Netbooks: Plugging the Freelancer's Hardware Gap
As a freelance writer I want to work anywhere and everywhere. Which means I need a flexible toolkit of writing hardware.
When it comes to essential equipment we writers travel light. There are plenty of nice-to-haves, such as a camera and a reference book or two. But there is only one absolute essential - something to write on.
Years ago I wrote by hand or with a typewriter. Now my preference is use a computer. This is where the flexibility issue arises.
At home, in my office, I have a desktop. A big screen on a big desk - I love it. But I can't take it out of the house, or even around the house. So I have a laptop for that.
I also own a first generation iPhone, nearly two years old. For years I'd dreamed of a truly mobile internet portal and then Apple delivered.
But there was still a gap in my toolkit. The laptop was mobile but bulky, with a inconveniently short battery life. The iPhone is a great pocket computer but not quite big enough to comfortably write articles with.
My 4-year-old laptop is due for replacement. As I considered my hardware gap I decided to try something different - a notebook or netbook. This has the potential for more flexibility: highly portable; great battery life; full internet access and I can write with it.
My Samsung N110 notebook computer arrived yesterday. It's too early to tell where or when I'll use it, or what difference it'll make to my style of working. But I'm looking forward to it filling the gap in my writing hardware and extending my ability to work anywhere and everywhere.
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