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Post by machfront on Jul 25, 2014 2:24:39 GMT -6
For around $70 I still think a second-hand netbook with a good keyboard will be your best option. . Never connect it to any network. . Use a cheap/free OS and cheap/free editor. . Save all your work to a USB stick. Done. Yeah, this. Or for that matter, go to a thrift store and buy an old desktop, it will be even cheaper. Then just don't connect to the internet.I 'third' this. Grab a an Asus Aspire One or similar netbook, install a simple word doc program as mentioned by others (or AbiWord or LibreOffice) and don't connect to the internet. As ways said: Done.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 25, 2014 11:31:58 GMT -6
Yes, but what of the Conspiracy?
Surely you must realize that a device which can be accessed by wireless technologies is not secure.
You must realize that they can connect you to their secret surveillance network without you realizing it's even happened.
Let them try that with an old type writer.
Granted, they can send a fly sized drone to buzz you but that requires prioritization and prioritization is what makes them have to work and think and not rely upon computers to do all the work for them.
You have to really think these things through.
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tog
Level 4 Theurgist
Detect Meal & What Kind
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Post by tog on Jul 25, 2014 11:51:26 GMT -6
I have to speak in favor of the HP 2133; I have one a friend gave to me that boots Linux off a SD card and it works beautifully for typing stuff; the small screen is definitely a drawback for net-surfing so that's a built-in disincentive (not a bug, a feature!). Not spectacular on battery life, mind you; I only get an hour and a half or so (but that may be partly being an old battery). Turning off the wireless card would likely increase battery life; there's also a Bluetooth communicator in case you want to go that route for a keyboard, as well as two USB ports. All in all, a nice little machine.
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Post by robertsconley on Jul 25, 2014 13:47:50 GMT -6
Abiword on a windows NetBook with a good keyboard should work within your criteria. www.abisource.comIf you are more Do it yourself you can make it a Linux computer with Abiword. Or if you want to go really minimal go with Notepad++ or Emacs
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Post by krusader74 on Jul 25, 2014 20:52:38 GMT -6
Yes, but what of the Conspiracy? Surely you must realize that a device which can be accessed by wireless technologies is not secure. You must realize that they can connect you to their secret surveillance network without you realizing it's even happened. Let them try that with an old type writer. Granted, they can send a fly sized drone to buzz you but that requires prioritization and prioritization is what makes them have to work and think and not rely upon computers to do all the work for them. You have to really think these things through. The NSA's " Tailored Access Operations" (TAO) unit has a large catalog of spy gadgets including the Cottonmouth I, II, and III---Universal Serial Bus (USB) hardware host taps that allow them to spy on machines that aren't even connected to the Internet. All they need is to implant the tap in your machine's USB port; such machines were sold by the big US hardware brands (HP, Dell, Cisco and so on) since at least 2008. The tap draws power from your USB port and allows a covert agent at a remote console a couple miles away to have complete control over your system. " Big Brother is watching you!" Worse: If the NSA can exploit this USB host tap to spy on you, I'm sure Ukrainian hackers and even Rupert Murdoch can exploit it too. The upside: If anyone here still plays Top Secret, they'll surely want to add the aforementioned TAO catalog to their equipment list!
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Post by waysoftheearth on Jul 25, 2014 22:14:47 GMT -6
I have to speak in favor of the HP 2133 I have the 2140 (which has exactly the same chasis/keyboard as the 2133) and I have to agree. I tried a bunch of different netbooks/notebooks, but nothing I've tested has ever matched the 2140's keyboard--not even a ridiculously expensive Sony. True, the battery is getting a bit tired these days. I use the screen on its lowest brightness setting, which may help a bit, but truth is I use it plugged in most of the time so it's rarely an issue. I do occasionally consider replacing the battery, but I've never got around to it yet. I did purchase a solid state disk to replace the mechanical disk on the grounds that it would be quicker, cooler, faster, and use less power. But several years later I've still never got around to actually fitting it ! Truth is, the 2140 is a fine machine for my purposes. And I suspect Geoffery's requirements are quite similar to mine.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2014 21:11:57 GMT -6
We picked up a Brother electric typewriter in near-mint condition at a local thriftstore for $4. Yes, $4. It is similar to this model: www.amazon.com/Brother-GX-6750-Daisy-Electronic-Typewriter/dp/B00004WFSC/It came with a bundle of correction tape and 3 extra ribbons. The good news is that ribbons are still available at Staples, OfficeMax, and Amazon for under $10 for a two-pack. The kids love it. I have three kids who take turns typing up stories and making "books" and newspapers via cut and paste. They could be doing it on a computer (we have enough old computers still useful for word processing), but they enjoy the physicality of the typewriter. Can't go wrong with it. I've seen Alphasmarts go for under $10 at thriftstores. Try your local church-affilated thriftstores, Goodwill, and any Salvation Army thirftstores in your area. You never know what might turn up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2014 2:06:20 GMT -6
As to word processors, I think the Pomera Dm10 is a good choice.
