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

Customer Reviews:

As both a doctoral student and a professional writer... [Posted on 2004-12-07]
...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.

not so nice [Posted on 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

Advice from a fellow writer... [Posted on 2006-11-30]
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!

It's all you need for writing on the go [Posted on 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.

Over Rated, Over Priced, Over Hyped [Posted on 2007-07-24]
I bought this back in 2003. The Wireless Dana costs 500 bucks then, plus taxes. It costs 450 today. 4 years later, and only a 50 dollar price drop? On top of that the support was HORRIBLE. There's no way to download the software you need to operate the device. I actually had to pony up the 10 bucks for them to send me a new cd. When I asked why the company didn't have it online for free download, I was answered with silence. For what this is, it's horribly overpriced. It's a Palm 3x with 16 megs and a horribly slow 802.11b connection + a decent keyboard. The Emperor has no clothes. I can't believe people actually pay 500 bucks + for these. I'm ashamed to say I was one of these people. At least I didn't lose too much; I sold on ebay last year.

Click here for more details and discount information...