the unit is placed on a flat surface. The keyboard is intelligently laid out and feels spacious enough to cruise along at oh, 75 words per minute or so. The enclosure for the AS3000 is a blue-tinted, tough plastic, which is translucent enough to let you see its innards.

The top row of keys contains file storage keys, special function keys, and the power switch. Keyboard layout is QWERTY (reconfigurable to Dvorak or left-handed, if you'd like), and reminiscent of a computer keyboard that has succeeded in making friends with the PC and Mac platforms. The Mac faithful will be warmed by the Command key, and the PC folks still have their Ctrl key.

Cursor positioning (arrow) keys are predictably in the lower right corner, but the Esc key shows up to the right of the space bar. This threw me the first few times I needed it, and I do find it odd, but the rest of the keyboard makes so much sense, it's an easy quirk to overlook or accommodate. The AS3000 runs on three AA batteries, and the access hatch on the unit's bottom allows easy access for battery removal.

Features and Interface

How do I know I can type 75 words a minute? I just took a typing test. It's built-in, located in the command structure. A frill, perhaps, but it is probably more useful for the educators who use this device in their classrooms. For both manufacturers, the education market seems to be the primary focus, with a welcoming nod to writers.

The folks at AlphaSmart claim that those three AA batteries (off-the-shelf, buy-'em-anywhere) will last for up to 700 hours. It seems somewhat outrageous, but when you remember it's not a laptop and doesn't have to spin anything at 9000 rpm or light up a 15" TFT display, it begins to make more sense. Especially since it has a built-in shutdown feature if it's idle for more than 5 minutes or so (the timeout is adjustable). Non-geeks will appreciate this feature: After it shuts off (or if you suddenly decide you can't go on and must leave NOW!), you can hit the power button and the document you were working on will pop up, with the cursor blinking in the last place you left it. Nope, no misprints: You don't have to save the document frequently, as you would with a PC.

The AS3000's file management system consists of eight places you can keep files. This works out to be roughly eight documents of 20 pages each. This would be skimpy on a computer, but again, this is not a computer. In composing, I seldom hit ten pages in a sitting, so the capacity is ample for me; if you need more than the 160-page capacity in one of these devices, perhaps a laptop is in your future after all. But typically, the capacity should appease all but the most verbose of writers.

By default, the AS3000 opens the last file you were in at the last place your cursor landed, so if this is your first use, it opens up File1, and a cursor blinks on a blank screen in the upper left corner of the display. Ready to write.

The file keys are on the top row between the on/off button (far left) and the rest of the designated function keys. The File keys designate where you store your documents. You don't name your files because you never save them; consider them buckets into which you dump text. The burden, therefore, is on the author to remember what went where.

Among the function keys are Print, Spell Check, Find, Clear File, Home, End, Applets and Send. The keys requiring explanation are the Clear File, Applets and Send keys. Clear file, when pressed, will simply delete the contents of the current file. You will be prompted (the ol' Are you sure? routine) before you trash away. However, on the off chance you delete something by mistake, you still have a good chance of getting it back with built-in recovery tools, which are covered in the manual. The Applets key will call up a menu of special small applications, some of which are standard with the AS3000, and some of which can be added (via computer interface through a supplied CD).

The keyboard provides excellent tactile response, whether you tend to remember the days of manual typewriters or you relish the lightness of keypads. Either way, you won't wake anybody up with this keyboard.

File Transfer

File transfer for the AS3000 is a simple matter of connecting the unit to the computer with the supplied USB cable, opening up any word processor, page layout, or text editor, selecting the file you want to send, and pressing the Send button. This is keyboard buffer mode, so it will look like a mad typist is spewing text player-piano style into your open document.

Transfer speed is adjustable; its default setting was a little slow for my taste, so I bumped it up to about 75% of capacity. Be careful though; the aim is to have a coherent document. If your transfer speed is too fast, you run the risk of omitting letters or words.

File transfer can also be done via optional IR port.

Overview

Top to bottom, the Dana is a sheer joy to use. Like its meat-and-potatoes relative, the AlphaSmart 3000, the Dana produces very little fatigue at the keyboard, and it doesn't cause furrowed brows with its interface. The operating system and keyboard layout won't interrupt you or have you guessing how to save a file (Command-S, if you're interested) or do basic grunt work. Should you need help, though, the 80-page Getting Started guide--a tech writer's delight--addresses just about anything you're likely to encounter with the Dana. This perfect-bound, nicely illustrated, well-written book is carefully designed and flawlessly executed.

