I want a portable word processor - a mini laptop with no internet. Is there such a thing?

Question

I want a portable word processor - a mini laptop with no internet. Is there such a thing?

Answer 1

This is one of those questions that has a yes and no answer to it.



In essence, your can get stand-alone word processors that don't have internet access, but they also won't have USB's or MS Word as they are glorified electronic typewriters with a spell check installed. They have a very small onboard memory and some even still work off 2.5" floppy disks. But they are heavy and noisy - not what I would recommend for taking to lectures.



The closest to what you're looking for would be a reconditioned laptop (I'm thinking of cost here). A brief eBay search found a couple of working Toshiba Satellite's that have very little RAM and hard drives around the 40Gb mark which were originally built to take Windows 98SE. If one of these were giving to someone who knows what they are doing (ie - someone like me who's a freelance IT consultant) and get them to do a HDD wipe and reinstall of Win 98SE. The machine would then be able to take Office 98 or it could even run Office XP if they have a copy (or Works 98 if they haven't) which would give you a version of Word that is compatible with the more up to date versions. Drivers are still available for Win 98 OS so you're USB stick shouldn't be too much of an issue. These machines are not the lightest on the market on the mo by a long chalk but certainly are a lot cheaper than a new machine at £300+



If you end up buying a new one, have a look at the netbooks running Windows CE. I recently (couple of months ago) bought one on behalf of a client from a manufacturer in China (eBay again!). It cost my client £50 (that's about $75 I think) which included p&p. It took 3 weeks to get here but it had a preinstalled copy of Word on it that did what it said on the tin. You wouldn't need to use the WIFI on it and it was ready to rock with USB 2.0 ports on it, but the OS is so near to Windows 98 that you shouldn't have any issues using it. With a 7" screen, it was light as anything, but the key pitch was on the tight side so if you like a larger keyboard I would recommend getting a separate one and plugging it in to a USB port - they weight nothing and you can even get roll-up ones now.



Good luck with your search!

Answer 2

Things like that certainly used to exist, names like Psion and HP Jornada spring to mind. However, as you've discovered, the world moved on and such things have largely become smartphones and netbooks.



I would suggest you have a look around Maplin or similar boys-toys shops to see if they have something that would suit your purpose. Personally I think you'll end up with a smartphone, they're more expensive than I suspect you want to pay, but they're subsidised so you might be able to get one at a budget price.



If you wait for the next wave of Windows Phone 7 devices you'll get Microsoft Word and an up-to-date phone. The legacy Windows Phones have Word and they will be supported for some time, they may well also be available at knock down prices, so they also might be considering.



You're not going to be taking notes in beautifully formatted text, I'd imagine all you want is something you can type at and scribble the occasional diagram at. There are going to be Andriod and Blackberry-type phones with keyboards and touch screens that could also do that for you.



Another place to look would be eBay. I've linked Maplin's UBISurfer below as it's the size you suggest and you could go and look at whether something like that would suit your purpose (although probably not that device).

Answer 3

i seem to remember coming across a more basic version of what you want several years ago - provided by my school for a dyslexic student.

it was essentially just a keyboard, with a miniature low quality screen built in.

Answer 4

Portable Word Processor

Answer 5

netbook. Can pick one up for about 150-200$

Answer 6

--->> Tips---> https://trimurl.im/g57/i-want-a-portable-word-processor-a-mini-laptop-with-no-internet-is-there-such-a-thing

Answer 7

They aren't worth your money.



If you're looking at a processor, you need to compare its clock speed and the number of cores and other technologies it boasts like hyper threading.



When buying a computer, compare ram, the graphics card memory and processor and price and go for the one with the highest numbers that fits your budget.



Processor suggestions here, ( if you have any questions ask the staff by contacting them):



http://www.comparefroggy.com/best-gaming-processor-for-the-money.--eight-core-.html



Laptop and computer suggestions here, (for any questions, contact the staff):



http://www.comparefroggy.com/gaming-computer-recommendations.html

Answer 8

Well Word processors went out with Amstrad! Sony make , or did make, some nice small(er) laptops. A friend of mine, who is an air hostess on private jets has one. I am not sure but probably the Sony Z (or S or Y) Notebooks.

They are a good few inches smaller all round than a laptop but the keyboard/keys are big enough to type properly. Of course they all have internet capability and will have USB ports. Any PC/laptop that is running WinOS will be optimized for MS Word. Make sure you buy one with a full, licensed version of MS Office installed (and with the backup disc) or that will cost you a few hundred quid. Hopefully you will find such a machine on Ebay, 2nd hand for £100-£200

The thing is a 'net browser' like in your link doesn't have a hard drive (although you can have an external HD) and so I suppose it cannot run MS Office

Obviously most people can't read ('functioning keyboard that I can touch type on')

Answer 9

Try an iPad. It has a full size keyboard on its touchscreen, good word processing, and is relatively inexpensive. (around $500, as compared to $1000 for a new computer) It will be hard to find a computer without internet since that has become one of those things every computer needs to be a computer.



Hope this helps!!

Answer 10

Buy a netbook or a laptop you like and physically rip out the wifi card. That should do it.



Or, Just buy the "Disgo Net Browser 3000" for £100 and install "ubuntu" netbook edition.

Ubuntu comes with a word processor in the OS.



You can find more info about Ubuntu Netbook OS here: http://www.ubuntu.com/netbook

Answer 11

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

I want a portable word processor - a mini laptop with no internet. Is there such a thing?

Basically, I'm a university student. I want something that I can take to lectures that I can type notes on. It has to have a functioning keyboard so that I can touch type in a normal way, but also be as small as possible (I'm thinking 20cm long). I don't want it to be heavy or fragile....

Answer 12

It might not be what your looking for but an iPod touch could do the job you want it to.. It does have Internet but it is small and pretty durable it has a part where you can wright notes and it corrects things for you you can download some applications for free like dictionaries which could be helpful!! I know it's pretty good because I own one and I have dropped it on concrete and it has gotten cracks in the screen yet it still works and after that I took it to the snow once and left it and my bag outside in the snow and it has frozen over and the water melted and it still works perfectly fine I think it's pretty good there is even a voice recording thing on it so you can record your sessions and the newer versions have cameras so you can video record your sessions I think it would do it's purpose and more for you good luck :)

Answer 13

I suspect that this person does not want Internet access because he wants to avoid porn channels. Addiction to porn probably, which is not to be condemned because probably 80% of men and 25% of women are addicted to Internet porn.