TextWriter

Lately I have been using a system called "GTD" ( for "getting things done") which relies on a collection of text files to organize tasks. So far so good.

However, having to go to the computer to edit and retrieve information can be troublesome, so I often use paper and pencil as my "text files", usually in the form of a spiral-bound notebook. This can also be troublesome: difficult to edit, easily lost or destroyed, poor interoperability with computer text files...

These problems led me to the idea for this machine. It is a handheld (hopefully pocket-sized) machine with a keyboard, small screen, printer, USB, and removable media. Its sole purpose in life is to record text files and print them out, if required, on small strips of paper.

Some details: Keyboard: some big keys for vowels and popular consonants, smaller ones for q, x, and the like. Printer: to print on 2 inch wide (say) plain paper strips, something simple with refillable ink or typewriter tape Operating system: the bare minimum to record and transfer files, thats it.

So, why not use a palm pilot? I think it is the same reason that I have a pocket calculator (several actually) even though the computer has a calculator application, i.e the simple, rugged and task-specific machine is easier to use for the common task and is more readily at hand when needed.