What do you write on?

[desertslave]

I just retired my trusty, battered, 7-year-old Toshiba Tecra (sporting WinXP and Office 2007). I upgraded to a custom-built Sager because I do like to do a little gaming occasionally. I needed to get used to a different keyboard, Win7 Pro and Open Office, but overall I'm very pleased. I either write in bed with the laptop propped on an upside-down wooden tray, or in my comfy chair on a rolling work table (which doubles as an excellent work surface for small calligraphy or chain mail projects).

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I use Word on my Lenovo Thinkpad T61p. It's six years old, now. It was bleeding edge when I got it for school, so it's still quite capable even today. Age has definitely given it a few kinks and quirks, but they're usually solved by restarting.

I'm sure it'll cut out on me at some point. I've sent it in for repairs once already when it overheated. I back up frequently.

As for a recommendation? Word has been the standard since it was made. Mac's version of the program, Pages, works great too. I wrote on a family member's Mac when my computer was out for repairs; it was pretty easy to get used to. They both do the same things, they just come packaged in different UI wrappers.

Either way, writing is not a computer-intensive task. It's been a primary function since the dinosaur days. Any computer will do, so in the hypothetical situation in which a person needs a computer exclusively to write, I'd recommend something cheap and built to last. Also, an external hard drive. Always back up.

LOL, I use my Z61T Thinkpad, and it is still capable of standard laptop things, even withoit the support of widows, but I uave two other laptops, and I only wanted it ti type anyaway, despite it's capabilities in its old age(it was custom built, and those of that era are still desirable). I use an external hard drive with it. When I was working Security, I was also typing on the camera system desktop I had in my both. The IBM is the only laptop of the three yhat has Microsoft office, anyway, with two versions of word. 96-03 word, aand the one after that.

 

[StrangeLife]

Don't ask me if you don't want a fruity answer, cause I'm a convert....

http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/MacBook-Pro-Unibody.jpg

The entry price is a bit steep, but totally worth it. The total cost of ownership for the machine is likely around the same as for a series of cheap PC's, which will offer an inferior user experience.

As word processor I use MS Word for Mac.

 

[lovecraft68]

I am bummed out no one posted

On the walls with crayon.

Guess that's just me.

 

[redzinger]

The entry price is a bit steep, but totally worth it. The total cost of ownership for the machine is likely around the same as for a series of cheap PC's, which will offer an inferior user experience.

As word processor I use MS Word for Mac.

I just KNEW there was going to be a smug Apple-user rolling up sooner or later.

My last two housemates have been Apple fiends. The look of haughty superiority on their faces every time I start cursing Windows or Android kills me.

Guess that's just me.

Do you live in a mansion? I've this mental image of your dog in a haunted-looking mansion, crayon in paw, growling as he rubs out another word.


Has reminded me of a related topic - I also use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of events, descriptions of characters & places and research.

 

[StrangeLife]

I just KNEW there was going to be a smug Apple-user rolling up sooner or later.

My last two housemates have been Apple fiends. The look of haughty superiority on their faces every time I start cursing Windows or Android kills me...

Oh, but I am not smug Red.... rather it's kinda like when you discover a great new Italian restaurant somewhere and feel like recommending it to others. It's not due to smugness - you simply want others to enjoy the best linguini in town.

So consider it sound consumer advice from a fellow wordsmith http://s29.postimg.org/5lhhiap6r/eat.gif

 

[jomar]

Yeah, I like the Apple environment. Kind of like Disney...you'll have fun but you're gonna do it their way. Which is fine by me. I've done android and just don't go crazy with customization. I love my iPhone 6 and iPad air. Also love my Lenovo x1 carbon...a lot.

 

[StrangeLife]

Yeah, I like the Apple environment. Kind of like Disney...you'll have fun but you're gonna do it their way. Which is fine by me. I've done android and just don't go crazy with customization. I love my iPhone 6 and iPad air. Also love my Lenovo x1 carbon...a lot.

I am the opposite - I got rid of the iPhone. I couldn't abide with the constraint put on it by Apple, and I got tired of jailbreaking the thing every time there was an update. Oddly enough I ended up with a Windows Phone device instead... not Android.

As far as Mac OS goes, there are no such constraints. Well ok - there kinda are, but you can turn them off....

http://s18.postimg.org/a9jytk1ux/Screen_Shot_2014_11_30_at_05_42_30.png

 

[JWren]

I am the opposite - I got rid of the iPhone. I couldn't abide with the constraint put on it by Apple, and I got tired of jailbreaking the thing every time there was an update. Oddly enough I ended up with a Windows Phone device instead... not Android.

