Freewrite Alpha - HONEST first impressions.

[@bananasaboutmovies]

No, you're not being too negative. This was a very good comparison video and the screen on the Alpha is clearly not as good as the older machines. I have a Neo 2, and think I'll just stick with that.

[@penguinvic9892]

Agrred ! With the Neo2 the keys are in the FRONT of the unit, which is appreciated by any touch typist. And the screen on the YT video is so small. And hard to read … perhaps a braille option might have been an improvement !!

[@SkepticalCaveman]

For those interested there is a opensource alternative called Zerowriter. It costs $50 to build.

[@WritersLike]

I've looked at those and when I get to the soldering part, I'm out. But I think those who enjoy tinkering and have the tools would really have fun with it!

[@pauljessup2647]

@@WritersLike Yeah, same. The soldering is just too much for me, too. I ended up biting the bullet and getting the alpha myself, and I really like it so far. The viewing angle of the screen doesn't bother me at all... But I also don't have a Neo

[@Officialmotive805]

I was able to build mine without soldering. There are hammer-in alternatives! ​@@WritersLike

[@JosephDickson]

Let's take the high contrast screens our customers love and replace it with a reflective lcd that can't use a backlight. :D

[@spyhardman]

Great illustration of the viewing angles. Thanks!

[@Throwawaybeats1]

Was going to buy it but that screen scares me. Will hold out for v2 😢

[@hcblue]

I just saw an ad earlier today for the Alpha, and your review came up first. You've confirmed my worry with the screen size and viewing angle, so I'm glad I found this video. And honestly, I'm considering finding that Neo instead. 😂

[@pauljessup2647]

Good luck finding one that's not close to $200

[@RogerStude]

Thank you for the video. I'm a first time user of a non-laptop/tablet writer, and I just got the Freewrite Alpha, probably off the same Indiegogo campaign. As someone who never had a Neo or an earlier Freewrite, I'm really liking the device. I think I'd love the traveler more, but I paid a couple hundred bucks less for this, so will keep it there for the moment. I have the black version, and I think that might help slightly with the screen visibility - I imagine that the white reflects a bit more glare. The smaller screen maybe is an issue, but I'm trying very much to embrace the type now-edit later aesthetic, so that might actually help in that direction. The best thing is the flatness of it - actually takes up less room and is lighter than my MS Surface - and the keyboard. I'm one of those fat fingered types you mentioned, and the keyboard is one of the most comfortable I've come across. I didn't notice the louder spacebar click when it's on kickstand angle either. A menu of the shortcuts would have been nice. I'm thinking of laminating the PDF the company emailed me and keeping that in the carrying case. Anyway, my two cents. Thanks for your video, and I hope you enjoy it, or it goes to a good home if you resale...

[@WritersLike]

I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for chiming in.

[@kerc]

I emailed them asking if they can add bold fonts. If they make the fonts thicker the legibility will improve quite a lot!

[@DTPIIXART]

The real question is why no backlight. Yes a backlight will use battery faster but at least you could see it. You gotta be grateful for people that show these products and how they work. Thanks! I'll stick to my laptop.

[@rickhidalgo4711]

I’m a huge fan of the original NEO. I was excited to learn Astrohaus was releasing Alpha. After its initial release, I’m glad I sat it out. If I were to get any Freewrite device, it would the original smart typewriter. The Traveler and Alpha just don’t seem fleshed out enough for an investment. For a distraction free device, these devices are distractions within themselves. Thank you for the great review.

[@wrtucey]

They have a limited run Lunar version of the Alpha with a backlight, as well as a Cosmic version that is ugly as all get-go. Hoping you pick one up for review to see if it addresses some of your issues.

[@brettjacksonauthor]

I'm so pleased you made this video, I used to have an alphasmart neo2, and then I "upgraded" to the dana... and I was gutted, because it was so dim, and I couldn't use it. Now I see how much similar the new alpha is.. and it reminds me of the dana. :( Might just stick to my chromebook with black and white filters.

[@larrymarso4492]

the comparisons make this video so painful, yet great. hey, the screen matches the key color at least. hope you ask for too much, never stop...

[@Soupie62]

I'm not familiar with the Freewrite series. That Traveller you showed - if it had a bigger, wider screen, I would be looking to buy.

