Freewrite: This is Alpha.

Welcome to Alpha, our most affordable distraction-free writing tool ever. Zero distractions, anywhere inspiration hits, all-day comfortable writing. This is Alpha.

[@JasonSmith-mo3nu]

This is Jane. She has werewolf fingernails. She has a magical flow state where she can battle the forces of darkness.

[@ericchisler3578]

And with this great magic she can type without her pinkies like true royalty 🐺👑

[@FrostRare]

She will rend your flesh and take indulgent pleasure doing so. Her appetite for human meat is unprecedented by that of any apex predator on earth. Her nearly nonexistent sensitivity to pain and her superhuman ability to instantly recover from gunshot wounds makes her nearly impossible to take down, even by heavily armed law enforcement.

[@kylejohnson423]

That is why Jane uses the Freewrite Alpha. Using the Freewrite Alpha, Jane can push the moral dilemma of having to kill every full moon out of her mind.

[@LITTERBOOTS]

What the? 😂

[@SaxophoneDog]

😂😂😂I know right!?!

[@linuxlounge]

Absolutely cannot wait for this thing to come out, it looks so cool!

[@jennacitrus]

I'm so tempted to get an Alpha! I already have a traveler and love it so much.

[@getfreewrite]

We're thrilled to hear you're loving Traveler. Alpha certainly brings some new features to the table!

[@cypherf0x]

@@getfreewrite Have all three devices and love them. The traveller sometimes gets left behind for the alpha because of the battery life and better feeling keyboard.

[@getfreewrite]

That's so interesting! Everyone has their own writing session preferences, and we love hearing who picks which device for which situations. ☺️

[@princeofalltoasters8813]

"We're tired of people saying to just buy a 20 dollar Alpha Smart over our 600 dollar boxes that favor aesthetic over functionality, so we just made our OWN Alpha. That'll be 300 dollars please"

[@Mrst3lios89]

Honestly, think of how long it took them to design the thing… how much do you think it costs them to build this from scratch. You think they’re Amazon or Google? It’s probably a handful of people working behind the scenes to make all of this work. And they probably have families and they want to invest in other things too so they can have some semblance of a backbone to resist the competition if that ever happens.. just because Amazon makes a tablet that costs less doesn’t mean that these guys pay the same to fund for this project. Don’t patronise if you’re not willing to take the risk and do it yourself.

[@marksmithcollins]

@@Mrst3lios89 There is no limit to 'cost to create'. You can buy a piece of paper, or cut/grind/filter/dry/bleach a tree to make paper from 'scratch'. Product should be judged by itself, not by its historical journey.

[@MyDestinyDear]

I’ve bought two alpha smarts and they’ve both cow broken. One has a serious internal battery issue. If I put it down on the desk too hard (which isn’t very hard at all) it makes me reset the entire thing and I lose everything I write. So I thought okay it would be more expensive to repair it then buy a new one. I buy a new one AND THIS ONE HAS A BROKEN USB PORT. I CANT UPLOAD ANYTHING ONTO THE COMPUTER making it essentially useless. I just had to give up on the alpha smart.

[@getfreewrite]

Hey, Destiny, we've heard a lot of similar stories. The AlphaSmart devices were great products, but the old tech can be nerve-wracking. We hope the automatic cloud backup syncing on our devices can give you some peace of mind (not to mention ongoing firmware updates, product warranty, customer support, and more). Thanks for commenting!

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

@@Mrst3lios89 💯

[@timfeller5401]

Some thoughts: How does this improve upon the Traveler? Why is the screen so small?!? Is the idea to not see what you are writing? How does it connect to wifi automatically? Can you enter password protected WiFi?

[@eddielopez2373]

It improves upon it by being less expensive.

[@saulchapnick1566]

I think it’s great that you replicated the old Alpha Smart and Alpha Neo. I owned four of them. Being so old, the machines eventually broke down. I hope your alpha, being very expensive, will be more durable. I own a Traveler and would consider trading it in.

[@marcusvaldes]

I've bought and sold and Alphasmart, the Freewrite, and the Traveller. The one I wish I kept (and may buy again)--the expensive one of course, the Freewrite. The think is a tank but it's pleasurable to write on. That said, I'm debating for the first time to handwriting most of my stuff. Benjamin Franklin style!

[@zenpanda100]

Why is the magical flow state dark??? What lurks in that dark place she keeps going to? Is she safe 😳

[@fabiodesalles2732]

Dunno, but kind feels like everything else is dimmed and muted, when you see no lights, hear no hisses and feel no feelings.

[@InJeffable]

This looks like a well-made device -- functional and sturdy. I just wonder where the very high cost is coming from. Does the keyboard have premium key switches and caps? Are the body and the screen made from high-quality materials that resist damage if the device is accidentally dropped? I'm fine with paying $300+ for a device like this if there are clearly-laid-out justifications for such a premium price.