As far as Mac OS goes, there are no such constraints. Well ok - there kinda are, but you can turn them off....

http://s18.postimg.org/a9jytk1ux/Screen_Shot_2014_11_30_at_05_42_30.png

iMac .... and don't need to defend it

 

[Rozalin_0123]

Oddly enough, most of my writing is done on my iphone using Kingsoft Office. Then using the cloud, I can transfer the doc to any machine in my house, which include 2 PCs, 2 laptops, or a tablet. My workstation of choice? My PC with Word 2000 using my 60" plasma tv as a monitor while I sit on the couch with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Btw. Am I the only one who Alt-Tabs between writing and research opposed to multiple monitors and or laptops?

 

[lovecraft68]

According to a recent nasty feedback I write on.....and on.....and on....and....

 

[Rozalin_0123]

According to a recent nasty feedback I write on.....and on.....and on....and....

http://s25.postimg.org/ti2nw59pr/image.jpg

 

[redzinger]

Oddly enough, most of my writing is done on my iphone using Kingsoft Office. Then using the cloud, I can transfer the doc to any machine in my house, which include 2 PCs, 2 laptops, or a tablet. My workstation of choice? My PC with Word 2000 using my 60" plasma tv as a monitor while I sit on the couch with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Btw. Am I the only one who Alt-Tabs between writing and research opposed to multiple monitors and or laptops?

I tab between all of these:
I have Chrome open with tabs for an email account, Fb and me Twitter
I also run Firefox a few blocking tools, with another email tab, Lit, author Twitter and research tabs.
Plus a couple of Word docs I'm working on.
And a game of Spider Solitaire. My fucking downfall, that game. Gah.

Tbh, another screen would be nice, but as I work in bed, I don't have anywhere to put it.

Does everyone else work at desks or from sofas then?

 

[GothAngelBabe]

Phone-Tablet-PC

Whatever is handier at the moment.

 

[TxRad]

Does everyone else work at desks or from sofas then?

Desk in the office, breakfast bar, table on back porch, table on sun deck, blanket at the nude beach, picnic table at the park, just to name a few.

 

[Noble_Truth]

I use the Lenovo ThinkPad T530i.

As far as laptops go, it has, in my opinion, the best and most responsive keyboard. The only downside is that it's as heavy as lead. It weighs about five and a half pounds.

 

[sr71plt]

desk or table tops only. Never mastered the "lap" part of laptop. I even use a mouse with the laptop.

 

[SamScribble]

Never mastered the "lap" part of laptop.

Yep. I know what you mean - but then I'm old.

 

[Bramblethorn]

desk or table tops only. Never mastered the "lap" part of laptop. I even use a mouse with the laptop.

Yeah, I have my laptop sitting on a stack of books to put it at eye level, with a remote keyboard and external mouse. If I try to use it in my lap for too long, I get aches and pains. Also, I'm often running computation work that makes it uncomfortably hot, especially in an Australian summer.

But the portability is nice.

 

[redzinger]

Yeah, I have my laptop sitting on a stack of books to put it at eye level, with a remote keyboard and external mouse. If I try to use it in my lap for too long, I get aches and pains. Also, I'm often running computation work that makes it uncomfortably hot, especially in an Australian summer.

But the portability is nice.

That's why I have the stand I mentioned in the OP. Cost me almost nothing to make, it's adjustable and puts it in an ergonomic position that I can cope with for hours (I even drop off sometimes with my hands on the keyboard and wake in the same position), plus the vents aren't blocked. And means I'm not klonking myself on the head or ending up with a black eye (been there, done that).

 

[redzinger]

Just boinging an old thread.

My shit year* has now led onto the need for a new writing tool.

Unlike above, recently I've been using an old Compaq Mini 110 notebook (with XP) to write on. It didn't do internet well, so the distractions were minimised to Spider Solitaire & Freecell. Which were still distractions.
It's now kaputt, so I'm looking for something of a similar size.

Currently typing on a Lenovo ThinkPad I was given, but the position somehow isn't as comfortable.

Anyone have any cheap laptop recommendations?


*deaths, multiple hospital visits, bad health, family problems, amputation (pet), finances going south. It's been entirely awful since March.

 

[KayceeCharles]

I use my laptop in general. I type 85 wpm (with burst up to 100 wpm) and I have a mechanical keyboard that makes typing enjoyable. I also have Dragon Natural Speaking for dictations

I have Scrivner but I never realized it's fine for short stories. I just started using it to organize my characters, scenes, and so on.

 

[sr71plt]

Do you type so much/fast, though, that the letters wear off a long time before the rest of the machine does? That's a problem I have.

 

[Paul_Chance]

I write on either a Dell C15 using Wordpad (I like the ability to turn off all the crap and just write) that is stripped down just for writing. Then, depending on what I am writing I can take it into Word 2010 and get fancy. I also write lightly on an iPad with a Brydge keyboard.

 

[TxRad]

Do you type so much/fast, though, that the letters wear off a long time before the rest of the machine does? That's a problem I have.

Radio Shack stocks the rub on letters that work great for replacement. Dust it with several light coats of the lacquer that they use for pastel drawings. I keep several sets because i hammer a keyboard hard. Old habit from the manual typewriter days.