[@WritersLike]

It actually holds quite a bit of text. Plenty for me - though it would really be amazing if it was about a half inch wider on both sides!

[@wrtucey]

I really like the vibe of your videos, don't change a thing.

[@arepas]

great adds with the neo devices. used the neo2 for years and loved it. the thing that hit purchase for me were the brown mechanical switches. don't forget with the neo2 hack you can put 7,9,11 lines on that old device which is awesome. my primary writing deck right now is the Ghost Edition (the keys are better than the black Traveler) and the Pomera DM250 (keyboard not awesome at all but it has two screen mode where you can align two files side by side which is awesome and outline mode where you can use sub brackets which turn it into a mini Scrivener light type device). look forward to checking it out tomorrow when it comes in the mail. thanks for the great review.

[@WritersLike]

I truly think the Traveler would be PERFECT...if it had a light! Even so, IMHO it's the best device Astrohaus makes. The Ghost is so tempting but I need to cut myself off for the year! I could never adjust to the Pomera when I tried it, but I know it has many fans!

[@TheMsJatis]

And do you know if it is usable with a custom keyboard layout?

[@WritersLike]

@@TheMsJatis no idea!

[@TimRoot-dotcom]

I look forward to your opinion. I've been eying the traveler and the DM250 for some time. Is the Pomera keyboard bad? I don't need amazing or mechanical, just light activation force for fast touch-typing.

[@DarenDean]

What's the neo2 hack?

[@creativinsanity]

I got mine yesterday, and so far like it. Haven't had any of the other devices yet but might spring for a limited color of one of them at some point. I haven't tried sending to email since setting up postbox to sync to google docs for now, but did receive my email when i tested it prior. The software update took a little while to show up on mine, figured it was some back end registering it had to do before being able to see the update. Hoping to have this replace my Neo for most cases as the sync is so convenient, but I don't think I'll retire my Neos completely. The screen does leave something to desire, but being its really only for drafting I'll forgive it and buy into the idea the company is trying to sell us.

[@WritersLike]

I know there will be lots of fans of this device! I think a lot of it comes down to expectations.

[@MySgriblo]

I have the Traveler and the Hemingwrite and I really like both of them,however, the Traveler's keys leave alot to be desired for me and the Hemingwrite is not a portable device. I like everything about the Alpha (particularly the mechanical keyboard)EXCEPT THE LOUSY SCREEN! what were Freewrite thinking when they designed this device? I will probably return the Alpha because it is of no use to me unless they can brighten the screen via software???

[@WritersLike]

I have wondered if they'll push out any updates to help with this issue. Remains to be seen!

[@kennethharris6959]

100% agree on the screen. Very difficult to read. I can see the large font size, but can only get like four to five words per line. Really let down by this device! I have the big Freewrite and love it. Was hoping alpha would be a nice addition for on the road. It is not :)

[@takaramitsumi7070]

If you're looking for a device for the road, I think the Traveler would be the best for portability factor, or the Alphasmat Neo.

[@brothergerasimos-bd3pq]

@@takaramitsumi7070 You would spend $549 for that? It's not worth the price!

[@nad6234]

I'm wondering if the screen is worse because of the non-reflective coating? - I've not got one, but that did occur to me as a difference between the new & old tech... (not that I think the old stuff had reflective problems)... (not got one & also not got an Alphasmart either -- I'm in the UK and the Alphasmarts just don't seem to exist at all!? )

[@WritersLike]

Hmm I wonder about that coating, too, that may be the difference.

[@marshall1oo627]

I am a fan of some of Freewrite’s products, but the Alpha just looks so incredibly bad. They could have just improved the traveler instead of making a worse, more expensive Alphasmart.

[@pauliecaccamise1980]

I finally got mine too. The black one. It’s so cute and handsome. A few things that I enjoy. The typing feel and lcd refresh are good. They are swift and as far as I can tell little to no delay. The smart typewriter gen 3 which I have has this annoying delay. It was fixed in an update with a compromise due to the e ink screen limitations. It ghosts the letter in and then solidifies it a bit later. So that huge drafting writing is addressed in the alpha. What baffles me is the screen size lack of backlight and opportunity to fully parody the features of the alpha smart which are awesome for learning or drafting or anything. I think I’ll keep mine but it is lacking major features and hardware features.

