ALPHASMART NEO 2 Portable Word Processor

I’m beyond pleased with the capabilities of this product and the condition in which it was delivered to me. Packaged well, usb cord included, brand new battery for full power. This seller has respect for the buyer and for him/herself. It also arrived the next day with Amazon Prime.The photo shows the Neo2 lying on top of my MacBook Pro. I wanted something that was super portable so I could carry it in my usual handbag and whip it out at a moment’s notice to continue writing my novel. For my needs, the Neo2 is superb.Dimension-wise, the Neo2 is slightly larger than my MacBook and measures about 12” long and 9” high. But it’s less than half the weight! So all night long, I’ve been whipping it onto my lap to write. And because I tend to carry larger bags, it’ll slide right in. I would buy a larger bag if I had to though - priorities ;)No loading time, just press “on” and you’re good to go. No pop-ups or any chance of falling into a Google Spiral. 8 different files you can write in (like creating a new document in Pages or Word). I’m writing my novel in File 1 and when that fills up I’ll continue to File 2, and so forth. I’m typing plot points, themes, etc. in File 8. Of course the capacity of each file is limited so you have to transfer to your computer at some point (with a USB cord, though the one included is not compatible with a Mac). That’s fine for me, because the last thing I need to be doing is scrolling 1,000 lines back to re-read everything I’ve just written (ego kills).It has decent editing capabilities. Scrolling, select all, copy and paste, a very basic spell check, and maybe more that I haven’t discovered because I’ve only had it for one day. By the way, there’s a Quick Reference Guide right on the back of the device! Maybe I’m showing my age here but I FRICKIN LOVE THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS THING!Bonus: It’s a full-size keyboard with super smooth keying, and it has a fun typing lesson that can score you on how well you do. For my 11 year old who’s usually glued to his PS4, this is a cool little diversion, and I can already see us trying it out next time we’re at a restaurant waiting for our food. Don’t judge, just don’t.I do want to point out that my seller was Princetons fulfilled by Amazon. I cannot attest to the quality of the product sold by anyone other than Princetons.

I should have bought 2, to have one as a reserve. It is a good product but it's old tech which is a good thing for writers trying to stay off their computers. Anything you type you can transfer to your computer by the USB cable included with the device. You have to download the Neo manager from the website. With it you can add programs called applets or remove programs from the device to free up space. I believe the seller gives the instruction or web link somewhere in the questions or in the advertisement. You can download a typing tutor program, practice simple math and of course you can write. There are 8 files. and each file holds about 10,000 words. Regular AA batteries come with it but I have ordered lithium Ion rechargeable batteries so I do not have to worry about losing files if the batteries die which I have read could happen. I have read the batteries last a very very long time also. The keyboard is regular size without the number pad section. The numbers are at the top. There is spell check and word count, paragraph count but no grammar check. There is thesaurus. Ctrl w for word count Ctrl t for thesaurus. There is a quick reference guide on the back. You can change font size for your preference, to fit more lines on the screen (which is non demanding on the eyes) or to have larger font to see better. I ordered an extender usb cable since the one that came with it is so short. I hate having to hold the dangling Neo2 up to the tower while trying to transfer a file. There is the possibility to buy other devices that can be used with this like a responder and a receiver to use wireless on the device but I just use it to improve my typing speed and for writing. I really am glad I bought it because writing on it is so easy..no distractions from email notifications or social media or anything. You can take this and sit in the middle of a forest and type. You can password protect your files. The Teacher or Master password is think and the file password is write The text is difficult to see in low light is the only con besides trying to figure out low tech but reading the pdf user manual was a big help. That user manual, by the way, is very extensive. I highly suggest reading it because a quick browse answers most of your questions if not all. If you want to free up space you can always remove the non essential applets by using the Neo Manager program that you should download from the website.

I love that the words on the screen are big. Keyboard itself is sturdy, and fast. Battery lasts for a long time. I've read it can last for up to a year. The transfer takes a little longer compared to the Dana and 3000, but if I had to pick writing a word processor on a plane, I would probably pick this one since the battery lasts long, big words on the screen, and sturdy. I've written more words on this device than I have on the laptop. Perfect for 1st drafts, and even revisions. Wish there was a touch screen like the Dana, but all in all, this is a good product. If you're a writer it's a must have.