I would, however, recommend a netbook rather than that, and disable (or, if you really think that's necessary) remove all internet connectivity possibilities.
Personally, I also like writing on my tablet, via external keyboard; the tablet, you can also pretty easily cut off any sort of web.
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bea
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Post by bea on Aug 8, 2014 4:41:16 GMT -6
What apps do you use for word procesding on the tablet?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2014 8:38:29 GMT -6
I usually use Polaris Office on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 1 - a matter of personal preference, not necessarily quality. Also, I am hoping for Ommwriter to get an Android release soon. That one, perhaps my most favorite writing tool.
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Post by geoffrey on Aug 8, 2014 9:54:00 GMT -6
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Post by doublejig on Aug 18, 2014 0:36:23 GMT -6
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skars
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Post by skars on Sept 2, 2014 11:24:21 GMT -6
Have you thought about a decent scanner? You could simply type or write your documents and then when ready scan them and export to portable media.
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Post by geoffrey on Sept 2, 2014 12:27:32 GMT -6
I actually have a pretty good system going. I am taking my mental notes and my hen-scratches that I euphemistically call notes, and I am making them comprehensible. I have 235 hexes of the southern lands of Carcosa to detail. I have the following work pattern:
Day 1: hand-write 3 hexes into my spiral notebook Day 2: hand-write 3 hexes into my spiral notebook Day 3: type these 6 hexes into OpenOffice repeat until finished
Of course, corrections and revisions occur at each stage of the project. I have multiple back-ups:
1. my spiral notebook 2. OpenOffice on my laptop 3. a thumb drive 4. I email the updated document to myself each night.
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bea
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Post by bea on Sept 2, 2014 23:51:11 GMT -6
As a sysadmin I just wanna say this: backups <3 Any system with built-in redundancy gets brownie points.
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Post by hagbard on Sept 10, 2014 6:32:27 GMT -6
I use an old netbook that doesn't hook up to the internet anymore. All it's good for is typing word docs into and solitaire. I just like the portability of it since I'm on the go 98% of the time. I'm not big into all that connectivity crap either. Must be a generational thing.
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Post by doublejig on Sept 10, 2014 10:44:41 GMT -6
Here's some further considerations: If starting from scratch, Book development, for example, could be structured around multiple text files, each written in Textpad, and then edited collectively, meaning search and replace across all files in a single folder with WildEdit, before being imported into heavyweight pagelayout software like Quark or Indesign or Pageplus, etc. An advantage with this strategy over MS Word, which is a superlative word processor, but one that must address myriad documents, especially those which the business world requires rather than specialize in the production of a book, for example, is at each stage of the process, the most specific tool is brought to bear on the work. E.g., let the pagelayout software handle all font, size, and presentation, which are to be applied to the final copy of the text. If working with existing word documents, It is a pain in the ass to import a word file into a text processor; you won't know how much MS Word is actually doing behind the scenes until you see what the text looks like when the support is stripped away, but this result should not surprise those who write for kindle for example. This work must be done, however, if search & replace across multiple files in a single folder is an issue. Thus, there is constant manual adjusting of text back and forth between doc and text and viceversa. As a consequence, it's best to drop the Word Processor out of the process altogether. With the new mindset in place, once Textpad and Wildedit are set up, the next strong move is version control software. Here, all files are placed under a common version control database. To make changes to files, it is checked out, a chapter, for example, edited it, and then checked back in. The version control software then keeps track of changes between files. Importantly, version control software supports release version, which then mirrors real life development. Here, a set of files be collected into a release version. E.g., this is v.1 of my book. Suppose now make changes are made to chapters 2,3,and 12. Now, a new release version can be create, this time v1.1. Because of version control support, there is now 1) v1, 2) v1.1, and 3) tools, which track the history of the changes that have been made. At any time any of the release versions can be printed, for example. Simply put, it is the purpose of version control software to prevent "work loss" in an ongoing development process. With these 3 tools in place, Textpad, Wildedit, and a version control software, a writer, or small group of writers, could crank out pre layout text with great surety and resiliency against data loss, presupposing harddrive backup as a given. Group writing is supported, because files, which one person checks out are "read only" to other people accessing the version control until they're checked back in. Keep the wi-fi. Set up this system. And, in-house development will be supported.