[@candyak9985]

Wow, I'm really disappointed. I can't believe it! What a shame. And you're definitely not asking for too much! For Freewrite to lean *so* heavily on the Alphasmart name and design, you would expect them to be contributing some real innovation to push the technology forward (apart from just wifi). Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video though! I guess I'll just keep trucking along with my old Alphasmart and my 'DIY Freewrite' (an e-ink tablet and a bluetooth mechanical keyboard)

[@saulchapnick1566]

Excellent comparison. I owned quite a few Neos. I loved them. When a thought came to me, I just took mine out at the moment and began writing. They eventually all broke down. They were all old and refurbished machines. When Freewrite Alpha came out, I was initially excited. However, on Freewrite’s videos, I noticed what you pointed out in your review, and did not buy one. My wife surprised me and gifted me a Traveler a couple of years ago. It’s all right but, to put it nicely, it’s no Neo. It’s hard to be spontaneous with it. Again, thank you for a great comparative review.

[@milosflaca]

I’m concerned about the screen. But what really upsets me the most is that the Alpha was advertised with an English international Keyboard for us who write in other language than English. But they now saying this would come in a update 🙄. I wanted to get an Alphasmart but I live outside the uS and wouldn’t want to risk getting a defective device. And this is why I went for a newer device. I have the freewrite (the big one, which I love. Got the Lemon version) and now I’m not sure about my purchase anymore.

[@WritersLike]

The lemon Freewrite is sooooo pretty!! I’m glad you’re enjoying that if nothing else!

[@mike_qbik]

Oops. Looks like no DD was done in here. Terrible visibility on the Astrohaus Alpha. Would not buy this at all. Not to mention no backlight. The contrast is laughable. 20 years between …. unbeliavable. Just too many unacceptable compromises, would send it back.

[@izraelservantofalmightygod]

True. Terrible engineering.

[@thommccarthy1139]

This thing is almost everything I needed. I have a neo but have lost work too many times due to memory being dependent on watch battery that jiggled out of place for a millisecond. I agree that the neo display is a little better and I miss actual arrow keys but losing my work just can't be replaced. I barely look at the screen anyway if I cared about the screen that much I'd get the traveler. I prefer the low profile and don't care about the viewing angle. Wish there was a protection against accidently hitting that send button lol.

[@BrianSchellAuthor]

Yes, but you could have bought another Neo for $40 and probably wouldn’t;t have a loose watch battery. You could have bought probably six of them for what this new device costs.

[@thommccarthy1139]

@@BrianSchellAuthor Not losing my work/the backups is def worth it. Loved the alphasmart for what it was but just can't really gamble like that. Where I lost the most was when I took it on vacation (most relaxed and inspired) away from my PC to do regular transfers and poof 20+ hours of drafting gone.

[@WritersLike]

I think you've hit on something that will be true for a lot of writers - that looking at the screen is not actually that important. Even when I'm working on my Traveler or the NEO, if I'm in a zone I'm just kind of staring into space and trusting my typing.

[@TimRoot-dotcom]

@@thommccarthy1139 I hook my alphasmart to my phone with usb-to-lightning adapter and save off my work to an Apple Note after each writing session. Wish I didn't have to, of course, but it works.

[@ny3dfan781]

You've made me happier with my Alphasmart Dana.

[@MrsBennett67]

I think the Alpha is awesome. I will say, there is a difference between me and others who buy these gadgets-I’m not looking for the, ‘perfect’ gadget to end buying other gadgets. I’m just a writer who loves writing tools. I have many vintage and antique typewriters for this reason. For me, it’s not about finally getting the perfect writing tool, it’s about having functionality combined with style. That’s what the Freewrite devices are. They’re focused to a specific market, they are functional, and they are stylish. More importantly, they get the job done and they’re cool. If you’re a writer, you’re going to write no matter how imperfect or perfect your tools are. Basically people who buy these with the idea that it’s going to be THE writing tool, are looking for the leprechaun and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

[@WritersLike]

I totally agree with all of this! I have many many imperfect writing tools because...I just like having all the things. In reality, I do most of the work I actually sell on my laptop and in Scrivener. The gadget thing is almost a separate but related side hobby and I love old typewriters, too!

[@dudleymq]

Thank you for the comparisons! I have an AlphaSmart and am quite happy with it, and had been curious about the Alpha, but now...

