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Three Questions...
This first one goes out to people on my FList who are fanfic vets:
I'm in the Faithficathon and I'll be done by the end of the week on it. My question is: How do I let![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cookie_dough101 know when it's done? Do I send her a link? Do I post it here and send her a link? Plus, the story is long and will probably be posted in two or parts (minimum) to this LJ, so do I send a link to parts one and two? Help!
This second one goes out to FList people who post to Silverlake:
Are works in progress acceptable to posting on that list? Whenever I've posted, it's always been short-ish one shots. I haven't posted there awhile, but when I posted Contrite Spirits there today I noticed that a WiP was being posted there. I've been looking for alternative sites to send Living History to and I've always thought it would be a good fit with Silverlake, but I thought it was too long to post there. So, what's the sitch?
Finally, to all my geek friends:
I'd like a little portable something to take with me that'll allow me to write outside (I don't want to be chained to a dasktop all summer). I'm not thinking of buying right away, but I was wondering:
1) Laptop
2) Palm PC with portable keyboard
The problem with a laptop is this: it's got waaaaay more bells and whistles than I want. All I want is word processing. That's it. I've looked at used and reconditioned laptops, but I suspect I wouldn't be happy with them because the technology stats don't strike me as a terribly good deal for the money, especially when you can buy a new low-end Dell for around $600. However, looking at the "new" laptops that come in around $600, once you throw in the warranty and extra memory, you still end up spending about $1,000 to $1,100.
The problem with a Palm is this: I've heard Palm's version of Word is a nightmare and that loading another word processor program (about $50 added on) might be a better idea. Limited memory. Not tremendously reliable. Still has bugs that need to be worked out. However, even if you add bells and whistles, keyboard, extra memory chip and so on, you're coming in around $500 to $600 for top-of-the line all the way, which is a big pull.
Like I said, not planning to buy right this second. But, a laptop proposition means waiting a good year while I save up nickles and pennies for it. A Palm option could mean six months instead of a year.
Opinions? Recommendations?
I'm in the Faithficathon and I'll be done by the end of the week on it. My question is: How do I let
cookie_dough101 know when it's done? Do I send her a link? Do I post it here and send her a link? Plus, the story is long and will probably be posted in two or parts (minimum) to this LJ, so do I send a link to parts one and two? Help!This second one goes out to FList people who post to Silverlake:
Are works in progress acceptable to posting on that list? Whenever I've posted, it's always been short-ish one shots. I haven't posted there awhile, but when I posted Contrite Spirits there today I noticed that a WiP was being posted there. I've been looking for alternative sites to send Living History to and I've always thought it would be a good fit with Silverlake, but I thought it was too long to post there. So, what's the sitch?
Finally, to all my geek friends:
I'd like a little portable something to take with me that'll allow me to write outside (I don't want to be chained to a dasktop all summer). I'm not thinking of buying right away, but I was wondering:
1) Laptop
2) Palm PC with portable keyboard
The problem with a laptop is this: it's got waaaaay more bells and whistles than I want. All I want is word processing. That's it. I've looked at used and reconditioned laptops, but I suspect I wouldn't be happy with them because the technology stats don't strike me as a terribly good deal for the money, especially when you can buy a new low-end Dell for around $600. However, looking at the "new" laptops that come in around $600, once you throw in the warranty and extra memory, you still end up spending about $1,000 to $1,100.
The problem with a Palm is this: I've heard Palm's version of Word is a nightmare and that loading another word processor program (about $50 added on) might be a better idea. Limited memory. Not tremendously reliable. Still has bugs that need to be worked out. However, even if you add bells and whistles, keyboard, extra memory chip and so on, you're coming in around $500 to $600 for top-of-the line all the way, which is a big pull.
Like I said, not planning to buy right this second. But, a laptop proposition means waiting a good year while I save up nickles and pennies for it. A Palm option could mean six months instead of a year.
Opinions? Recommendations?
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ficathons: on the actual due date, the person organising the ficathon will post a list of those who took part and their assignments, to which you can comment with a link to your fic.
some ficathon organisers - but not all - frown on posting your story before this time.
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*mumbles* This is one long-ish story.
