The thing about writing is that its hard.
And the thing about writers is that theyre always searching for something to make it easier.
And thats where Astrohaus Freewrite Traveler comes in.
Lots of words I dont recognize there.
Well, arent you demanding?
But Ill tell you.
Astrohaus is an American company that makes productivity tools.
Its first big product wasthe 2014 crowdfunded Freewrite, effectively an e-ink typewriter to help people write distraction free.
Whats the point of the Freewrite Traveler?
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How does it work?
You open up the lid and start typing.
There are no apps, no internet tool: just you and a text editor.
Your awful, harrowing thoughts.
The Freewrite Traveler does connect to WiFi, but thats only for syncing purposes.
The unit can connect with Evernote, Google, and Dropbox, as well as its propriety Postbox system.
This means your documents are backed up and synced.
And it works well.
Tell me about writing on it
First things first, the keyboard is delicious.
Its an absolute joy to use and is up there with the best non-mechanical typing experiences Ive ever had.
The keys are that perfect balance between firm and spongy, the spacing is perfect.
It feels luxurious and precise.
And this is just the beginning of the problems.
What sort of problems?
Lets talk more about the Freewrite Travelers e-ink screen one of its main marketing points.
First up, the size.
Although its not a deal-breaker, I wish it was a little wider.
Far more concerning though is the lack of a backlight.
The e-ink display looks crisp in decent daylight, but becomes tricky to read in much less.
I truly dont understandwhyAstrohaus didnt include a backlight on the Freewrite Traveler.
It makes no sense to me.
Battery life maybe?
Potentially, but any battery life losses would be an overall usability gain.
A backlight is such a basic bit of functionality and theres really no reason not to include one.
Ive had it the review unit about two weeks and havent had to charge it yet.
This is where the e-ink display really pays off.
How was the Freewrite Traveler experience?
Basically, its good for pumping out a stream of words.
If you have an outline you want to turn into prose, its an excellent tool.
The issue is theres more to writing than putting words on the page.
When Im working on a piece of creative long form, I begin by outlining chapters in bullet points.
As the story evolves, Im constantly jumping back to these, adding detail and tweaking elements.
Once this is done Ill turn it into prose the stage Id use the Freewrite Traveler for.
After this is when the real editing begins.
The shifting of paragraphs, the removal of scenes, the tweaking of sentences all nimble operations.
And ones the Freewrite Traveler is unable to achieve.
That doesnt sound great…
Potentially, but Astrohaus is clear on its website that the Freewrite range isnotan editing tool.
This is a unit that has a specific purpose: drafting.
And you know what?
It does that well.
It does it damn well.
Is there a but coming…
…but its too damn expensive for such a specific tool.
How much does the Freewrite Traveler cost?
Well, its selling for $599.
Goddamn, $599?
Thats more thanan entry-level iPad($399).
What are your overall thoughts?
I really love the machine.
But this is really a $200-300 bit of hardware.
At that price, I could overlook many of its issues.
And it does have issues.
The unlit e-ink screen makes navigating through menus irritating and editing almost impossible.
The casing around the machine feels decidedly non-premium.
And its only really useful for maybe 20% of the whole writing process.
And thats being generous.
Heres the rub though: I like it.
Nah, no thanks.
Whos the Freewrite Traveler for?
But what if you just answered yes to the first question?
And youre really looking for something to kickstart your prose?
Well, Id recommend you get a laptop and emulate the Freewrite experience and there are lots of ways.
The Freewrite Traveler is a luxury tool, not an essential one.
And you know what?
Because although the Freewrite Traveler is a one-trick pony, I just happen to love that trick.