[@WritersLike]

A lot of people seem to like or love it - it takes all kinds!

[@murda2999]

I got my new Alpha last week and generally like it. I agree that the screen is a bit disappointing though. Small is too small, and large doesn't show enough. There is a lack of contrast and I wish they had made the screen just a bit bigger. I am not aware of any way to change the contrast. (I have an original NEO and was happy with that screen.) I've been very impressed by the battery life in the week that I've had it. I connected the Postbox to my Google drive. The drafts are always kept up to date there. The email feature worked fine for me as well. I also liked how the company's engagement with me via email. They sent an email when the UPS dropped it at my door. They sent emails all through the initial phases of getting registered and other first steps. So far, the battery life seems great. I have used it for a bit every day, and the battery has not dropped at all. I could see that the noise of the keyboard would get some attention at a coffee shop, but that's totally expected with mechanical keys.

[@WritersLike]

I love that you're enjoying it - I know many people are and will ! It's got a lot going for it.

[@redheadgoeshealthy9505]

Yeah I am really confused about who this appeals to. Is the idea that you’re not actually looking at what you’re writing when you draft? Is that why the screen is so dang small?

[@arkwibooks6419]

seems like Astrohaus just misses it. Traveler with low profile MECHANICAL keyboard and backlight?? obvious perfect device, they don't make it.

[@WritersLike]

This is my dream. They could do it! They could have already done it! Heavy sigh.

[@aresaurelian]

Perhaps we will get that too.

[@DarenDean]

Thanks so much for doing this comparison. I have a Traveler and I find the lag to be annoying so I was thinking of getting the new Alpha but it sounds like the old Alphasmarts are still the way to go.

[@videoanon469]

Great vid, thanks. The screen legibility was *much* better when the Alpha's sole font was the one pictured on the box (at 0:13 of your video). Apparently Astrohaus felt the need to change the font in the first over-the-air firmware update, and the new sole font is what is pictured on your device. As you say, it's really, really bad.

[@tommyapocalypse6096]

I bought the Alphasmart Neo when it first came out, and wrote a few short stories on it. Then, for some unknown reason, I put it away for many years. I’ve been looking at writing on it again, though. Mine still works like it did when I first got it, and I just cleared it out for some new writing. It certainly has its limitations, but it gets the job done.

[@WritersLike]

Mine still works perfectly, too! Pretty impressive.

[@mezu-e]

I remember using an alphasmart in elementary school in the 90s, as hand fatigue has always been an issue for me

[@StephanieLundberg21]

How are you feeling about it with the firmware and font updates? Is it any better?

[@drnomad16]

Thank you for this thorough review!

[@OctoberJin]

“Send” should be near instantaneous. Try doing a hard reboot of your Alpha to see if it fixes the issue

[@LisaLangBlakeney]

I own the Traveler and the original Neo. I LOVE both devices but the ease of getting my WIP from the traveler (online in the clout) is why I pick it hands down over Neo. The Freewrite definitely needs a better screen though, especially for the price. Neo is like $20 bucks on eBay.

[@WritersLike]

I love my Traveler, too, even though I wish I wish the screen had a backlight like the big Freewrite. I know they want a portable device to have uncompromised battery life, but most of us are still around recharge outlets most days of our lives!

[@CZpersi]

No blacklight display in 2024? Or at least frontlight, like the Kindles or Game Boy Advance used to have back in the early 2000s? The battery requirement would be minimal with well selected LEDs.

[@OctoberJin]

So glad you did this review! The screen visibility, font size options, keyboard loudness, and overall size are a no go for me. I’ll see what improvements they make to v2!

[@ivolol]

If you look very carefully (perhaps with a magnifying glass) you should be able to count the individual pixels on each screen, and thereby get a rough estimate of their horizontal x vertical pixel resolution on each one. Would be interesting to see. For a device dedicated solely to a specific purpose, its entire reason de etre is to excel at every aspect related to that purpose. Every tiny detail either adds or detracts from the experience. Just imagine if that screen was was 50% larger vertically, what a difference that could make to the experience. The fonts seem to have a lot of vertical line space; hopefully in a future firmware revision that could adjust that. Hopefully the contrast ratio on the screen is also adjustable?

