Device for Taking Travel Notes? 456
the Anonymous Wanderer writes "When I go in vacations, I like to take notes and upon return write a travel story for my friends. Until now I've been using a paper notebook, but found that I'm so busy when I come back that the notebook sits for weeks or months unopened. On the other hand, I have some 'dead' time during trips and I'd like to take the notes electronically (final editing could be done upon return). I don't want to carry a laptop or a PDA (too expensive, plus I want to be away from computers at least those 2 weeks per year). Any suggestions for a light, cheap, keyboard-equipped device? Like a travel clock + keyboard and more memory and USB? Thanks, the Anonymous Wanderer."
A different option (Score:5, Informative)
Re:A different option (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:A different option (Score:3, Informative)
I'd probably recommend getting one with an expans
Re:A different option (Score:5, Insightful)
You know (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:You know (Score:3, Interesting)
Although after screwing with it, I figure a paper notebook would be better. I like having something to screw around with. Easy to flip through, insert stuff into and something permanent. Electronic copies just aren't as neat as paper.
When I type my travel reports, I'll be able to edit them down.
Re:You know (Score:3, Informative)
Re:You know (Score:3, Interesting)
Get one with a voice recorder then use the keyboard on your pc. And before everybody comes by saying "Why not use a tape recorder?", think about what a PITA it'd be to scroll around an audio tape instead of clicking on a filename.wav with a time and date stamp that can be renamed to anything you like.
Re:You know (Score:3, Interesting)
You bring up a good point, but I don't think you meant to. Pocket PC's used compressed audio. I don't remember the data rate, but it's pretty darned low. And I have personally used a PocketPC this way so I can personally verify it works just fine.
So what's the good point you inadvertently brought up? Desktop PCs don't come with the
Tandy (Score:5, Informative)
Poqet or Psion (Score:3, Informative)
I'd also suggesting looking at Psion's old PDAs (Series3, Siena, Revo), which were even smaller, had reaso
Solution (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Solution (Score:5, Insightful)
I really hate when people get modded up for saying "do it the old fashioned way!" Not only is it not the nerd/geek way, but it's also a cheap shot at gaining a +5 Insightful.
Never mind that PDA's are smaller than journals, that it's hard to organize what you've got since a journal is sorted only in chronological order, that there's value in having digital backups, and the other benefits of having tools such as voice recorder, no no no, the oversimplified pen and paper answer is the real solution to his problem.
Why don't you use a little brain power to help this guy instead of trying to gain karma by making this guy's request sound non-sensical?
Re:Solution (Score:3, Insightful)
So sorry that everyone does not look at solving a problem the same way you do. Why don't we just get everyone to stop posting and then we can save time by simply reading what you have to say on the matter.
Why don't you use a little brain power to help this guy...
The original poster was looking for a possible solution to a problem. It may very well be that he has already found the best solution with paper and pen. In spi
Huh? (Score:5, Informative)
Christ, buy a Palm IIIe and a keyboard from eBay. Way less than $50. If that's too expensive, stick with your notebook and buy a scanner.
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
so, be thinking more along the lines of a clay tablet he can chisel, but it's also a sundial.
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
"I'll have a BLT, hold the bacon and lettuce, and don't DARE give me a tomato sandwich!"
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
I now return you to your regularly scheduled doldrums...
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
(me)I'll have a small Pepperoni pizza
(them)Medium
(me)HUH?
(them)We don't have small, only medium and large
(me)How can you have a medium without a small, medium means your mid-size pizza
(them)HUH?
(me)Never mind, just give me the smallest pizza you have
(them)medium
(me)whatever
Starbucks Nomeclameturista (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Ah, the perfect solution! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Or, maybe pencil and paper, then use you digital camera to picture it and recycle the paper.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
oh no! (Score:3, Funny)
Alphasmart! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Alphasmart! (Score:2, Funny)
I *have* to get my mind out of the gutter.
/nova20
Alphasmart is a great product (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Alphasmart is a great product (Score:5, Informative)
Physically, the 3000 is a small full-sized (or nearly so) keyboard with a 4x80 (I think) character cell display. It runs FOREVER on 4AA batteries and can paste text to a PC or Mac via USB or IR. (Some models ISTR have different connectors). No pasting mode is quick (19.2kbaud?), but it works just fine.
