Barebone Workstation

Average customer rating: 4.0

It's all you need for writing on the go
Advice from a fellow writer...
not so nice
As both a doctoral student and a professional writer...
Great for University

AlphaSmart Dana - Palm OS 4.1 RAM: 8 MB - IrDA

Manufacturer: AlphaSmart
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B00007FV2Z

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Product Description

Dana by AlphaSmart is a true alternative to the laptop. It combines the affordability of a handheld with the ergonomic benefits of a notebook computer. Dana features Palm OS, the world-standard handheld operating system, giving you access to more than 10, 000 Palm applications. Included are a full-size keyboard and a screen that's 3.5 times wider than the typical handheld screen. You can type or enter data using the keyboard or by writing with the Dana stylus directly onto the screen. Virtually all Palm applications are compatible with Dana, and many are ready to take advantage of the wide screen. With Dana, you can: print directly to many USB or IrDA-enabled printers; add MultiMediaCard or SD (Secure Digital) cards; and easily exchange files with many popular PC applications like Microsoft Word and Excel.

Customer Reviews:

It's all you need for writing on the go.......2007-04-24

When I first started considering this product, my husband thought it was silly to buy something that was not-quite-a-laptop -- and gave me the whole "You [will] get what you pay for" speech. He was sure I'd be dissatisfied with something so cheap and limited in its capabilities. But that was two and a half years ago, and the fact is that the Alphasmart Dana was the perfect choice for me. I like to be able to do my writing anywhere -- library, coffee shop, train, car (if I'm a passenger) -- and the light weight of the Dana makes it so easy to just slip it in my handbag and take it along. The fact that it can store eight files means that I download my work as soon as I get back to my desktop computer, rather than storing it as I would with a laptop, which is a good habit security-wise. It's durable and bug-free: in 2.5 years, I've never had any technical difficulties. Do not assume, as my husband did, the the low price and limited capabilities mean you are getting an inferior product. If you want to be able to take your writing with you and don't need a whole lot of features beyond word-processing at hand, this product will absolutely meet your needs.

Advice from a fellow writer..........2006-12-01

My husband bought this for me, because I do not like writing on laptops. I do agree with the other reviewers, that the Dana is very portable, and light: I also agree that it is handy and has alot of features for adults and kids alike for writing/etc.
But....there are also things I do not like about this product, one being...when you buy this product, it does not come with a memory card...so, the wireless part goes sooooooo slow...and be careful NOT to lose your work...bc if it isnt kept charged..you will.
Also, the screen is not the easiest to see. It is small and dark (but there is a backround light on it, so it helps). I find it hard to write, not being able to see my last paragraphs I wrote.
And, like I said...if your buying this for the 'wireless' piece, make sure you buy a memory card for it too, otherwise it's useless....it moves at a snails pace and loads almost no pages.
All in all, it's a useful tool, though I wouldn't say it's better than a laptop, but it does do the trick for basic writing/note-taking/and organizing.
Good Luck!

not so nice.......2004-12-26

This was not so impressive. I got it last year for christmas and i am 10. It looses batteries quickly. It is also very boring and not enjoyable. the only good thing is the word prossing. And for example i lost the cd that comes for synchronizing and now i cant print or anything it comes with too many plugs and ....

i deffenataly do NOT recomend this

As both a doctoral student and a professional writer..........2004-12-08

...I find this portable word-processor a wonderful gadget. It's a lot tougher than most laptops, as well as lighter and less expensive. Also, the batteries last a lot longer. So I take it with me whenever I don't wish to lug my computer around. I also like the fact it can store up to eight documents, as well as upload the document to almost any word-processing programme on the computer.

The one drawback I find is that the machine only works with basic font. It does not have a footnote, italics, bold or underline function -- all of which would be handy. I also suggest you pay the extra and get the built-in rechargeable battery pack as well as the carrying case, since each of these makes the AlphaSmart much more convenient to travel with.

Great for University.......2003-09-08

I am studying a course in Computer Systems at University, I have a desktop in my halls but I wanted a laptop to use in lectures as I have a learning disabilty. I was recommended the Dana by a friend, for the price I think that it is a great piece of kit. The full size keyboard is a joy to type on, and the product itself is ALMOST indestructible (I know this as it gets bashed around in my bag). The widescreen is great when using Alphaword, although in most Palm applications there is a Dana logo on the left of the screen as most applications haven't been converted to run in widescreen. I would recommend purchasing an SD card as you can only store 8 files in the internal memory, which can be a bot of a problem if you are away from your PC and cannot hotsync. Overall this is a well made, cost effective and portable alternative to a laptop for word processing. Therefore, I would recommend this product to anyone.

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