[@BenMilford]

Just the ergonomics of looking down at the screen would make me pass in the device. Otherwise it’s quite good looking and I love the novelty.

[@danopticon]

Dang, I wish I could remember its name for you, but … this thing you’re reviewing already existed in the early 1990s! In college, in the dorms, on the floor below mine, someone had what looked like an extra-thin electric typewriter, but what it REALLY was was this very gizmo you’re reviewing - except a little thicker, with a typewriter-style paper input and a dot matrix printer carriage that rode horizontally along its top, and a single-line LCD display below the paper and carriage, on which whatever you’d typed was displayed before it was printed. The memory, I believe, was onboard. To me it looked maddening - I owned an Apple IIc with a 9” green monochrome c.r.t. display, so I couldn’t imagine typing whole papers while only able to see one line at a time, when I was used to seeing three or four paragraphs at once, and storing years worth of papers on a series of 5-1/2” floppy disks - but the gizmo’s owner swore by it: she’d type away on the single line, and when she was done typing, the little gizmo would print her papers. I can’t tell you much more about it, as I didn’t toy around with it much. But something similar DID exist as early as the fall of 1990 and the winter of 1991!

[@danopticon]

(And yes, technically the fall of 1990 would be the end of the 1980s decade, with the 1990s not beginning until 1 Jan. 1991, but that kind of detail would just confuse many people, so I chose to gloss over it.)

[@MrWaalkman]

There are tons of devices out there from the early days that are still available. And for next to nothing. A friend of mine picked up a "Smith Corona Mark V PWP" for $6 a few months ago. My Dreamwriter (1990's tech) was a bit pricy at $48.86 delivered. But it does everything this thing does.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Those were thermal typewriters, they used a special ribbon cartridge that used a thermal head to transfer the text to the paper. But the cartridges aren’t being made any longer, however you can use thermal paper with them directly. I like the Canon Typestar 220 the best.

[@Terry_1111]

Excellent review and comparison. Thanks for sharing!

[@Randhyll_Cho]

Mine supposedly comes tomorrow. Ordered within the hour of pre-order and they apparently shipped it via an old guy walking across the country. Basically all of the reasons I ordered this are shot to shit in this video 😂. I can’t stand the spacebar on my Traveller and the refresh rate is super annoying. That screen is a joke, however. I don’t mind the small size, honestly that was a big draw as a chronic edit-in-flight writer, but if it’s too dark to see what I’m typing… that feels like an issue. Now worried there wont be a second hand market to dump these things into once word spreads that they don’t function as intended.

[@WritersLike]

Hey, maybe you'll love it! A lot of people do!

[@DominOmega]

It looks like it has a damage or a contrast/brightness issue. Dont know if you can set these things by software, but would bet it should not look like that. Have you compared it to other owners of the same model? I do remember watching LCD panels like that in my electronic practices at school and just adjusting resistors to give a better look.

[@WritersLike]

There aren't contrast settings and it's a complaint many but not all users have. It's all about expectations and how you plan to use it.

[@JK81251]

It's good in a typical or classical genre device, but no better than combination of Boox Palma with a portable keyboard, with which you could even in Google doc, the battery will also last at least 3-5 days depending on how long you type everyday.

[@greyareaRK1]

The design looks nice, but otherwise it's another meagre offering IMO. They don't seem to be making any effort to improve their products, which is unforgiveable considering the asking price. Thank you for showing us your previous models. The lack of progress is quite evident.

[@saffirechanning7286]

Hey, I just got an Alphasmart Neo 2. I wonder, how does that COMPARE to an Alphasmart? How many lines of text can you get on the display at once? How much do they cost?

[@WritersLike]

That's all in the video except price. They don't make them anymore, so it's all about the resale market. There was a time you could pick them up for $20 but I think as stock gets bought up it's closer to $80? (Or are you talking about the 3000?)

[@hackerhomestead]

Good review. Thank you. This is the same pain that I have, they just don't make large LCD displays like they used to. Most of that market has moved to LED or e-ink.😢

[@MrWaalkman]

I think that I'll just hang on to my NTS Dreamwriter. Or my Tandy 100. Or my Sharp Brain. Or... :) From a technical standpoint, getting the LCD wrong is pretty silly given the excellent options out there. And it's not like they didn't have plenty of wiggle room in the pricing to go with a better display.

