As a writer, sometimes you feel like your computer or laptop is working against you instead of for you.
I write for a living, so I know what I’m talking about.
You’re full of ideas, you sit down to write, sitting across your computer, fingers ready, but before you know it, you’re checking emails, replying to messages, and somehow watching videos you never planned to watch.
The computers or laptops we use today are built mostly for multitasking. They’re high performance machines you can use to accomplish a lot. But for writers, they’re a creativity killer. They distract you with notifications and tease you with other fun activities that decreases your productivity.
That’s exactly where smart typewriters come in.
At first glance, they look like machines from another era. From the past. A nod to the days of clacking keys and ink ribbons. But if you look past the appearance, they’re smarter than what they appear to be. That’s why they’re called smart typewriters.
They’re basically modern computers and laptops stripped of every distraction-causing feature.
By stripping away distractions and focusing purely on the writing experience, smart typewriters offer a rare gift. The ability to write deeply and consistently in peace.
This isn’t about nostalgia, it’s about productivity. They don’t bombard you with notifications or entice you to take a little break and watch some cat videos on YouTube.
What they do rather, is help you focus on writing. Many even come with cloud backup, sleek displays, mechanical keyboards, and battery life that lasts for weeks. In short, they bring back the romance of writing while embracing just enough technology to help you enjoy the experience.
In this article, I’ve listed some of the coolest and most functional smart typewriters out there right now. Check them out below.
1. Freewrite Smart Typewriter
The Freewrite smart typewriter is my number one recommendation if you’re looking for a typewriter that will help you cut out all the distractions and just stay focused on writing and capturing all your thoughts in words.
Unlike your conventional computer and laptop screens, the Freewrite features an E ink display, just like those found in calculators, which helps you focus on just the words on the screen and your thoughts as you pour them out.
It has internal flash storage with the capacity to store up to 1 million words, before you need to transfer it to an external storage of your choice. It’s also Wi-Fi enabled, and you can sync it to your cloud storage of choice, so you can gain access to your writings on any other device.
It even features a mechanical keyboard with satisfying tactile feedback so that you’re not just focused, but also enjoy the writing process.
So, if you’re a novelist, a screenwriter or any other type of writer looking for a new writing device or gadget that will help you fully disconnect and delve deep into your creative flow, this Freewrite smart typewriter is a very good one to consider.
2. Freewrite Traveler
Freewrite makes several models of smart typewriters. This particular one is called The traveler because it’s design specifically for travel writers. It’s slimmer, lighter, and it’s more portable and compact compared with the standard model I talked about above.
This Traveler is even foldable. So, you can pack it in your bag, and it won’t take a lot of space.
Apart from being compact, here’s one of the best things about the Traveler. Unlike your laptop, the battery in it can last up to 4 weeks. That’s a month of not charging it. Most laptops can’t even go a day without needing to recharge.
So, if you need a writing device you can use to cut out the noise, help you focus, portable and compact enough to travel with, and not have to worry about charging it for a month, then the Traveler is for you.
You should know, it also has internal flash storage that can store up to 1 million words, it has Wi-Fi, and can sync to the cloud seamlessly so you can access your writing on other devices.
Related: 7 Reasons The Hydrojug Might Just Be The Perfect Water Bottle For Travelers
3. Alphasmart Neo and Neo 2
Alphasmart Neo and Neo 2 are two smart type writers just like the Freewrite above. Unfortunately, their production have been discontinued because the company was acquired and stopped producing them.
Although they’re still being sold today if you look hard enough. In fact, as of the time of writing this article, you can find both Neo and Neo 2 on Amazon.
Unlike the Freewrite however, with the Alphasmart Neo and Neo 2, you’d need a USB cable to transfer your text to a computer or external storage device.
They also use 3AA batteries, instead of inbuilt rechargeable batteries.
Round Up
Today’s present technology offers us a very variety of ways, devices and gadgets we can use to express ourselves, not only in written text but with images, designs, sounds and moving pictures.
No matter how far these technologies have advanced, writing still remains one of the most fundamental ways of communication and self-expression.
But today’s technology have made it harder for us to concentrate on the writing process because most of the devices we have, the laptops and the computers come packed with other features and applications that distract us.
For someone that focuses on writing as a profession, that distraction can cost them a lot more than time wasted. It can block their creative flow.
That’s why these smart typewriters listed above are very important. They help you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. The writing process.
