Author: Brett Jackson

Hi 🙂

If you’re here, it’s because you are fed up with distractions and want know how to deal with them.

In this post, I am going to talk about the Alphasmart neo2 and how it changed my writing life.

What is the Alphasmart neo2 I hear you ask?

The Alphasmart neo2 is a word processor. Originally marketed to schools and typing colleges as a cheap alternative to laptops, it came with typing software on it, that teachers could use to be able to help their students to learn to type.

What makes this so good for writing?

These days, most laptops / tablets have wireless and with that comes the distraction of the internet, notifications, alarms, and more. This device doesn’t come with any of those. You press the on / off button on, and can be typing in less than 5 seconds. You can’t get viruses (like you would with a laptop) and there are no pop ups. No-one can ring you on it, no skype, no videos. You literally switch it on and type, then when you’ve finished, press the on / off button and it saves everything you’ve typed. No internet needed.

How do you save files?

It saves in the onboard memory, called volatile ram. Usually this means that when you take the batteries out you would lose the files. Not here, the Alphasmart neo2 has a backup battery (CR2032) and this allows you to change the main batteries (AAs) when they go flat, without losing all of your work.

How many files can you save?

There are 8 file spaces (each button relates to a file) and each file can save roughly 10 thousand words. This means you can quite easily write an entire book on this device.

How do I transfer files to my laptop / computer?

Transferring files is a doddle. Simply plug a usb printer cable into the back of the Alphasmart neo2 and then plug the usb end of the cable into your computers usb socket. The computer (pc or Apple) running windows, Linux or macOS will recognise the Alphasmart neo2 as a computer keyboard. Open up your favourite word processing program, notepad, word pad, ms word, libreoffice, open office google docs etc, etc and once the program has loaded, press the send button on the Alphasmart neo2. Words will scroll onto the screen as if you were typing them. It’s fascinating to watch. Once finished, click the save button on your laptop / computer.

What else can it do?

It has a built-in Thesaurus, spellchecker, calculator, the Alphaword Plus word processor, and a few other text based apps. Amazingly, all the instructions are available on the back of the unit.

Is there a backlight?

Sadly no, but there are people out there who have created some ingenious ways of fixing this problem, why not do a search for Alphasmart neo2 modifications?

How long do the batteries last?

Amazingly, the batteries claim to last a year, I can confirm that I have had mine for approximately 2 years, and they haven’t gone flat yet. The batteries are normal AA batteries and the backup battery (you have to unscrew the unit to replace this) is a cr2032.

Where can I buy one?

Sadly, they are discontinued now, but you can still pick one up on eBay or amazon. Mine cost £30 including postage.

Are there other types of Alphasmart word processor?

Yes, there are. Including: The original Alphasmart Neo2, the Alphasmart Neo2, the Alphasmart 3000, the Dana (loads of features including self card but battery life is bad compared to the Neo2).

Where can I find out more?

My favourite place is here on Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/groups/1314163851981299

If you have any further questions, feel free to add them in the comments, and I will do my best to answer them.

Thanks for reading

Brett

I found a few likeminded people on Twitter, and just joined a group called #writingsquad.

I feel … included. This is the first group I’ve joined on Twitter, and it feels quite cool. I’m not sure what to expect, but the future is looking brighter 🙂

Thanks writingsquad 🙂

If you’re reading this, it worked.

I have now added Facebook and Twitter social sharing to the blog.
This means every time I post on the blog, not only will it email people on the email list, it will also post to the Twitter and Facebook feeds, yay

Thanks for reading, and thankyou all for supporting me throughout my journey.

It shouldn’t be too long before the book is done, until then, keep in touch, and check by the website for hints, tips and other writerly bits, and… happy writing 🙂

Why am I happy you may ask?

I have finished my first batch of editing. I took out so much stuff, some repeats, typos, grammar errors and more. I smooshed a few things, and fitted some paragraphs into different areas, and I am happy 🙂

What happens next? I still have lots of work to do, but it’s actually starting to look like a book, wooohooo! In my todo list are, converting my paper edits into typed edits, doing my second outline, writing, then second edit, then … beta readers!

Thats all for now, just enjoying the rest of the night off before the start of phase two tomorrow 🙂

Have fun, happy writing

Brett

You know you’re a writer when …

I popped on

the Twitter one day

To post about progress

And hey…

There’s another cool post

From that writer I like

Her words like Ferrari’s

Mine, more like a bike

Sleek lines adorn

Her every single post

Where as mine look like hand-me-downs

from some sheet-covered ghost

She asks us to finish this line,

So I open the app on my phone

And blurt out this poem so fine

My brain came up with this all on it’s own

The weird thing is

We haven’t even met

Except this daily exchange

On the worldwide internet

Posers and questions

She asks every day

And people also posting

“Show me the way”

That’s enough about her

What about those other writers?

The ones who think we’re rich

I pity the poor blighters.

Seven billion minds

Needing some entertainment

Those headlines in the newspapers

As they hit the pavement

That million dollar house

And that swanky new car

Is that what the newbies

Really think that we are?

We’re wordsmiths and surgeons

Purveyors of letter

We carry these burdens

And want to feel better

So we grab pen and paper

And write that stuff down

One character’s a mayor

The other is a clown

They become realistic

And even our best friend

Writing their story

Is a means to an end

They talk to us daily

And we write their tales

Some of us write like rabbits

The others like snails

At the end of that day

When it comes to the night

And all of its over

And you’ve dealt with their plight

You hurry off to bed

With notepad in hand

And close your eyes fast

And go off to that land

Where your characters talk to you

And then fall in love

Then kill someone with a piano

Dropped from high up above

Wake up in the night time

And write it all down

The tales of the mayor

And that sad little clown

When you’ve pressed the submit

And it goes off to be published

This really is it

Their book is accomplished

The audience delights

When in the bookstore you look

Because You know you’re a writer when …

you’ve written that book!

Thanks for reading, Have fun writing

Be nice 🙂

Brett

Want to be a writer but being bogged down by the massive amounts of information vs brain speed and typing speed?

Here’s a tip… try slowing down and writing your book, the way writers used to do it… with a pen and paper.

Whilst writing my book, I have tried various computer programs, different laptops, ipad, phone, pencil, pen and paper. I’ve even created my own notebooks with the bookbinding machine I have in my bureau.

Going through youtube, I found some videos that ask the age old question… Computer or pen?

Here is one of my favourites.

Want to know what I am currently reading? Check at the links in the Goodreads box on this page 🙂

Most of what I read at the moment is about the craft of writing, and some general fiction.
Want to share what you’re reading, simply add your comments to this post 🙂

Happy reading

Brett