[@joecarroll8286]

At the risk of asking an ignorant question - is it just the lack of distractions that makes these appealing? As someone who edits and formats as I go, I can feel my blood pressure rising at the thought of only having four lines of text at a time.

[@aresaurelian]

For me it is both the format, and the distraction free experience. It channels all your creative powers to the actual creation, nothing else. It is also the convenience of it, send - done. The strange magic of the device sucking me into it, enabling me to focus - unstoppable creation. The trick is to find your style of device.

[@joecarroll8286]

Thanks for the info! I like the idea of a device that does one thing well...I'll have to look into them. @@aresaurelian

[@WritersLike]

Well, speaking for myself and my kind, a large part of the appeal is simply the novelty of new gadgets. I don't need any of these things to get me to write. I just enjoy having the toys :)

[@JensAndJovie]

the display looks horrible, it seems to be way too dark. I ordered the black version, but seeing this makes me regret the purchase already. I don't even want to consider the price... Maybe I just stick to the Traveler.

[@WritersLike]

Im perplexed at how it turned out. I wasn’t SO surprised by the size of the display but the contrast is a letdown. I’m going to give it more time in natural light and see if it looks any better. Maybe when you see yours in person it won’t be as bad!

[@WritersLike]

P.S. FWIW I think the Traveler is a fantastic device and perhaps this company's one redeeming invention!

[@patricaristide7678]

Huh, that’s odd. I have and occasionally use the (well several actually) Amstrad NC 100 notepad from the early 90s. Getting anything off the device is cumbersome but of course the display contrast is easy to adjust and even for a non backlit screen perfectly legible.

[@WritersLike]

I love all those early word-processor thingies. I wish those hadn't been dropped by electronics companies so quickly during the advent of the PC and laptop.

[@Linus007]

The AlphaSmart is aging a lot but it is a better machine in my opinion. For the longest time the software was available for the AlphaSmart. It allowed you to upload and download directly from the machine without having to send the text to a word processor as you describe here in the video. They also have a pretty rare wireless device that works with it. I have that device, but it is does not add a lot of value. One thing about these devices is they are very good for avoiding distractions. I spent my second masters degree using the Alpha Smart and it was amazing to have. Anywhere that I was waiting, I could pull it out and start writing on an assignment. I think you did an excellent job with your video and showing the product.

[@stephaniehrenchir3386]

Thanks for a great review. I'll be subscribing.

[@fpham8004]

Funny, you have so many typos with alpha and none with neo. Did they play with key pitch?

[@WritersLike]

It’s a completely different kind of keyboard - I always make errors adjusting to any new keyboard, and I’m sure it would just take a few days if use to iron those out!

[@fpham8004]

@@WritersLike I once bought one of those typewriter like with round buttons - even a year later I had like 5 typos per sentence....

[@messenger3478]

Well, I was thinking of saving up for one, but because of my disability this thing is a no go. I like their other devices, but I can't afford them.

[@malcolmhutchison]

If they reduced the leading (the gap between lines of text) they could get more rows

[@deanhuff123]

My Alpha is in the mail. I also have a Neo and have had both the Traveller and Full size models in the past. From the looks of your video, the Alpha's screen needs a contrast improvement big time. I really liked the full size model, the traveller was not for me. We will see how things fare with the Alpha.

[@WritersLike]

I really do wonder if this is anything they'll be able to improve with updates. We'll see!

[@walkingoutdoor6620]

The Epson HX20, maybe the first laptop ever (1981), had adjustible viewing angles for its LCD. 350$?! For that?!

[@BrianJarvisOR]

Seems like this would be an ergonomic nightmare. I don't know how long I could type basically looking down at my fingers. Does anyone who has used something like this for a while have any neck discomfort?

[@fcf8269]

Also it is not like technology is worst; it is the opposite. But you are looking at a cheap LCD with higher resolution, so that will always look worst than a "old school" LCD from a device like the Alphasmart. If the screen was 3x the size, you would see a much better resolution (not at the same level as eink of course); but when you type just 3 lines at the average size of the font, you are basically not leveraging on the high resolution advantage of modern screens.

[@marieazrak1951]

You could put some stickers on and decorate it a little bit to give it some life

[@owenrichards1418]

We are a quarter of the way through the 21st century. There is no excuse for not having some kind of decent display on one of these things where you can see more than one or two lines at a time. It's not on.