[@houghwhite411]

No competitor? This device seems like a reboot to alpha neo

[@SaxophoneDog]

So cool! I love writing and can not wait for this to be released! It looks so cool and is in my price range! Can’t wait to buy it!

[@Cbb3225]

Think all of these devices are great, but wonder how this little one will do with such a small screen and no back light.

[@MyDestinyDear]

According to the indiegogo it will have a back light included.

[@antijack0]

Once a back light is confirmed then I will order one. Otherwise I’ve already got a Neo2, which I don’t use often as it has no backlight.

[@jakehubner2]

While I have both the Traveler & Hemingwrite, I’m extremely curious to feel the low profile keyboard and experience the super fast reaction time in comparison to the standard Freewrite E-Ink screen!

[@vers1fier]

The product I've been waiting for!

[@brandonjohnson2360]

So like 10 years ago. I was serving an LDS misson and we couldn't have any technology except once a week when we sent emails home. So I got my hands on an Alphasmart and kept my journal on it. It was amazing until even those devices were banned, but I had a good year of writing and was almost finished with the mission when I had to get rid of the device. I've looked forward for 10 years for them to finally come out with the Alphasmart again. Or I guess Alpha in this case. I think it's a wonderful device and I think it really does help you write. I mean writing is so personal and so for some people they aren't going to care for this device, but others like myself saw that a device like the alphasmart made it so easy to write. And sometimes it's that easiness that freedom from distraction and pure portablity of a keyboard at your fingertips that makes writing so much more enjoyable and accessible to someone who doesn't write as often.

[@getfreewrite]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Brandon. We couldn't agree more that a distraction-free writing device can be freeing, especially with all the digital chaos of modern life. Thanks for commenting!

[@TARRS1]

Chiropractics croon in unison.

[@tvorskytvorsky6488]

It looks like the Mail Station email device I used as a sportswriter from 2000-2005 and it was excellent for short game stories. But it kind of sucks to only be able to see a few lines at a time. For deadline work it would have been more efficient if you were able to see the whole page I imagine this device, unlike Mail Station has cut, copy and paste. I did however do some first drafts of my novel on it and it did help ease into that tunnel vision of using it to get into a trane of thought. Then for all of us dinosaurs out there who still remember with fondness their old TRS80 Radio Shack. They were really good, older, but better than mail station

[@jamesbarbatano6016]

I had two Alphasmart Neos in High School. I really miss those and I could link them up with any printer I want. Does anyone know whether Freewrite can hook up to any printer? That’s what I’d like to know.

[@sincityquinn]

I use my Neo more than my Freewrite. I might give this a try. It’s better priced than their previous devices. But I’m not making the mistake of paying them again and waiting. When it actually comes out I’ll check back.

[@vanessavictoriakilmer]

I'm getting the Alpha. Now, tell me where I can get Jane's bag. Please. Thanks.

[@BrianaMorganBooks]

Such a gorgeous design! I can't wait to try it!

[@JosephAland]

Something about the fact that she's on a bench in the middle of a sidewalk and would block the flow of foot traffic bothers me. 😅

[@thommccarthy1139]

I have a NEO but the battery is a real issue and the upload features may make this thing worth it.

[@getfreewrite]

We love word processors from back in the day, but automatic cloud sync, ongoing firmware updates, and customer support make Freewrite a better modern option for a lot of people. Whatever your methods, we hope you WRITE ON! 👏

[@rebekahackerman7015]

This commercial is just ... *chef's kiss*

[@getfreewrite]

😊 😊 😊

[@elizabethc2496]

Seriously. I’ve watched it so many times. It’s the reason I finally bought one.

[@CalebSemalion]

This is Jane who can type and ignore traffic 10 yards from her in a large city and focus on a wooden bench in the middle of the sidewalk , in a similar manner like we all did as kids trying to play a game boy walking down the street in the middle of the day

[@larrymarso4492]

going back to this old video, the screen is exactly as advertised. very low contrast, almost impossible to read.

[@caelointheclouds]

Is that Michael from Writerlywitterings narrating? It has to be!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@getfreewrite]

It actually isn't - but it kind of sounds like him! We're big fans of Michael, and we could listen to him talk all day. 🤣

[@caelointheclouds]

@@getfreewrite Wow thats awesome!!! He’s the reason why I’m ordering a Freewrite!

[@Draskia]

This looks like such a wonderful new addition to the Freewrite family!

[@williss1192]

I loved AlphaSmart and seeing this makes me ecstatic. But I wonder if this is just as good as your previous Typewriter? Not sure which one to buy when the time comes...

