Writing on Devices (Or, "Oh, How I Love My Tablet!")

Really? The touchscreen keyboard works for you? I hate that thing :-/

Made it impossible for me to type fast.

I considered buying an external keyboard for the tablet but then decided may as well use my laptop.. so I'm still on my laptop. It's a 13 inch MacBook Pro.

I got a tablet two years ago that I tried writing on. It had a pretty decent screen size, and I got the external keyboard. But I had trouble finding an app I liked that was compatible with Word, which is where I do most of my editing on my bigger laptop.

Taking the files back and forth between Word and the app ruined them--terrible, terrible formatting problems I can't fix now. I'm just going to have to paste the whole thing into Notepad and then back into Word and reformat.

So I stopped using the tablet for basically anything. But if the OfficeSuite app works pretty well, I might give it a try again.

heza said:

Taking the files back and forth between Word and the app ruined them--terrible, terrible formatting problems I can't fix now. I'm just going to have to paste the whole thing into Notepad and then back into Word and reformat.

So I stopped using the tablet for basically anything. But if the OfficeSuite app works pretty well, I might give it a try again.

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Not sure what tablet you're on, but MS Office is available for iPad.

I have an Asus Transformer which is... well, it's kind of the bastard child of a tablet and a computer. It's an 11 inch tablet with detachable keyboard running full Windows. I use it for most everything except for stuff I need CDs for (no CD player).

When it comes to actual mobile stuff I do use evernote a lot...

I've been thinking of getting a tablet since the third time my 2-year-old laptop needed a new hard drive. Somehow, though I shut down before I moved it, and transported it in a padded case, it seems that my hard drive was not built to be portable. I bought the laptop intending for it to be my one and only computer, but I can't risk actually taking it anywhere.

I have an iPad and a physical keyboard, and I can write on it, but I can't edit. I have decent editing software, but I really miss my mouse and the Windows commands my fingers have become accustomed to.

I figure a tablet (with keyboard and mouse) would be the best solution, but I'm not ready to invest in that just yet. I'd like to get one book actually out in the world before I spend any more money on writing aparatus...

KTC said:

Touchscreen works fine for me. I'm an extremely fast typist...

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I think my problem is that all my fingers are resting on the keys on a touchscreen that gives multiple inputs at once... and then it doesn't register. My hand is always hovering so close to the keys that my fingertips keep touching them.

Couldn't make it work. Might have to try again.

Hey, if using a tablet works for you, then don't stop! We all do the same work with different tools. I work best with a manual typewriter. Brian Jaques wrote all twenty-something "Redwall" books with a No. 2 pencil and a legal pad. C.S. Lewis hand-wrote all of his stuff and then had his brother retype them.

Whatever helps you produce the most. I can certainly see the advantage of a tablet.

Hapax Legomenon said:

I have an Asus Transformer which is... well, it's kind of the bastard child of a tablet and a computer. It's an 11 inch tablet with detachable keyboard running full Windows. I use it for most everything except for stuff I need CDs for (no CD player).

When it comes to actual mobile stuff I do use evernote a lot...

Click to expand...

I have the same Asus and I love it. It's perfect for writing and I can take it anywhere.

I use the shiny new laptop husband bought me to stop all the arguments over the desktop. I would consider using a tablet, if I had one.

I have an I-pad Air and I cannot type for anything on the touch keyboard. BUT, I do like the I-Pad and am looking to buy a bluetooth keyboard for it.

What does OfficeSuite look like on the tablet? Do you like it?

Forbidden Snowflake said:

Really? The touchscreen keyboard works for you? I hate that thing :-/

Made it impossible for me to type fast.

I considered buying an external keyboard for the tablet but then decided may as well use my laptop.. so I'm still on my laptop. It's a 13 inch MacBook Pro.

Click to expand...

I recently purchased an external keyboard for my kindle fire since I don't have a personal laptop anymore. I don't always love it - it's connected to my Kindle via bluetooth and sometimes the connection drops. But it serves it's purpose overall. In your case, I'd recommend you save your money.

kuwisdelu said:

Not sure what tablet you're on, but MS Office is available for iPad.

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My tablet is Android.

I write on my iPad sometimes. My main computer is a 17" MacBook Pro, which is just too big and heavy to carry around. I find the iPad's on-screen keyboard perfectly acceptable too and am pretty fast at using it. The only slightly annoying thing is having to look at the keyboard while I'm typing since there's no tactile feedback to touch-type.

I use an app called Textilus to write in because it works in .rtf format which is the same format as Scrivener and my other writing programs. I've never lost formatting as long as I use that app.

Myrealana said:

I figure a tablet (with keyboard and mouse) would be the best solution, but I'm not ready to invest in that just yet. I'd like to get one book actually out in the world before I spend any more money on writing aparatus...

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I feel that way all the time--like, I have to justify spending money on stuff that will help me write a book by already having written a book.

I just write on my desktop, but I have written on a tablet (and on my phone), and I found them quite nice. I don't know if I typed any faster, but I definitely wasn't any slower.

Alphasmart Dana. Great keyboard, no distractions, hard to edit so it keeps you writing that first draft. Plus it has great battery life, it's easy to use indoors or out, it's practically indestructible and it cost £30 on ebay. Transfer to any word processor on the computer via SD card or magic cable.

I tend to first draft on my alphasmart, who I have literally loved the "T" key right off. I tend to do most of my content editing on my kindle fire. I adore the portability of these devices, since with a soon to be 4 year old, I need to get out of my house to get work done. But the alphasmart is a PITA to content edit on or even catch typos. The Kindle is tetchy about formatting things. I have a bluetooth keyboard and to use a quote or an apostrophe you have to hit function and training my fingers to that only on the kindle is a little annoying. Next time I think I'll get a bigger keyboard/screen size as well.

And then I manage all my files, the whole manuscript, and all the copy editing stuff on my desktop with it's nice wide monitor.

I've tried using my Zoom to write, but when I hit backspace it deletes the last 5 characters instead of only 1. I end up spending more time fixing stupid mistakes than writing. Otherwise, I'd probably use it.

My only laptop is for work and I don't have a tablet. So I write 20th-century old-school on the desktop in my home office.

Tomorrow I'm going to yell at you to turn your goddamn music down and get the hell off my lawn.

I have a first gen Microsoft Surface with the Type cover (a keyboard and laptop-style trackpad) and I do all my writing on it. It's super portable, types beautifully, comes with Office, and most importantly, it's mine and not used by anyone else in the house.

Plus if you leave it in flight mode the battery will last for well over a week without charging. Also stops distractions