The freewrite traveler is a great device for writing that I would recommend, but I have a few issues with it.
The amount of time takes boot is rather long and the input delay while typing can be obnoxious.
But other than that I am satisfied with my purchase
I travel for my day job. I have a computer and a 2nd screen for work. Carrying a 3rd laptop was just too much. The traveler is perfect for my needs
I went from writing by hand and typing it out on my laptop to typing on the Freewrite. It still has that raw writing feeling, but eliminated the redundancy of deciphering my own hand writing. My first chapter on the typewriter? About 11,500 words. I had to split it to two chapters. So yeah, this tool releases creativity so you can edit later.
The clicks are satisfying, the body is gorgeous, and the aesthetic just makes me want to write after I get home from work.
This is the most beautiful device I own, but aesthetics aside. I’ve done my most productive writing on this smart typewriter thanks to it being distraction free. I would 100% recommend to others.
I own a Traveler and L-O-V-E it. I’ve wanted to get a Smart Typewriter for awhile for home use, where I often write in low light levels. Or sometimes even in the dark. I didn’t think I could like a keyboard more than I do the Traveler, but I stand corrected — the Smart Typewriter keyboard is even better. The few shortfalls I found with the Traveler are almost non-existent with the ST. The light is a perfect level for use anytime — bright, dark, and everything in between. And for me, this is the biggest complaint about the Traveler — I can’t use it in low light or dark (Though if a light was added to the Traveler, I would prefer an on/off switch instead of always on, like the ST). The lag between keyboard and screen that the Traveler has is almost gone with the ST. I notice it a little bit at times, but for the most part it’s not there. And since the WIFI can just be left on all the time, I find the syncing to be much more reliable. The only thing I’ve found so far with the ST is more of a user muscle-memory type thing: the space bar is very pronounced, and if I hold my hand like I normally do on all of my other keyboards, my thumb rides the space bar (I don’t notice it, it barely touches it), and so I get random spaces throughout my draft. A lot of them. But this isn’t something that’s the ST’s fault, it’s just something I have to be aware of.
I love how easy it is to write on. It’s light enough that I can sit with my legs stretched across an ottoman with it balanced on my lap or legs. Cloud functionality with postbox is excellent as well as the syncs with Dropbox and OneDrive. Syncing between Sprinter and the Freewrite gets messy taking drafts in and out of sprinter. I only took a star off because the international shipping (Uni Uni) was too expensive for the poor tracking info, limited customer service and a delivery target of 10-15 business days. I bought the sleeve from Amazon instead since I was worried it might come by Uni Uni again.
I bought the black deskmat when I ordered my Hemingway. I really liked it. When the brown embossed deskmat came out I ordered it and gave the black one to my husband. We both love them. They look great, the quality is fantastic, and they keep our desk from wear and tear.
The item is beautful but has scratches and missing keys. This company quality does not match the price paid
I finally sat down today and started writing my memoir on my new Traveler Freewrite. Wow, it is amazing, the words flowed and I wrote for a good hour. I’m inspired to write every day until I finish my first draft, the fact I can’t edit as I write is a huge benefit for me. Thank you!
For the amount of money I was disappointed in the lag time between typing and appearing on screen - very distracting. In addition there is not much in tools or usefulness in the paid postbox.
I got my sleeve, and I enjoy the design and material. I use it mainly for storing over the weekend in the office or at home. However, the sleeve is not great for portability and protection. I am able to walk to and from my office and cannot always bring my typewriter back and forth. This is because the sleeve doesn't offer much protection for my Smart Typewriter, and it also has no handle to carry with the sleeve on. I am hoping that Freewrite release a typewriter case that protects the typewriter and is more portable-friendly, especially for the most expensive product that has a limited warranty (barring extended warranty purchase).
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.
I have tried writing at home, but distractions are everywhere. I tried taking laptops to coffee shops, but my first writing laptop had a small, flat keyboard that slowed me down and I was prone to mistakes when using it. I tried a windows tablet with a nice bluetooth keyboard, but the battery didn't last long, it was hard to see in daylight, and I found that I spent most of my time plotting out my work in tools like Milanote, Scrivener, Novelpad, etc. When I first saw the Freewrite, I thought it was an outrageously expensive luxury item that would collect dust in the corner, honestly. But over the months, I've found myself watching more and more review videos and thinking about how I might use it, and after feeling like I was getting nowhere with my laptops, I found myself ordering the most extravagant of the Freewrite models, and believe me I am as shocked as anyone about this. What I found was exceptional build quality, and exceptional design. Those big white letters on the dark green keys stand out so I never get lost on the keyboard, even in the dark, and the mechanical switches are a dream to type on. The front light means I can use it anywhere, day or night. It's actually fun to use. The documents sync to the web so seamlessly and I love that. And the result is that I take it everywhere I go and I have been cranking out 1000 words a day by just spending one hour at the coffee shop on the way home. If I can stop for only half an hour, I still get over 500 words. Like clockwork. This thing is a miracle machine. All it does is move you forward in your writing, and if you sit down in front of it often enough, a completed book is pretty much the only possible outcome. My only gripe is that after a few days of use, the power button won't bring it out of standby anymore and I have to hold it down for a fresh reboot. May be something that can be addressed in firmware, hopefully. Possibly a memory leak in sleep mode. Overall, this is my favorite gadget I own, and even for the Hemmingway edition, it was worth every cent. I would not trade this thing for the world.
Even though I still gotta pay the thing down, the Smart Typewriter is the last piece of the puzzle. Now I have what I call the 'Freewrite Trifecta':
- The Alpha, used for my English classes
- The Traveler, used for my thoughts
- The Smart Typewriter, used for school/work
Overall, the Smart Typewriter is SUPER. Thank you Freewrite!
(There is trouble connecting to Wifi and the E-Ink feature is annoying, but I don't care.)
What a wonderful product, and such a perfect way to disconnect from all the distractions and get back to just writing!
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!
I’m not joking when I say that sitting down and letting my emotions unleash on this device brought me unexpected feelings of excitement, as well as a sort of cathartic release of sadness because I’d stopped writing for so long. Thank you, it feels good to finally re-acquaint myself with my dreams and inner dialogues.