[@getfreewrite]

The team is hard at work on Alpha every day, and we're excited to share with everybody soon. Which device is best for you is really dependent on what you're looking for. Feel free to ask for more info, or check out the differences between our devices here: getfreewrite.com/collections/writing-tools

[@mcd3379]

Ugggghhhhhhhhhh the screen is way too small! May as well go back to a Tandy 100 from 1983.

[@mnemosynthe]

I'm currently interested in a word processing machine and really debating the cost of things. However, for the way I write, even if I may not go back and edit. Sometimes I just need to look back at previous sentences to rejigger my vision. Is it possible to change or come out with a new design that has a larger screen? Also, can you post more information on how this item will go between files? I just have a hard time envisioning what the a menu would look like on the screen. Thanks!

[@getfreewrite]

Hi there! Freewrite is intended as a dedicated drafting device, so the screen size is intentional. You can, however, change the font size, so that more or less of your previous work is visible on the screen. For more info on the file menu, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIXMn2qLpLeNaa8

[@sincityquinn]

You have two devices like this already. Why not make editing a bigger feature? I understand the philosophy behind the original devices. Every one doesn’t like writing like that. But I get it. I want a device, like this one, that has the ability to go back and correct or add. Not being able to do that is a distraction for me. So with this device why not give the consumers the option to pick? If you want the original concept buy the traveler or the Freewrite. If you want a better editing experience, get the Alpha. But I do congratulate you on the prove point. It’s far better than the previous devices. The prove point alone is causing me to consider this. But I’ll wait until the summer to decide.

[@pauliecaccamise1980]

You are fighting a losing battle I agree. I would love a distraction free full process device. I’m sure it exists. I’m considering this one even though I have the 3rd Gen Freewrite typewriter. But the e-ink lag is killing me. So the low drain LCD should be better

[@BobbyMiller]

Looking forward to this one!

[@usmannaeem]

Reminds we of the electric typewriters that came out around 1994/95. But zennials wouldn't be able to relate.

[@ricky865]

The other one that i'm keeping my eyes on is the flowo typewriter concept if it ever comes out.

[@marksmithcollins]

Getting more and more closer to Alphasmart lol

[@antaeusq9545]

Does it come with a fake British accent? Green keys? I have [ahem] a few Alphasmarts. This looks very interesting.

[@getfreewrite]

You'll have to supply the accent yourself!

[@davidmayden4942]

I want this. But have a little trouble with the price. I mean I love all the things it does not have so I can write distraction free. But should I really pay for the lack of features. Just having a hard time seeing why it’s 300 dollars. Almost ready to pull out the wallet, just need a little convincing.

[@getfreewrite]

Hey, David. We know that Freewrite tools are an investment in your writing. We are a very small team working with small manufacturing batches, contributing to the price point. However, our customers find exceptional value in their Freewrite. Writers in the community see their productivity and word count increase by as much as 2-3x. And to most writers, that's invaluable. We appreciate you taking the opportunity to open a dialogue with us, and we’re honored by your interest in Freewrite. Write on!

[@christoffolo2428]

@getfreewrite, when is the official release date? Just waiting on a date, so I can order mine!

[@getfreewrite]

Hi, Chris! We have another update coming this week so stay tuned!

[@FandomNerd-qu3cl]

I backed this! So excited for it

[@getfreewrite]

We can't wait to get it in your hands!

[@swankmotron]

I've loved my Traveler and Freewrite, so I might like the Alpha, too.

[@vezeris]

Man, Jane should spend some cash on changing those keycaps with metal ones. Those nails don't seem forgiving...

[@cruxcified]

So excited for this next chapter of Freewrite!!

[@HealyHQ]

Ah, I see, the name is parodying the AlphaSmart devices. But the AlphaSmart can be had for thirty bucks, so this is gonna have to have some amazing features to be worth such a significant price premium.

[@SuperTrainStationH]

Small world. Ha ha.

[@dotapark]

holy shoot, idk who the hand model is but that person type just like me but reverse! that's so interesting and funny 😂

[@stoogeswoman]

To me it looks like balancing it on your knees like that would be kind of awkward. Wouldn't you keep dropping it on the ground?

[@toomasjurgens]

can't wait for my Alpha...

[@fanjapanischermusik]

where can i get one?

[@getfreewrite]

getfreewrite.com/

[@carolinaflorezcerchiaro5256]

Can't wait to get my hands on this one!

[@fabiodesalles2732]

Oh boy, you discover yourself a geek-writer when "this is Alpha" floods your eyes. ;-)

[@rainyday3128]

For those without a Mac to access the cloud, is this still worth getting as a windows user? Really interested in it, but don’t want to make a mistake purchasing if it isn’t compatible

[@getfreewrite]

@rainyday Absolutely! You can access your Postbox account from any web browser and as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi, your device will sync! You can also have your documents automatically since to Google Drive, Dropbox, and Evernote.

