A question about writing implements?

Yep.

Mine has a 75%-size (I think) keyboard although to be honest I think I might have those stats wrong; it feels nearly normal size.

Fully internet compatible, either through hardwiring or WiFi, also with bluetooth. It has three USB ports and up to six, seven hours' battery power.

I use my netbook when I want to write out of the house; much more portable and the battery life is amazing.

And as the OS is Windows XP it's a damn sight quicker than this bloody Vista rubbish.

Model's an acer aspire, by the way.

I do about 90% of my writing on my 10" netbook, an HP Mini with Linux installed. In my experience it's really awkward to use an extra keyboard with a netbook, so I would recommend trying out computers until you find what size keyboard is comfortable for you--I have absolutely no problems with the keyboard on a 10" laptop, but 9" like the early eeePCs is too small for me.

It's lovely for being able to stash it in my bag and take it everywhere, which I never did when I had a full-weight laptop.

Make sure you get a 6-cell battery, which a lot of netbooks have as a more expensive option. I have a 3-cell, and it gets me almost 3 hours of battery life, which is still usually as much as I need, but I'll probably upgrade soon.

Definitely be aware that laptop/netbook keyboards are hell for your wrists, especially if you write for long periods of time in one sitting. If you do go with a netbook, you might want to consider either getting a separate keyboard or a wrist brace and learn some stretches if you don't already know them. I imagine you do though, since you already use a laptop anyways.

Maybe I have the wrong netbook, but I don't find mine comfortable to write on. The keyboard is just too small, and the screen is just too small. I need screen real-estate. So I tend to write in a 17" laptop instead, and keep my desktop for work, and my netbook for calendar and email and stuff.

I think it's always good to find a way of trying out something before you actually buy it.

But, shoot, to me, "writing implement" means a pencil or a pen. Sometimes even a dip pen. All that matters is that you like writing with whatever device you choose. It's difficult to know this unless you find a way of trying it.

I am a writing implement...

Jamesaritchie said:

I think it's always good to find a way of trying out something before you actually buy it.

But, shoot, to me, "writing implement" means a pencil or a pen. Sometimes even a dip pen. All that matters is that you like writing with whatever device you choose. It's difficult to know this unless you find a way of trying it.

Click to expand...

Same here. I write using an 11" by 8" notebook. No internet access. The USB port situation, to be frank, sucks. But the spiral rings keep it all together.

I'm currently using the Acer Aspire One 11", with a full-sized keyboard. It does me well.

But this is coming from a person who wrote a 90K novel with no backspace or delete key. I'm pretty adaptable.

It really depends on your typing skills, your wrists, the size of your hands, where you work, and your vision. If for some reason you are doomed to do most of your typing on an airplane, then you may have different issues than someone who types at her desk. I mention this because there are notebooks out there which are specifically designed to be used on an airplane tray, but they aren't likely to be your first choice if you aren't a frequent flier. My advice would be to try the machine in question out first. If you like your current machine, trying looking at the el cheapo version of the same brand and style--if it's el cheapo enough, you may just end up with your current mouse and keypad on a smaller platform.

I bought a laptop so that I could write in bed and write in coffee shops. I can't use it in bed, because I type about 4 words a minute laying down and my wrists get really sore. And if I sit cross-legged on my bed to write, it's too far down to the keyboard and sore wrists again, and then my legs go numb after five minutes.

So lately I've been using the laptop on a couch on my lap, which works just fine, but then the desktop got fixed and I started using that again.

I'm loving the bigger screen on the desktop, and I like the keyboard just a little bit better (even though the keyboard on my laptop was one of the main reasons I bought a laptop, I don't like it all that much...).

Also, I haven't taken my laptop to any coffee shops, so I am fail.

At the moment I'm looking at prices of really big screens, possibly with a Mac. It's on my wishlist for when I finally can afford my own place and thus have room to set up my own desktop instead of using mum's. I figure if I can afford a home loan, and have enough income to qualify, then I can afford a big-screen computer.

I've tried the netbooks, but the keyboard is too small for my fingers, which would slow me down and mean even more spelling mistakes than usual, and I'm not sure about the screen. Still, it'd be easier to transport and they're pretty cheap now, so maybe at some point...

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4309267&postcount=17
If this keyboard looks too big:
http://www.musicalgearbox.com/netbook.JPG
I've since gotten an "IBM Space Saver" - the same Model M but without the number pad. I took this setup to well over a dozen NaNoWriMo write-ins, never had to "plug in" for power, and I won.

I'd strongly advise trying out a netbook similar to the one you want to buy before getting it. (You can do that at most computer stores these days, I think.) Most netbook keyboards really aren't big enough for me, but then I have gigantic hands. Find what works best for you, but don't buy it 'blind'!

I actually type better when I can't hear the clicks. I make fewer typos when I'm wearing headphones.

Just found that out recently, but my typing speed has gone up, and I wind up sitting at the computer for longer. Go music, it hath saved me.