[@barbarajloriordan2697]

In spiritual practice, we learn about desire. That little voice that says, “When this comes I’ll be happy and stop buying new stuff” comes from our ego. People who follow a spiritual discipline learn to observe that little voice and obtain some distance from it. We learn that you don’t give up desire but eventually recognize its futility.

[@WritersLike]

well, damn.

[@BibBubDude]

@@WritersLike😂😂😂

[@elementulie]

Did the emails ever show up?

[@WritersLike]

No! I haven’t reached out to support yet. It did sync to my Postbox account though

[@svartahaxa4263]

I would go crazy because I would be constantly thinking that the keyboard is dirty.

[@dotapark]

oh no, the screen IS much darker and smaller than products they copied. Also I don't know why, but I think it's better writing on squish keyboard than click-y ones, especially when what you write is personal or fiction works. Didn't expect Freewrite Traveler is better than alpha, cause e-ink sometime really does slower than my type speed...maybe I should get that one instead. Thank you for the video 🥲

[@guillermoochoadeaspuru625]

I stick with my Olivetti Lettera 22.

[@AmbientWalking]

What an interesting device.

[@arepas]

4 lines before firmware update, 5 with 1.0 (just in case someone prefers the 4 lines with 'small'. Don't update if, so)

[@jinchoung]

not too negative. these things need to be a LOT better and a LOT cheaper for it to make sense. I'm relieved i was able to sell my traveler. my penchant for wanting a "writing device" and having tried these (including the alphasmart) has cured me of my penchant. word processor is just fine (albeit i use the much simpler and less different for the sake of different word processor Textmaker 2021).

[@WritersLike]

I actually had the thought with this one... "Is this the tipping point? Has this cured my gadget addiction? Will I ever buy anything like this again??" (probably yes)

[@ivolol]

@@WritersLike Sometimes you find a gadget that's like 98% perfect, and it's heaven to use for years. Sometimes you find a gadget that's like, 72% perfect, its pretty good, does the job. Or sometimes it's barely 63% good and it never feels worth it taking out. When you buy something that's barely out of propotype, it can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that its much less likely you're going to get something nearest that 100% mark rather than around 50% or possibly even below.

[@DTPIIXART]

Of all of those, I would only get the Traveller version for the biggest screen. Outside of that, I'd rather just carry my 14 inch screen laptop. It's not much bigger, and at least then I can actually write documents.

[@ManuelDornbusch]

I have the Freewrite Traveller and wow, the Alpha just looses with the LCD in comparison to the e-ink The Traveller is far superior

[@خالد.الناصير]

Salam, Good review. Unfortunately, none of these devices support Arabic. Additionally, the other Freewrite models are too expensive for me, and I have concerns about shipping to Jordan and the potential issues with returning or repairing the device if it breaks down. Therefore, I have an idea for a customised set-up that I am still working on: an Android 10.1-inch tablet with a suitable keyboard and selected applications focused on writing and translation only. As a translator, such a device would be portable and useful for short, easy, and non-demanding writing and translation tasks. I wanted to share this idea with others in the hope that it might benefit them as well.

[@haydar_kir]

I am about to give up with internet connection and email setup. Useless. Nothing but frustration. Feels like it took them 100 years to give this to us and it doesn’t work properly.

[@WritersLike]

I have to say that I think they screwed this up pretttty badly. Some people seem happy with theirs but I can't tell if they really are or they just need to believe that because they've been looking forward to it for so long.

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

It’s because Astrohaus(like many other companies)...Don’t use their own products. I need to sit down and put together something ACTUAL writers like myself could use and never want to put down. Also, Astrohaus always go cheap on their wimpy-sized displays.

[@minkya1010]

Thank you

[@larrymarso4492]

significantly better right out of the package. the firmware update just ruined the fonts. they're struggling to internationalize the fonts. as a result the fonts are not what the company marketed for the last year. looks like you have already applied the firmware update.

[@wil2197]

I feel this company makes a living fleecing you writers with sub par products. This should be no more than 200 bucks. You guys gotta stop giving this company your money.

[@ShuffleSwitcher]

You would be better off with a mechanical keyboard and sticking an old iPad on it.