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E-bay can probably find you a good deal on a used laptop for your $600 range that will do what you need for a few years to come. The main reason I suggest a laptop over a Palm is three-fold:
1. It's easier to carry a laptop than a keyboard; more bags are made for the former than the latter.
2. Greater hard drive capacity means more music and all your documents fit easily, even on just a 10GB drive.
3. I like to read over what I've just written as I'm writing, make sure everything is at least flowing a little bit on the first draft, and the laptop screen is far more conduscive to this. You can sit in a cafe and write and it's just a far more comfortable feel.
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But thanks for the answer!
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Also, there is a good Palm word processing program called WordSmith; it costs $30 and imports/exports to MS Word.
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*sits on hands*
I'm trying to convince myself not to order one for a 30-day test drive because that would be teh evol! Money would fly away and that would be bad...
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If you want to use my Palm and folding keyboard while you're saving up to buy the Dana, my offer's still open... and by the way, I should have made it clear before that I meant to give it to you -- I wasn't angling to sell it to you. To me, it's not worth the hassle to sell it on eBay, and I'd be happy to see somebody get some use out of it.
The question is...
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Well, given that I've put my entry up today, I can tell you how every one else seeming to be doing it so far. Basically, put the story up in your LJ (though I'd suggest linking the previous and later parts together somehow). Then let her know that it's up by posting on the Masterlist entry.
Personally, I also let
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I got distracted by the shiny AlphaSmart post below.
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Really? Hadn't noticed the constant drooling that much...
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I love traveling with mine because I never feel hysterical about maybe it getting stolen or smashed. YMMV, but it's a cool little thing. (Alas, only a 4-line lcd screen, but even that has some good points at times.)
TRS-80 (wipes tear from eye)
Goddamn! I loved that fucking thing what I was starting out as a reporter. It doubled as word processor, prop for books, stepping stool, and weapon.
What! It was a very good weapon, as I can attest thanks to some court reporting I had to do when I was freelancing for newspapers in college.
I had one friend that had a TRS-80 (affectionally called a TRASH-80 by reporters far and wide) that was held together with duct tape. Duct tape! It was freakin' brilliant!
That thing was 5 pounds of plastic, silicon, and metal. It was a total brick and I looooooooved it. Only four lines visible at all times. It never crashed, no matter how much you abused it. I particularly remember a rainstorm usability test one of my co-workers put it through when he got stuck outside somewhere with it. It passed with flying colors.
*worships you*
*does happy dance*
*I swear to god there is a happy dance involved*
*my butt is wiggling in my computer chair even as I type*
This is 100% percent what I was looking for! And the AlphaSmart Dana sounds like the total ticket! (I've been reading reviews...) The price is certainly right: $379 if you buy direct from the company (non wireless version); $60 for the extended two-year warranty; $10 for a spare rechargeable. Extra stylus can be bought anywhere. It comes with the necessary software and USB wire. The SD/MM cards have to be bought separately, but it doesn't look like they're necessary unless you don't plan on hot-syncing for awhile.
Bad news: It doesn't look like any local computer or office supply stores actually carry this. I mean, c'mon, you'd think Staples or OfficeMax might have this in stock.
I'm getting misty here. Seriously.
Definitely something I could probably pull together in a couple of months (I probably can't justify spending the money right this second)....as opposed to six.
*hugs enthusiastically*
Re: TRS-80 (wipes tear from eye)
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Palm for writing
(Anonymous) 2004-06-28 09:04 am (UTC)(link)Anyway, my writing solution took a while to finally settle into something acceptable, but now it works beautifully. Unfortunately, I run linux where the software is much more flexible, so I'm not sure you could find a comparable Windows solution.
Basically, I use a simple Palm text editor (http://www.qland.de/) on my Clie, and kpilot (http://kpilot.org). kpilot has the capability to translate Palm doc files both ways on the fly. So if I've updated the text files on my PC, it will copy the changed docs over to the Palm. If I've been writing on the road, it will copy my changes over to the PC.
This process still has its kinks, but combined with regular backups, I haven't had any problems (my backup solution consists of committing all changes to a version control system (http://subversion.tigris.org), so I can track every change I've ever made).
I also write with my stylus (no keyboard), which is sometimes a pain, and other times a blessing. There's less to carry and it forces me to think harder about what I want to say before I put stylus to screen, but I can't write as fast as I can type. I must say, I just love pulling my Palm out of my pocket for some reading or writing on the bus, or in the park. I don't think I'd be able to stand a laptop or even a portable keyboard. It's just too inconvenient.
There are other writing solutions available. See the Guide to Palm word processing (http://www.palmsource.com/interests/writing/). Good luck!