Features and Interface

In addition to its very sleek, svelte appearance, the Dana boasts a beautiful 8-line display with a fairly large, very readable default sans serif font. Contrast is excellent right out of the box, but there is a contrast key to change it as you see fit. As with the AS 3000, ease of use is paramount, and most of the functionality is very obvious or can be gleaned without delving into the documentation. The keyboard touch, in my opinion, is even better than the AlphaSmart, slightly more refined for those of us who won't be jamming the Dana in a backpack and embarking on a survivalist adventure in the Outback. As with the rest of the units reviewed, I won't test any theories about durability, but at a glance, I'd estimate it's more of a sedan than a SUV, but Alpha claims the same drop test feature as the AS 3000. This is really an elegant looking unit; it's obvious aesthetics were very much a part of the design philosophy. Essentially, it is the same design as the AS 3000, with the display angle molded into the main chassis. The angle is accessible to the eye without much craning of the neck. This bodes well for long-term use.

Unlike the AS 3000, you have to charge the Dana for four hours prior to the first use (an AC adapter is included for this purpose). This is more in line with portable devices in this price range, and the graphical interface requires a bit more horsepower than typical AA batteries can provide. But once you're past the initial battery charge, you're once again in "Turn it on and go" mode.

The underside of the Dana also shows careful attention to detail with a brief, Quickstart-style of key combination reminders laid out in table format. Access to the battery is clearly marked. The hatch itself, however, has one quirk that still has me scratching my head: One tiny Phillips head screw holds the thing in place, yet the hatch itself implies the door should slide open and pop out, typical of a mechanism such as this. With the phenomenal styling of the unit and the incredible attention to detail, this sort of thing stands out, much like a piece of coal on an otherwise perfectly white beach. Overall, not a biggie, but definitely something that will raise an eyebrow.

If you're used to a Palm OS device and you use Graffiti (Palm's specialized handwriting alphabet), the Dana conceals the stylus in plain view on the right side of the device. There, it looks very much like a power-on slide switch, barely breaking the graceful curve toward the display. A little forward pressure and out pops the stylus.

File Transfer

The Dana talks to other devices via its IR and USB ports, and if you don't want to deal with a computer, you can print directly to any USB-compatible printer. The Dana also hosts two RAM card slots for expansion.

File transfer is a breeze via IR and USB, although you will get a low power warning if you don't directly connect your Dana to the port built into your PC or Mac. This is addressed in the ReadMe file on the Applications CD, and my guess is it will be addressed in a future release. For my Mac G4, OS X (10.2.6) issued this warning and was unable to use the port on my keyboard. Skipping the daisy chain, though, I transferred a 1000-word document from the Dana to my Mac in less than 30 seconds using the default (fastest) setting.

Using the HotSync availability of the Palm software, I was also able to sync my Apple Address Book address book with the Dana fairly seamlessly.

Overview

I was impressed by the QP Pro's slim features and elegant appearance, and it is a wonderfully lightweight device.

Typing is fairly pleasant and quick, if you're a touch-typist, as I am. I'm guessing I'm still operating at 70-75 words per minute, and the keyboard itself is darn quiet at this rate. If you're one of those self-taught, two-finger typists or the slower hunt-and-peck variety, you might find it a bit more of a chore if you need to look at the display.

The display itself is not angled toward the writer. Instead, the whole unit can be tilted upward at probably 15-20 degrees, using foldout legs, as on a typical computer keyboard. The large display is nice, but if you can't see all the words anyway, or if you have to crane your neck forward to see the text clearly, the benefits of a large display tend to be lost. I suppose an option would be to reduce the amount of lines you can fit in the display and make the font bigger. That would reduce the impact of one problem, but not the basic design issue, which is that the display should be canted toward the writer within the unit itself. As it stands, I've only been at this keyboard for about 45 minutes or so, and the back of my neck is starting to hurt since I'm having to lean forward more when I peruse the display to see what I've written, clean up typos, etc.

The keyboard layout for the QuickPad Pro is mostly well-reasoned. The tilde key is in a slightly odd place, while the Esc is about where it should be, and the On/Off button is to the right of the F keys. Outside of that, the keyboard layout might be mistaken for a typical laptop arrangement.

When you first boot the QuickPad Pro, you'll notice that you can barely read the display, it's so faint. Having a tech writing past, I understand that nobody reads the manual when they get a new e-toy, and I m no different, so I immediately assumed I had a bad unit. But that tech writing past obliged me to have a gander at the documentation, where I found out how to adjust the intensity of the display. This will likely reduce battery life, but it will save your eyeballs.

The evaluation unit was shipped with batteries in shrink-wrap. The batteries were DOA, so I bought new ones. I had to take out the dead ones to install the new ones. This proved to be a bit of a pain. When I hastily installed the new batteries, I had ignored the little cloth strip that makes removing them much easier. If you value your sanity, don't forget to put this cloth strip under that last battery exposed in the access hatch. If you forget, you will spend a few frustrating moments and learn a new vocabulary trying to get those batteries out of their home.