[@UKSCIENCEORG]

The only writing experience the designer of this thing has is writing cheques for his coke dealer!

[@WritersLike]

😆

[@JeremyWalla]

For the money buy a Boox Tablet and dont install anything to distract your writing. Nuy a great bluetooth keyboard and a lamy safari emr pen.

[@michaelvines805]

Send it back.

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

1:25 You can't be serious right? A fucking account?

[@WritersLike]

I did not say I was logging into my account SO I could fire it up. I said I was logging into my account AND firing it up. I have a longstanding Postbox with them for all the other devices made by the same company and went to add my device to my account so my writing would be synced. What''s the issue?

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

@@WritersLike Thought you had to make an account to use the device.

[@WritersLike]

@@qwertykeyboard5901 Ah, well, not technically. But it works better if you do, because then it will automatically sync to your cloud of choice along with Postbox. It's free! I also think if you want the send to email to work, you have to register device with account. However, if you don't want to do any of that, you can connect it to computer with cord and treat it like an external drive (though I have not tried this).

[@nickthaskater]

There is no excuse for having a tiny, dim screen on this. They should be embarrassed to sell this.

[@Jimgress]

It’s honestly baffling how Freewrite still exists to this day when there’s thousands of 1990s Neos out on eBay for 1/3rd the price of this…thing and 1/7th the price of the first freewrite. The company is a scam as far as I’m concerned, relying entirely on hipster marketing to sell a niche product that already existed in largely better form decades ago.

[@WritersLike]

I agree to an extent, but not to the extent I can guarantee they won't get more of my money someday. I am the niche lol

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I really like the idea, BUT, it's flawed and 3 x the price it should be ! No backlight was a fail in 1999, let alone 25yrs later FFS !!! I'd rather use my 1996 Palm Pilot & Stowaway folding keyboard !

[@mkn.567]

Everything about the FreeWrite company is built for swindling writers. It's all cost-cutting measures, bumping the price up for its niche-factor, and ignoring the needs of writers. So disgusted with the company. I'm buying an alphasmart neo 2 off of ebay. Remember the OG was built to be durable enough so the children with learning disabilities could use. Does anybody really believe freewrite would build even near to that spec?

[@penguinvic9892]

If your writing needs are straightforward, then the Neo2 is your machine, certainly at the price these are going for. I recommend transferring data at the end of each day to your computer as a precautionary measure / backup, etc. I haven’t lost anything yet but even so. The Neo comes with the standard English/Latin letter set, plus a select set of special characters i.e. æ, é, ñ, ø, etc. I’ve used these special characters not as intended but to mark my unedited work for things like italics (ø), bold, etc., for when I down load to a computer and then make corrections, or you can simply type in things like (i) or (b) etc. Standard downloading takes awhile as it is letter by letter, but doing so while making a cup of coffee and watching the evening news on TV or some such will take care of this if it is a long document. The 80,000 or so word capacity over just 8 files is somewhat small memory, but I takes two or three days to do that, so hardly a problem (to me at any rate). Working battery life of some 700 hours is quite amazing for just 3 quality AA batteries 🔋 🔋 🔋, making it the perfect off grid device / during power failures / camping etc. It has it’s limitations, of course, but for the price it’s exceptional value.

[@claudiameier666]

freewrite is way too expensive. i wanted the traveller but as i have a neo 2 i cant justify the buy

[@WritersLike]

It is very expensive. I wouldn't have one myself if I hadn't gotten at the Indiegogo price, which was still a lot but about $200 less than it is now.

[@foxcar29]

the travel its netter than the alpha..its look like atoy writer..and they dont have much screen view , i feel like a old calculator ..y prefer the traveler

[@zeniktorres4320]

Very disappointed in the Freewrite Alpha. It is not an improvement over the Alphasmart Neo. This is not a progression, it a worse, except for wifi capability. All what was required is an update of the Alphasmart Neo. The year is 2024 and this product is a regression.

[@vanbraxton8422]

Send it bback

[@arnuph1s]

Looks like a modern take on the Tandy 100. And not in a good way.

[@fcf8269]

who thought that this device was a good idea, for people that write (40+ for most part, and often with eye problems) on a regular basis, using such small screen and horrible keyboard?

[@carlos-teran]

I think the Alpha has an awful design that can't beat the Neo.