The pastica case is relatively tough, and if not beautiful, at least not butt-ugly. My wife essentially tosed it in her backpack for 3 years and it had 0 problems as far as I know. It is probably not waterproof, but I would not fear it geting damp or even a bit of rain on the outside. It has few phsyical ports onit for junk to get inside, and no moving parts other than the keyboard.
My only reservation for travel work is that it's not exactly small. It is relative light (700g?), but it will take up as much space as a very portable laptop.
If you have room for it, though, it would make a great travel log. The text editing software works reasonably well (more featurers than pico, fewer than Wordpad/TextEdit).
Re:Alphasmart! (Score:3, Informative)
First thing, the AlphaSmarts are available on ebay (usually for $200). I'll sell you one for $100 if you want
Secondly, if you only goal is to write text without worrying about weird UI's, crashing, etc, this is the machine for you. If you want to be able to use Palm software, do other stuff, the Alphasmart isn't a good deal. It's one of those "pick one thing and do it well" kinds of products.
I am very happy with my 15" Powerbook, and not unhappy
Re:Like the old Apple eMate (Score:3, Informative)
Cell phone text messaging (Score:5, Informative)
Happy Trails!
Erick
Nokia 3650 driver works with Palm keyboard (Score:3, Informative)
Here's a suggestion (Score:5, Informative)
You can also get a foldable portable palm keyboard [foxpop.co.uk] for less than $5.
It's really portable and quite comfortable to type in too [seapug.com].
I always carry these around when I go wandering -- they are good companions in the wilderness (read books, take notes etc) and you can read them in the dark too (they come with a back-lit display).
Besides, using them does not make you feel like you are using a computer-ish device, just think of them as nothing more than advanced note-taking tools with alarm clocks and games
And oh, if you are the type who hikes/climbs mountains etc., you could hook up a GPS to your Palm to look up directions using something like Cetus GPS [cetusgps.dk] - that way you have a GPS tool, alarm clock and a note-taking tool all bundled into one.
Re:Here's a suggestion (Score:3, Informative)
Here's a how-to on installing Linux on an IPaq [umd.edu] and here's the keyboard for it [pocketpcpassion.com].
I hear that there are also IR versions of these things that've come out, but I've not seen one yet.
Be sure to take a notebook and pen (Score:2, Informative)
Or, wait. Just skip the electronic gadgets all together and bring a 2 oz notebook and pen.
Why Not A PDA? (Score:3, Interesting)
The more they over-tink the plumbing... (Score:2, Insightful)
But this is slashdot, so let's discuss electronic toys we can add to our debts. We like paying for things after they've become landfil.
Well, yeah. (Score:2)
I personally prefer a device called a "digital camera" for my travel note-taking, but it has the same problem, I never seem to get around to dealing with the output.
-JDF
no PDAs? (Score:3, Insightful)
Eh? (Score:5, Informative)
This almost sounds like a troll -- "I don't want to carry a PDA, but I want a device with a keyboard and USB. A travel clock with a keyboard? What universe are you from?
Anyway, I recommend getting a cheap early-model Palm Pilot (circa $100 or so, especially if you get 'em used) and a keyboard. I used the Palm m500 and a Logitech keyboard (about $75, less used, I assume) to write a travelogue on a trip this summer. The battery life on the plam impressive, and if you lose it, you're only out less than $200. Or much, much less if you buy used.
One caveat: the accuracy on those tiny keyboards sucks. Expect to spend some time cleaning up yuor speling on your home pc.
Hate to tell you... (Score:2, Redundant)
Looks like a duck, talks like a duck, quacks like a duck... hey, its a duck
Hate to tell you, but you are looking for a pda, pure and simple. My recomendation is to look on ebay for a first or second generation Windows CE devices ( the kinda with a keyboard ), or the origional Zaruas. You should be able to pick one up used for 100$.
Re:Hate to tell you... (Score:3, Insightful)
A first or second generation PalmOS device with a keyboard would be better for travel. The PalmOS devices could run literally for months without a recharge and some took AAA batteries, which are easily replaced while on the road. WinCE devices -- especially the first and second generation devices -- were notorious battery hogs, and that's bad news when you're on vacation.
Having a built-in keyboard, rather than a f
Re:Hate to tell you... (Score:2)
Yet another reason I wish slashdot had an edit function!
a phone (Score:2, Insightful)
Sony U70 (Score:4, Interesting)
Seems like just the ticket - but it may empty out your wallet considerably. I've used the U101 a lot when travelling for everything to photo editing, dv editing, notes, watching movies on 10 hour plane flights, or wifi net connectivity -- but the U70 (although the 800x600 screen seems too small for my liking) seems more flexible / portable.
