Édition Cosmique

Alright, so I don't typically do reviews, so here goes nothing. I own both the Freewrite "Smart Typewriter"(Limited "Ink" Edition) and the "Cosmic Alpha". Here are my observations:
Obviously, the Smart Typewriter feels more premium. The body is almost completely made out of metal, the toggle switches to swap between folders and the wifi on/off/new function are satisfying, and the keyboard is arguably (note: I said arguably... my personal opinions will be noted later) better. The Smart Typewriter also has a bigger display; fitting more lines of text for you to view if you are into that sort of thing.
The Alpha, despite its premium 3D preview on the website, definitely feels plastic-y when handling it. I mean, the device itself is made from plastic, so that should be pretty obvious right? It just feels a little bit on the cheaper end construction wise (the seams on mine flex when pressed which, at this time, seem to be the only visually descriptive example I can come up with regarding that opinion). I personally love the color way on the device itself. The fact that it comes with the carrying sleeve is pretty sweet too, as I had to buy a separate case with the Smart Typewriter. With everything I've said, you might be inclined to lean towards the Smart Typewriter. The value for money seems moreso in that direction; right?
Heck no.
I love the Smart Typewriter, don't get me wrong, but you can bring the Alpha literally anywhere and it's not inconvenient. The keyboard on the Alpha is 100% better. It's quieter, the keys have just a tad bit of weight to them(one review on youtube describes them as "thocky", which I would say is appropriate), and there are less errors in typing. I'll give an example. Let's say you are a knucklehead like me, and instead of clicking the shift button to capitilize the first letter of the first word of your sentence, you click the caps lock button. You type the first letter of the first word in your sentence, then click the caps lock button again to uncapitalize your keyboard, allowing you to finish typing out the rest of your word normally. The Alpha does this no problem! The instant refresh rate of the LCD might be one of the reasons this is possible(my knowledge on the way technology works is pretty limited, so I'm not quite sure). When I do this same method on the Smart Typewriter, however, it always ends up capitalizing both the first and second letter of the the word before the button registers that I had already uncapitalized the keyboard. A small, but annoying issue that I felt I should mention.
What about the super small, hard to read, "only 4 lines of text" display? I think it's great! So many people on reddit try to find whiny baby things to complain about, but in reality, you can see the display just fine. If you can't, wear glasses. If that doesn't work, increase the font. If your new complaint is that you can't read more than two lines of font at a time on a drafting device because of your own physical limitations...this device isn't for you bud. I would recommend you the Smart Typewriter, but even that thing has some annoyances with the display. It lags by almost 1 second per button press. That alone isn't particularly an issue; it's the "sticking" e-ink that frustrates me. Every once in a while, i'll type a letter that ends up sticking on the display and the only way to remove it is to refresh the screen, or go back over the letter and type it again, somehow "unsticking" it. I don't know what the hype is surrounding e-ink displays on devices outside of reading tablets, but I personally think it is the only major downside (and area of malfunction) of the Smart Typewriter and Traveler. One thing I missed regarding the comparison of the keyboard between both devices earlier, was the experience as a whole when typing on them. The Alpha's keyboard, in my opinion, is significantly better. The Smart Typewriter has a great keyboard, but it feels like underneath each key is a tiny piece of parchment paper--and every press of a key just smacks that scratchy parchment paper, making a loud typing experience. The Alpha feels like the keyboard that you wish they would've put into your Macbook Pro.
All in all, I believe the Alpha is the way to go. Understand that there are sacrifices to any device you use to write with, and try to use what little ramblings I gave here (ramblings that I wrote using my Freewrite Alpha) to decide which sacrifices are worth it for you.

Respectfully,

- SirBootiusClapsimus

After some technical issues with a Traveller, I figured I would give the Alpha a try. It's been a much better experience; the backlight is a great help so I don't need a reading light anymore.
There's a couple of small things, like how I will accidentally press the "send" key and it just stops my writing flow while it sends my draft to my email...? Please allow us to disable this horrible feature. I also sometimes get a "shred" option, which is terrifying, and I have no idea still what I pressed to get that? I don't want that, either.
My biggest complaint? It is LOUD. It is not a satisfying click-clack. I have to have something in the background on or my headphones on because it is very distracting.

It's great, really. I have written over 50k on it for my next novel. But it's not perfect. Battery life? Great. Backlight? Awesome.

Also: if you get this and usually tab your paragraph starts: don't. It's not a real tab. Edit them in post. Learn from my pain.

This is a great device!

What do I think of the Freewrite Alpha Cosmic Edition?

The short answer is that it does what it is designed to do. If I were rating the Alpha purely on its ability to deliver on what Freewrite advertises, it would deserve an easy five-star rating. Its keyboard provides a satisfying enough tactile experience, and its limited functionality removes immediate distractions and encourages focus—provided you can leave your phone alone.

So, if functioning as a distraction-free writing device is all you care about, feel free to stop reading now and add it to your cart. Your money will not be wasted. If, however, you seek a more complete review, consider persevering.

I originally purchased the Hemingwrtie Edition of Freewrites full-size typewriter. Its striking appearance, beautiful leather carrying case, and obvious homage to its namesake were enough reasons for me to accept its $1000 price tag. My opinion, however, changed rapidly upon receiving the device and briefly trying on its keyboard. The keys were made of thin, cheap-feeling plastic and made a rather unpleasant and unsatisfying sort-of klacking sound with every press. The keyboard on mine specifically arrived with a broken tab button. My initial impression was also not helped by the fact that mine arrived already tarnished, with marks indicating previous use of the Folder and WIFI switches. Overall, the device just gave the impression of being a used return quickly repackaged and resold. I hope I am mistaken.

It took me about 10 minutes to conclude that the Hemingwrite was not worth its price and to return it. A day or two after shipping it back, I ordered the Alpha Cosmic edition, and after a couple of days of use, I can report that I do not regret giving Freewrite a second chance.

The Alpha delivers in a way that the Hemingwrite could not. It fulfills its desired purpose while providing a solid typing experience and a straightforward user experience, where the most challenging part of the setup is remembering your WIFI password. It also benefits from not leaving me feeling like I paid drastically more than the device is worth.

Let me be clear: the price of the Alpha Cosmic edition is steep for what you receive - an all-plastic device with a solid keyboard connected to a small backlit Kindle-style display. It may be made of heavy plastic. It may even be quite durable, but the materials are nothing exceptional. It only makes up for its mark-up by living up to its purpose. Put another way, when used as intended, the Freewrite Alpha Cosmic Edition is greater than the sum of its parts. If you understand and accept that, then I see little reason for you to be unsatisfied with your purchase.

Happy typing.

Yes, this review was drafted using my Freewrite.

Adding the Alpha Cosmic to my writing toolbox was an easy decision…a simple, dedicated drafting device. I am loving it. As a truck driver, it’s the perfect form factor, always at the ready in my home on wheels. No distractions. Instant on…lightweight…perfect.

An investment in my creativity…no regrets. The rest is still unwritten!