Features and Interface

On the Dana, the on/off switch turns power on and off. For the QP Pro, this isn't the case. The on/off switch is something of a misnomer, apparently presupposed by the power button (obviously intended as a reset button, based on its location and configuration) on the left side of the unit. In other words, you can't use the on/off switch to turn the QP Pro on, but you can turn it off that way. You'll need to depress the Power button on the side of the unit, and you might need a ballpoint pen to do that. The documentation was crudely edited to address this issue. I'm not sure how to explain this; doing a blind review, I deliberately did not talk to either company's representative in the interest of fairness, but QuickPad is encouraged to challenge the review or explain this feature if they desire.

The QuickPad Pro has plenty of built-in features, and you see most of those the first time you boot up. The QuickPad Pro has a spellcheck, personal organizer, calculator and spreadsheet. If you combine your writing with salesmanship, or if you happen to be successful enough to have a bunch of editors and publishers beating a path to your door, you might like the organizer. And the spreadsheet might be nice if you're doing quick, raw comparisons (say, for a review). Here, I'll admit to having a bias against these as distractions from the primary purpose of writing, but if you're not a writer, you might find it handy.

I know at least one teacher who swears she's seen AlphaSmart reps literally bounce a brand new AS3000 on the floor, pick it up, and start typing with no problems. I haven't personally witnessed that, but the thick plastic casing might just be that durable, as it adds to the unit's weight. Indeed, the brochure that accompanied the eval unit claims that it can be dropped from a height of four feet with no ill effects. Still . . . I'm writing for a non-profit organization with a tiny budget and no desire to create ill will. I don't have the money to do the drop test on either unit, but the extra protection costs a few more ounces in weight, which might steer you toward the QuickPad if you carry it around all day. If, however, you occasionally take it to parks, coffee shops, or backpacking, or you generally handle it roughly, the AlphaSmart might be more to your liking.

File Transfer

The QuickPad Pro includes an IR port; it's an option (extra $) with the AS3000. I didn't test this feature on either unit, since it is an option on the AS3000, but not on the QuickPad Pro.

I tested the USB and serial modes of file transfer, and both are reasonably simple to use, although I had to refer to the manual to navigate the quirks of the QuickPad to get to the point where the Send File button actually sent the file. Once it did, though, the file (on both PC and Mac) a 1600-word document moved to an open Word document noticeably quicker than the AlphaSmart in its default configuration. This can be mitigated by a faster speed setting (there's a how-to in the manual), but the Pro still had the speed edge.

The QP includes a floppy disk with a small application that allows you to move a batch of files at a time between the QP and PC and vice versa. The Mac, strangely, is left out of this equation. After taking few guesses with the interface, I was able to transfer a few dummy files to the PC. I was also able to put the files where I wanted by editing the file path in a save-type dialog. The files are placed as *.txt and can be opened with NotePad or Word for further editing.

AlphaSmart 3000: 199usd; Rechargeable, 219usd; Infrared (IR), 229usd; Rechargeable IR, 249usd

Options: There are several software applets, cables, batteries, cases and other options too numerous to mention here. See the AlphaSmart web site for details.

AlphaSmart Dana: 379usd

Options: Software, carrying case, AC adapter, charger, and others. See the AlphaSmart web site for a complete list.

QuickPad IR: 199usd

Options: See the QuickPad web site for details.

QuickPad Pro: 349usd

Options: See the QuickPad web site for details.

For me, the AlphaSmart is a clear winner in both categories. The ease of use, the uncluttered interface and perfect mix of features, including superior ergonomics and intuitive interface, make the AS 3000 and the Dana a joy to use. I could recommend the QuickPad machines only if you're really entrenched in the PC world, have a bit of a techie background, and are used to all the quirks inherent in those operating systems.

While composing, I wanted as little to do with computers as possible, yet still be able to write a story or article draft, dump it into my computer after I was done, and commence editing and formatting from there. I didn't want the distractions and detours inherent in a PC or Mac while I was organizing my thoughts and getting them down. Portability and ease of use were paramount. The AlphaSmart 3000 fit the bill perfectly here.

I can easily recommend the Dana as an affordable, elegant laptop replacement for writers, educators, salespeople, and anyone with a need for the portability and functionality of a laptop, integration with desktop PCs, and the need to get up and running NOW. The only faults I can find with the Dana are the odd screw in the battery hatch, the low power warning with the USB transfer, and the too-opaque keycap decals that stand out slightly if the light hits them just right. In every other way, however, it is brilliant, beautiful, and eminently practical. AlphaSmart has hit a home run with this device.

AlphaSmart: http://alphasmart.com

QuickPad: http://quickpad.com

Copyright © 2003, Keith Deshaies