I recommend... (Score:5, Funny)
It is, however, missing your travel clock and USB connectivity requirements.
Palm + mini keyboard (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously...nothing like a Digital Camcorder (Score:5, Insightful)
A camcorder may not have a keyboard, and may not be easy to take notes on - but believe me, there's nothing like audio+video to make a memorable/enjoyable memoir of your trip.
I never thought of a camcorder (usually $300+) as a worthwhile investment, but my recent experiences changed that view - my parents're visiting and they've got a camcorder along (Sony, about $500.00, I think).
Nothing beats a camcorder to take audio/visual notes including a running commentary. It's even fun to plug it back in to the computer and edit it and relive the memorable portions of the trip later. Give it a try.
Calculscribe (Score:3, Insightful)
On the downside, they're staggeringly overpriced ($240) for a keyboard + flash memory + LCD screen.
Okay...so you essentially don't want a solution? (Score:2, Insightful)
It just appears to me that you're being a whiny little bitch for 2 reasons:
1) if you use paper, then you're bitching about how you need to spend extra time on transferring it to a computer
2) if you use a laptop or PDA, then you
From reading the article......... (Score:5, Funny)
Sorry, I am just being very straightforward.
Psion! (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm seriously in love with my trusty old Psion Series 5 for writing stuff on - I mean, the odd short note is fine to do on the Palm M130 I got, but nothing can beat the Psion for datainput. True, it has only a serial conector, but then, nothing is perfect. A Psion 5MX or a Revo might be just what you need.
How will being electronic solve anything? (Score:2, Insightful)
How will the note taking device being electronic solve the problem that you don't have time to write up the story when you get back? Won't it just be a more expensive way of not writing the story for a while after your return?
My advice would be to just stay with the pad and pen. You will save the money on the device and batteries with out loosing any functionality as I see it.
Re:How will being electronic solve anything? (Score:2)
He can edit while he's idle, maybe on a train or a plane. Thus, he could have the story pretty close to done before getting home.
Psion 5 to the rescue! (Score:5, Informative)
You can see see the eBay Psion 5 [ebay.com] stuff here. Runs on two AA batteries. I wouldn't have thought to get one but I got the recommendation from Robert Young Pelton author of the World's Most Dangerous Places [amazon.com]. If it's good enough for him....
alphasmart (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.alphasmart.com/
it has all the features you are looking for.
PDA (Score:5, Insightful)
As for expensive, what exactally IS your budget? Sure there ARE $500 PDA's, but there are also $50 PDA's. You can't justify your avoidance on cost and I personally think the "I like to get away from computers...." arguement is rediculous. If you were a bus driver, this would be equivilent to saying you want to go on vacation, without being subject to a car/bus/whatever-can-be-driven.
Hell, if its notess you want, get a $10 mini-cassette recorder, and just talk into it. It will be much easier to deal with then pen and paper anyway.
Away from computers? (Score:4, Insightful)
If you want to be away from computers, use pen and paper to take your notes, like all those guys wearing flannel shirts at your local Starbucks. If a device has USB, keyboard and memory, it's a computer according to the classic definition [webopedia.com] with embedded software - just as any PDA, but more limited. So... why not to use the PDA anyway?
Pick one (Score:5, Informative)
Honestly, get yourself a Palm [palmone.com] and the Palm UT Keyboard or even the wireless IR keyboard they sell. OK, so it's electronic. It's still the most convenient you'll find, and has a ton of other features as well. Like reading ebooks on the plane on the way to your vacation, then taking notes while on the vacation, then playing games on the way back from your vacation. It works out quite nicely.
These guys [infosyncworld.com] can give you great advice on which model you want to get. They've reviewed just about every handheld in existence.
Disclaimer: I am one of "those guys".
Pointless? (Score:2)
I think a re-evaluation of your schedule after vacations is more justified than a new equipment purpose.
Bwah (Score:2, Interesting)
Is this "I am bored so lets ask
That said if you really want to get away from computers for your vacation, get a dictation recorder (not sure on proper english term). You know the devices people used to use to dictate letters etc for their secretaries to write up. Digital storage versions existed last time I checked. Take voice notes, then transcribe later. Maybe you could even hook it up with some speech reco
Are digital cameras and camcorders better? (Score:3, Funny)
No one ever shows up for my slide shows, however.
Do other people bother to look at your digital travel photos and/or videos?