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Post by doublejig on Sept 10, 2014 10:58:07 GMT -6
As a sysadmin I just wanna say this: backups <3 Any system with built-in redundancy gets brownie points. Extraordinarily important; a huge multi-year book project stored in version control is just as lost as any other file, if the harddrive shoots craps, if there is no backup to an external drive (for those who can't stand the internet) or cloud (for those who can). Also, there are very strong cloud solutions to the general problem being discussed, if internet development is tolerable, and more and more better functionality arriving everyday, but these weren't part of the initial post. Maybe someone has insights and recommendations regards the good ones. Additional hardware whether in-house or outsourced must include: - a scanner - a good printer - a book binding machine - a cappaccino machine?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 15:04:39 GMT -6
AHMERGERD
I want that one! Where to get it?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 0:40:33 GMT -6
Yeah, found that as well. Bad marketing, really, for the company, because writing tools like that need a field test before could be considered reliable. (As in HOW GOOD is the synchronization, really? Am I able to make offline backups? - And on...)
Still, going to keep that on my radar, I guess...
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Nov 9, 2014 10:06:13 GMT -6
Here is a typewriter-like gadget called the Hemingwrite. Unless I'm missing the point of your post it sounds like what you're looking for. I just read all about that gadget and I want one now!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2014 23:13:00 GMT -6
The problem's going to be the prize, and the applicability. For roughly the same experience, but with SECURE backup, check Omniwriter, a *distraction free writing program* iOS and PC. ...A thing of beauty, verily...
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jeff
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Post by jeff on Nov 20, 2014 10:57:30 GMT -6
For around $70 I still think a second-hand netbook with a good keyboard will be your best option. . Never connect it to any network. . Use a cheap/free OS and cheap/free editor. . Save all your work to a USB stick. Done. +1 LMDE MATE - Free Linux Operating System that is easy to use (comes preinstalled wth LibreOffice, which is a robust word processor) You don't have to connect it to the internet, and, therefore, don't have to worry about NSA/Spyware/etc. It's Linux, so you don't have to worry about viruses. That's about as robust as you're going to find. Staples is selling a laptop for $99 in stores which would work great for this. You're going to have to make concessions, eventually. Or...you could learn build a custom version of Arch linux and have it automatically launch LibreOffice Writer immediately upon boot up. Still a PC, but geared only to what you want.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2014 1:34:05 GMT -6
FWIW, the Hemingwrite kickstarter is online.
Short version is 350 $ for this new, untested tool. Going to pass.
Myself, bought an HP netbook for around 250 €. Processing Office and Adobe quite nicely, and so, no need for other fancy gimmicks.
This Hemingwrite thing, honestly, doesn't look like anything even remotely interesting to someone who wants to work at a professional level.
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Dec 14, 2014 19:03:27 GMT -6
FWIW, the Hemingwrite kickstarter is online. Short version is 350 $ for this new, untested tool. Going to pass. Myself, bought an HP netbook for around 250 €. Processing Office and Adobe quite nicely, and so, no need for other fancy gimmicks. This Hemingwrite thing, honestly, doesn't look like anything even remotely interesting to someone who wants to work at a professional level. I was interested until I saw the price.
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