I'm doing a product review for the AlphaSmart keyboard a membership magazine. So far, I love this thing. It is an electronic keyboard/word processor
weighing less than 2 pounds. It has enough memory to store 100 single-spaced pages over 8 separate files. You type. It autosaves. When you are done, you can email the documents, print them out on a printer or upload them to your computer.The AlphaSmart runs for 700 hours off 3 AA batteries. It was designed to used by grade schoolers and it is almost indestructible. One of my associates took a hammer to it as a trial. NO DISCERNABLE DAMAGE. The viewing screen, although small, is adequate for the average user. BASE PRICE $200.
http://www.alphasmart.com
The AlphaSmart is a fantastic product for someone who is basically concerned with word processing. There are no computer systems issues that you have to learn about. You just have to know how to type - and the manufacturer provides tutorials to help with that. The company will give you a 2 week trial period for the product if you fill out their evaluation forms and pay the shipping costs.
FWIW: Since the usual purposes for me taking off in my camper are to relax and clear my head so I can write, this product meets a need that my laptop doesn't. IT TRAVELS WELL and I don't have to be afraid of usage costs, loss of data stored on the PC, power surges or breakage. My laptop contains the database for my business operations. I get a queasy feeling everytime I put it in the camper. With the AlphaSmart I no longer have to consider having redundant PCs. If something happens to the AlphaSmart, it won't be nearly as devastating as losing the laptop.
Hope this info helps someone else.
PS: The above statements are my unsolicited opinions. I have no financial interest in this product whatsoever.