Voice- faster notes (Score:4, Informative)
outsource (Score:2, Funny)
Tape recorder? (Score:3, Insightful)
What about a tape recorder? (Score:3, Insightful)
I remember seeing the olypus digital recorder comming bundled with software and connecting wires.
Pocket PC + Voice Recorder (Score:2)
I just wanted to suggest this to you because you may see a good workflow
Re:Pocket PC + Voice Recorder (Score:3, Insightful)
Perhaps that's the way it is. But if you write something in your spare time and get it published, you start getting a fairly regular check for a while. Content is an interesting way to generate income. Doing it exclusively, though, is a bit worrisome. I wouldn't call it futile.
Why write notes? (Score:3, Informative)
Been meaning to buy one for myself for ages. Especially in the traffic in the morning, when I have a bright idea, hell of a lot easier to speak it than write it down.
Meh (Score:2)
Just hide all of the other icons on the menu. Ooh, and get a sticker that says "NoteTaker 2000" to put over the Palm logo. That way you won't have a PDA with you.
stop hiding form the solution (Score:2, Insightful)
Nokia 9210 (Score:2)
One option not mentioned yet (Score:5, Informative)
Why not invest in an mp3 recorder and use it to keep an audio journal of your vacation.
Then when you come home you can just sit down and listen to the entries and use them to write your story.
Firstly, mp3 recorders and the memory they use are cheap.
Secondly, it's alot smaller and lighter than a pen / notebook.
Thirdly, if your've near the right facilites you could even upload your log entries to a server just in case you use lose the thing.
You could even setup a webpage so your friends and family to co surf to your site and listen to your log entries.
Notepad? (Score:2)
All right fine, buy a Nokia Communicator!
My Experiences... (Score:3, Insightful)
In the end, I'm back to pen and paper and decided that if it isn't important enough that I'm not willing to transcribe it, then off it goes to the 'black hole of ideas' box. Maybe when I die, someone will edit and publish it. More likely, it will mislead a future team of archealogists into thinking we were all a bunch of crazy bastards.
I'd try the phone thing though, if you're traveling locally. Get familiar with a sound editor and you can give your audience something a little cooler than text.
Got iPod? (Score:5, Informative)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
PocketMail? (Score:2)
If I ever get around to a cross-NA bicycle tour I would consider subscribing to this service.
PS: I have no affiliation with PocketMail nor have I tried it.
Take a look here... (Score:2, Insightful)
Psion series 5 (Score:2, Insightful)
Look to the past! (Score:2)
Also, I know you said you didnt want the expense of a PDA, but you can also pick up an old Palm (say III-series vintage) and snap-on keyboard. Again, the older palms ran off of regular buy-anywhere AAA batteries so are good to travel with.
Man, what lucky friends! (Score:2)
Both kinds, 8.5x11 and legal.
I have the perfect device! (Score:3, Funny)
Cheap, not really a computer and with a keyboard! It's called a P-P-P PowerBook [stevens.edu]
Where do you want me to ship it?
Use your digital camera for timestamps (Score:3, Insightful)
One word . . . (Score:3, Interesting)
Seriously. Get an old mechanical typewriter. They have relatively small ones that come in their own briefcase-like case. I'm sure you can pick one up dirt-cheap at a thrift shop or antique store.
You'll feel really hip and literary typing up your travel notes on an actual typewriter. Then when you get back home, scan your typewritten pages into your computer with through an OCR program, clean it up a bit, and you're good to go.
Nokia Digital Pen (Score:5, Interesting)
It can store up 100 A5 pages...
I haven't tried it myself, but I would love to.
Most are missing the obvious answer... (Score:3, Interesting)
Nothing simpler than just speaking your notes into a tiny electronic device, then have a speech-to-text converter "type" it into your favorite word processing program.
I use one from Olympus that has really good record time/battery life.
Couple of ideas... (Score:3, Informative)
The biggest problem is going to be cost. For what they do, they are very expensive for the casual user. If you are a reporter, or freelance writer who can get a lot of use out of one of these, I would say go for it.
Folding keyboards for Palm and PockPC devices are reasonably comfortable for most people to enter text with. I am not fond of the thumbpads for entering text, but if you are comfortable text messaging on a cell phone, or with a Blackberry, you might want to take a look at a Zaurus 5500, which has been comming down in price.
If you prefer to "write" there are notepad data entry devices for the various PDA's as well.
