True and Fictional Tales

The first time I saw it in an ad in Writer's Digest, I thought, "I need that!".

Two days ago, I won a used AlphaSmart 3000 on eBay for $12.50 (plus $8.50 shipping). Not bad, since most are selling between $45 - $100. I'd been eyeing the Alphasmart Neo for a while now, but with my oldest daughter's senior year coming up - senior photos, prom, graduation stuff to buy - I don't yet have the extra $220+ to buy one. So, I thought I'd try the 3000 to see if it'll be worth the money to upgrade.

For over a year now I've read comments and reviews from other writers about how great the Alphasmart is for their writing. Let's face it. A good majority of writers are easily distracted by the internet. Myself included. Just look at this blog. (It's been a while since I wrote on it, huh?) I love my laptop, especially the new one I received as a Christmas gift from my husband, but, besides being able to distract me by getting online every time I'm stuck and forgetting what I wanted to do in the first place, I don't feel comfortable lugging it around to anywhere other than my couch, or bedroom. I'm always afraid it will fall and shatter. Then I'd have to cry.

And, now that it's almost summer in NY, I've been spending most of my time outside on my hammock, or writing at the table in my new private area complete with a fountain. It would be nice to have something simple to bring outside and write. A pen and paper is nice. I certainly concentrate on the story that way. But I'm much faster at typing than I am at writing. I'd like to use something that can keep up with my ideas as they come. (Plus, it's less paper waste.)

I don't have the 3000 in my hands just yet. The seller has a 100% positive feedback, which is good. Hopefully, I'll have it by the end of the week. Then I can play. I have heard one bad thing about it is that the keys are loud. That shouldn't matter too much to me. I don't plan to use it in quiet, public places. At least, just yet.