Loads of e-readers and e-notebooks are on the market with all of the bells and whistles. Some have Google Android and full entry to the Play Retailer, whereas others have social media integration and on-line bookstores. Over the previous a number of years, a motion has grown towards a distraction-free writing expertise. It began with apps for the iPad, iPhone, and Android gadgets however has transcended to bodily merchandise. These do not need pop-ups, notifications, or the rest to interrupt the immersion of writing.
Writers have had many instruments: parchment, quills, paper, typewriters, and the non-public pc. Every new iteration of a distinct writing methodology didn’t sit effectively with those that swore by the earlier methodology. In at this time’s linked world, writing with out 1,000,000 distractions is tough. Fortunately, there are some bodily merchandise whose total existence is billed as “distraction-free.”
Distraction-free gadgets, whether or not from the expertise of yesteryear or new gadgets devoted to a craft, permit some folks to regain management of what they do and when.
Exceptional
Exceptional is a paper pill designed to be distraction-free, permitting customers to deal with one job at a time. It helps creativity and focus with out notifications, social media, or apps. The CEO of Exceptional acknowledged, “We attempt to make merchandise that take a human-centric strategy to new expertise. Every little thing we make is distraction-free by design—with out notification alerts, adverts, or pop-ups which may disturb your practice of thought or cloud a second of good readability.”
“With Exceptional, we needed to create a haven for considering. A set of targeted instruments that may make the remainder of the world disappear in order that solely ink, paper, and concepts stay, no matter whether or not you favor handwriting, typing, or combining them in a single workflow.”
Exceptional at present sells two merchandise: the Exceptional 2, which has a black-and-white e-paper display, and the brand new Exceptional Paper Professional, which has a colour display. Each have their makes use of; black-and-white tends to be higher for studying and enhancing PDF recordsdata, however colour provides a greater drawing expertise. The corporate additionally supplies folio instances with bodily keys, making them simple to make use of as digital typewriters.
Freewrite
In at this time’s hyper-connected digital world, distractions are greater than a minor nuisance. They are often limitations to a author’s true potential. Freewrite’s distinctive devoted ed {hardware} format provides a distraction-free atmosphere to optimize the writing expertise. Minimizing distractions and rediscovering the enjoyment of drafting is vital to unlocking your inventive potential.
Freewrite is a collection of typewriters with small E INK screens. The Freewrite Traveler has a full-size scissor-switch keyboard, whereas the Sensible Typewriter has full-size mechanical keyboard that includes Kailh Field Brown key switches and thick PBT keycaps. The brand new Freewrite Alpha has an anti-glare FSTN LCD Show and is considerably cheaper than the E INK ones. Though your entire writing is saved domestically, it does have cloud storage to make sure that your writing has correct backups.
Pomera
Unleash creativity with Pomera, a smooth, transportable digital typewriter that gives a targeted, distraction-free expertise. Its fast begin, easy writing, light-weight design for journey, and lengthy battery life guarantee productiveness anyplace, anytime. Expertise the liberty to write down anyplace with the ultra-portable Pomera. Its smooth design folds right down to a compact measurement, becoming effortlessly into your bag or pocket, making it the proper companion for writers on the transfer.
The upcoming Pomera is the US model of the Pomera 250, which was solely out there in Japan. To boost funds, the corporate is launching a Kickstarter marketing campaign. This sleeker model of the quintessential digital typewriter contains a scissor-switch keyboard. Outfitted with superior enhancing capabilities like spell verify, copy/paste, and folder administration, offering a full word-processing expertise.
Fujitsu Quaderno
Fujitsu has two fashions of the Quaderno; the Quaderno A4 has a 13.3-inch display, and the A5 has a ten.3-inch display. These merchandise are designed to take notes, view/edit PDF recordsdata, and draw freehand. There isn’t a web browser or any distractions.
It’s the most responsive e-note ever launched, primarily as a result of uncovered e-paper show. The system additionally employs brand-new E INK expertise, making it quick, responsive, and entertaining. It helps Bluetooth foot pedals, which will be changed into a sheet music reader.
The Quaderno at present has three generations. The second era emerged three or 4 years in the past and continues to be very related. The software program is polished, and the corporate continues to help it with firmware updates. The upcoming Quaderno Shade fashions, which have Kaleido 3 e-paper screens, will ship quickly.
Honourable Mentions
AlphaSmart Neo – Lengenary digital typewriter that lasts without end, runs on batteries, and might connect with something with a keyboard to bodily switch information. Whereas AlphaSmart now not exists as a model, a cult following of distraction-free writers has stored alive a wholesome secondhand marketplace for Alphasmart gadgets. They’ll nonetheless be bought on eBay and different marketplaces.
iPad with Apple Pencil and paperlike display protector—This may be overkill for many individuals, however a bodily keyboard can even present an honest drawing or writing expertise. There are methods to show off notifications and popups, however making the iPad distraction-free takes plenty of work.
The Pocket 386 provides a retro Home windows expertise with a 386 SX chip, 8MB RAM, and an OPL3 sound card. The laptop computer combines outdated {hardware} with new developments, offering a bloat-free Home windows expertise. Many writing apps can be found for DOS, which ensures zero distractions.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the previous fifteen years. Newspapers and web sites such because the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Publish and the New York Occasions have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