Further on the "write" path is the data pen that keeps track of the movement of the pen and then downloads it via a USB port. I do not know how much memory they have, and would suspect that they are designed around taking notes at a meeting, vs. keeping track of the two week trip to Tibet.
If you don't mind a piece of electronics, but want to stay away from a computer/pda, you might want to look into a small typewriter. Type your notes, then when you get home scan them, OCR the scanned text, and post the results.
You may also find that whatever hotel you stay at as you are visiting have typewriters available for guests. This may not be handy when riding on the train and the muse strikes you, but you could use such to transcribe whatever notes you have taken into something you can scan.
For that matter, you could just do as you are, with the itterative step of scanning in your current notes, posting them as images, then manually typing the notes and decide if you want to have both the original scan and the text, or one or the other.
Another variation on that if you happen to have a cammera with a macro lens, or even a cell phone with a built in camera, would be to take photos of your notes that you can post along with whatever photos you take of the area. This would be also handy for keeping track of what you are photographing. This would work also with a film camera, but you would have the additionall wait involved in getting it developed and scanned in. Though some camera shops will allow you to get the pictures on disk or CD instead of or in addition to the prints.
Lastly you can also find digital voice recorders that you can dump the recorded audio to a computer at a later time. Memory costs dropping have really improved the amount of time you can record on these with. You might also contemplate the same with a DV camera.
Just some ideas, others will have more.
MP3 or Voice Recorder and Dragon Speak Software (Score:3, Interesting)
Logitech IO Digital Pen (Score:3, Interesting)
It's about $160, plus the price of a compatible journal.
don't cheap out ! (Score:3, Funny)
Trust me on this.
Depending on Size (Score:3, Interesting)
The real advantage is that it gets at least 500 hours on three AA batteries. For me, that is a lifesaver, because I absolutely hate charging things and have a tendency to forget to do so (particularly while travelling).
Also handy, It can output over USB or a printer cable, and can send to any computer because it can emulate a USB keyboard and just type really frickin' fast.
I expect you want something smaller than that, as it is close to laptop size. It costs about 300 dollars, which is unfortunate.
Unfortunately, Motorola is refusing to release the specs on the chip, so you can't program your own applets for it. It's only ever good as a word-processor and a primitive calculator, but that's all many people need.
Also unfortunately, the company which makes them doesn't seem to want to make a smaller one, although it can't be too difficult. I've looking inside there: it has almost nothing in it. If they would make one with a smaller screen and a stowaway keyboard, I would be in heaven.
How about an old Newton eMate? (Score:4, Interesting)
It's fun to use one of these on a long plane flight. After two hours, everyone else is either changing batteries or folding their laptops. After four hours, the battery-changers are folding up, and you're the only one still typing.
It doesn't have USB. Its only interface is serial. But the Palm Desktop software for the Mac, which is Claris Works in disguise, will export documents from the eMate either as ASCII text, or to Word.
cheap? (Score:3, Interesting)
Really, the next best option is just get an real old cheap used laptop, like some old 50$ pentium one or something. Transfer every days notes to a floppy and snail-mail it to yourself with a postcard, daily, then you have a backup if the laptop borks on you. Just make sure it has a decent battery. Don't think of it as a computer, just call it a portable keyboard equipped electronic typewriter for taking notes that's a lot cheaper than the other one you looked at.
But I still like the headlamp/ dead trees storage combo as the cheapest and best. The headlamp will satisfy geek gadget urges and it actually is quite practical, and the dead trees notebook is cheap and effective.
Palm software (Score:3, Informative)
If you carry around a cellphone, you can then upload the files with VFSFTP [ninelocks.com]. When I went to events before I got my laptop, I used this setup to update my webpage with live information. I could also upload photos as such.
Ah, one more handy program, Mocha Telnet [mochasoft.dk], it has SSH-2 support. I used it to ssh in to make thumbnails of the photos I'd uploaded.
Re:PDA != Evil Technology (Score:3, Funny)
and that,
*barf*
Re:I recomend the Egotron 2000 (Score:3, Insightful)
Been ther eon both sides of the issue.
Honestly, the biggest reason to write the stuff down (in my mind) is for yourself. It's FUN to go back through your old travellogs and find all sorts of "Oh! I had totally forgot about that time we were in X and Y happened."
One thing that would be kind of unfun about not having a notebook though is that pictures are a nearly universal language. When I look at my travellogs, they're filled with all sorts of hand-drawn maps, clocks with hands drawn on them, etc.