[@DrNateFitch]

As an owner of the Freewrite original, the alpha looks amazing. The best tool an author can have when it comes to getting manuscripts typed and finished. Distraction free!

[@adasd2420]

But can it run DOOM??

[@TodoShunsuke_jmc]

日本語入力できて￥29,800なら売れるかもね。

[@zanebullock]

Can you switch out the keys or switches or are they soldered in?

[@getfreewrite]

Hi, Zane! The keys are indeed soldered in.

[@zanebullock]

@@getfreewrite thank you 👍

[@AvenLumi]

I can’t wait for Alpha!

[@ajh8156]

Despite the larger storage capacity and Wi-fi cloud syncing, I fail to see how this is any better than the Alphasmart Neo 2, which cost me £30. You're asking us to pay £300 for a Neo 2 knockoff that is harldy better (and doesn't even have a back light) and looks like my grandmother's kitchen worktop. This, to be honest, is extortion. They know writers survive on very little money and they know we would benefit massively from tech like this. I will never endorse this company until their prices truly reflect the quality of their products. For heaven's sake, I can get a decent laptop at £300! This is just a keyboard with a small 90s display with basic 90s computing and storage. Useful tool for us writers, but overpriced regardless, and it's very disappointing.

[@pauliecaccamise1980]

No backlight. Restricted syncing. Dual syncing behind paywall. No arrow keys. Which I get but the alpha smart had arrow keys and you use them for quick errors or to insert ideas. It happens. You get inspired to add to a previous thought. We are not all Hemingway. lol. Some have different processes. I would benefit from a different screen size because I’m writing plays. If there is any lag like the gen 3 or atrocious traveler I will flip out lol. Also you buy one (gen 3) then they come out with a cool color or different version. The release schedule or pattern is so frustrating. lol

[@elizabethc2496]

No one is saying you have to get one.

[@noxiouschocolate9644]

I guess the name is a homage to the old alphasmart keyboards?

[@user-ds7up1fi2y]

I like the idea but why is the screen so small and crappy? Even on an old fashion typewriter you can see everything on the page you've written so far. This you can only see one sentence! I like distraction free, no LED eye strain, but still, why not a better screen these things aren't cheap.

[@getfreewrite]

Hi there! The screen size is very intentional. Freewrite devices are dedicated drafting devices designed to reduce distractions, separate the drafting process from the editing process, and help writers reach that flow state. For that reason, the screen isn't designed for lengthy reading, editing, or reviewing, but instead, focus. You can't go back and edit what you've written, you can only push forward. Once a draft is ready for editing, it's already available in the cloud to be easily transferred to your preferred software for editing.

[@aresaurelian]

A new elegant tool for distraction free productivity and ingenuity. I love it. No matter where I am, that little nook, that small attic, the meadow in the forest, I can always write to my hearts desire without worries. Thank you Astrohaus.

[@HansGao1]

Does it support Chinese input？

[@SuperBeanson]

I love how when the camera is at a distance Jane seems to be able to touch-type, but when the camera is hovering over her shoulder she reverts to one finger typing. Poor Jane, too much drinking at home I guess; or perhaps those ridiculous nails?

[@getfreewrite]

Poor Jane is trying her best, Si.

[@blackjack8957]

Why can’t the model type flawlessly? Thiis supposed to be an ad for a typewriter.

[@robertnussberger2028]

It's nice an all. But i might as well buy a laptop from 2005 and remove it's cababilities of internet in a total of 35 dollars free shipping. 225 is too much.

[@getfreewrite]

Hi, Robert. We know Freewrite tools are an investment in your writing. We are a very small team working with small manufacturing batches, contributing to the price point. However, our customers find exceptional value in their Freewrite. Writers in the community see their productivity and word count increase by as much as 2-3x. We appreciate you taking the opportunity to open a dialogue with us. Write on!

[@carlmattson1213]

Too complicated, and too expensive. We need the option of USB.

[@getfreewrite]

Hi, Carl. Work can be moved to a computer via the included USB cable.

[@carlmattson1213]

@@getfreewriteThat's good to know. But I still can't buy enough of these devices for my students with learning disabilities at $300. They would have to be $80 each. I could buy close to 5 low end tablets for $300.

[@sikachukuning2473]

The screen is too small for this to be useful....

[@getfreewrite]

Hi there! Freewrite is a dedicated drafting device intentionally designed to reduce distractions, separate the drafting process from the editing process, and help writers reach that flow state. For that reason, the screen isn't designed for lengthy reading, editing, or reviewing, but instead, focus. Users can choose from three different font sizes to help customize how much text is visible on screen. Once a draft is ready for editing, it's already available in the cloud to be easily transferred to your preferred software for editing. Write on!