Plenty of e-readers and e-notebooks are out there with all the bells and whistles. Some have Google Android and full access to the Play Store, while others have social media integration and online bookstores. Over the past several years, a movement has grown toward a distraction-free writing experience. It all started with apps for the iPad, iPhone, and Android devices but has transcended to physical products. These do not have pop-ups, notifications, or anything else to break the immersion of writing.
Writers have had many tools: parchment, quills, paper, typewriters, and the personal computer. Each new iteration of a different writing method did not sit well with those who swore by the previous method. In today’s connected world, writing without a million distractions is hard. Luckily, there are some physical products whose entire existence is billed as “distraction-free.”
Distraction-free devices, whether from the technology of yesteryear or new devices dedicated to a craft, allow some people to regain control of what they do and when.
Remarkable
Remarkable is a paper tablet designed to be distraction-free, allowing users to focus on one task at a time. It supports creativity and focus without notifications, social media, or apps. The CEO of Remarkable stated, “We strive to make products that take a human-centric approach to new technology. Everything we make is distraction-free by design—without notification alerts, ads, or pop-ups that might disturb your train of thought or cloud a moment of perfect clarity.”
“With Remarkable, we wanted to create a haven for thinking. A set of focused tools that can make the rest of the world disappear so that only ink, paper, and ideas remain, regardless of whether you prefer handwriting, typing, or combining them in a single workflow.”
Remarkable currently sells two products: the Remarkable 2, which has a black-and-white e-paper screen, and the new Remarkable Paper Pro, which has a color screen. Both have their uses; black-and-white tends to be better for reading and editing PDF files, but color offers a better drawing experience. The company also provides folio cases with physical keys, making them easy to use as digital typewriters.
Freewrite
In today’s hyper-connected digital world, distractions are more than a minor nuisance. They can be barriers to a writer’s true potential. Freewrite’s unique dedicated ed hardware format offers a distraction-free environment to optimize the writing experience. Minimizing distractions and rediscovering the delight in drafting is key to unlocking your creative potential.
Freewrite is a series of typewriters with small E INK screens. The Freewrite Traveler has a full-size scissor-switch keyboard, while the Smart Typewriter has full-size mechanical keyboard featuring Kailh Box Brown key switches and thick PBT keycaps. The new Freewrite Alpha has an anti-glare FSTN LCD Display and is significantly cheaper than the E INK ones. Although all of your writing is stored locally, it does have cloud storage to ensure that your writing has proper backups.
Pomera
Unleash creativity with Pomera, a sleek, portable digital typewriter that provides a focused, distraction-free experience. Its quick start, smooth writing, lightweight design for travel, and long battery life ensure productivity anywhere, anytime. Experience the freedom to write anywhere with the ultra-portable Pomera. Its sleek design folds down to a compact size, fitting effortlessly into your bag or pocket, making it the perfect companion for writers on the move.
The upcoming Pomera is the US version of the Pomera 250, which was only available in Japan. To raise funds, the company is launching a Kickstarter campaign. This sleeker version of the quintessential digital typewriter features a scissor-switch keyboard. Equipped with advanced editing capabilities like spell check, copy/paste, and folder management, providing a full word-processing experience.
Fujitsu Quaderno
Fujitsu has two models of the Quaderno; the Quaderno A4 has a 13.3-inch screen, and the A5 has a 10.3-inch screen. These products are designed to take notes, view/edit PDF files, and draw freehand. There is no internet browser or any distractions.
It is the most responsive e-note ever released, primarily due to the exposed e-paper display. The device also employs brand-new E INK technology, making it fast, responsive, and entertaining. It supports Bluetooth foot pedals, which can be turned into a sheet music reader.
The Quaderno currently has three generations. The second generation emerged three or four years ago and is still very relevant. The software is polished, and the company continues to support it with firmware updates. The upcoming Quaderno Color models, which have Kaleido 3 e-paper screens, will ship soon.
Honourable Mentions
AlphaSmart Neo – Lengenary digital typewriter that lasts forever, runs on batteries, and can connect to anything with a keyboard to physically transfer data. While AlphaSmart no longer exists as a brand, a cult following of distraction-free writers has kept alive a healthy secondhand market for Alphasmart devices. They can still be purchased on eBay and other marketplaces.
iPad with Apple Pencil and paperlike screen protector—This might be overkill for many people, but a physical keyboard can also provide a decent drawing or writing experience. There are ways to turn off notifications and popups, but making the iPad distraction-free takes a lot of work.
The Pocket 386 offers a retro Windows experience with a 386 SX chip, 8MB RAM, and an OPL3 sound card. The laptop combines old hardware with new advancements, providing a bloat-free Windows experience. Many writing apps are available for DOS, which ensures zero distractions.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
