Cosmic Edition

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!

I have been following Freewrite online for quite some time. I'm active on the writer deck subreddits and discovered them there. I liked the idea of a writing device that was only for writing. No apps, browser, or anything else distracting to really come focus on getting the ideas flowing out into type. I also liked the idea of supporting a small business and one that appears to be located in NY/Detroit. I'm from the Midwest (Chicago) originally and NYC is where I currently reside.

I waited over a year before finally taking the plunge and ordering an Alpha. I specifically got the Cosmic Edition because the colors are right on par with my kind of aesthetic and vibe. The day my alpha arrived it was stolen along with another package of mine from another online shop. Although the other item wasn't $500 it happened to be insured and getting a claim and refund or replacement at no extra cost was a breeze. The most expensive of the two items, though, from Astrohaus took forever to file a claim for. Even then I was given no reference number or any genuine help beyond basically being told, "We can't do anything unless your claim is approved".

I started by asking what the protocol was for replacing or refunding a stolen shipment. I was genuinely expecting that box to be in my mail area when I got home from work. I made sure to mention that I had asked neighbors and none for them had seen it. Because I had. I was told that I would have to file a claim online. When I attempted to file the claim I got an error message. I wrote back asking if there was some other way to go about filing the claim because I was getting an error message. I was replied to as if I didn't read the UPS error and told that I should try again later.

Fine. I woke up the next morning and attempted to file the claim again before getting ready for work. I got the same error message. I called UPS. The customer service rep told me that the only way to file the claim would be by having the sender (Astrohaus) do it because they're the ones that would have the SKU along with other pertinent information that would get the claim into motion.

I initiated another message. This time telling the same rep that I needed got Astrohaus to file the claim and whatever else the UPS rep told me. I was told that they were on it, would file it, and keep me posted.

I waited nearly 2 weeks until today after not hearing anything to ask about follow-up. The claim was put in on the 13th and denied on the 15th. Today is the 25th. I was told that all they know if that it was denied because UPS wasn't able to get into contact with me. I would need to contact UPS to continue the investigation. This would have been amazing to know on the 15th even the 20th.

I have called UPS today while at work to reopen the claim or whatever but, Jesus, I'm literally doing all of the heavy lifting myself. The other place that I ordered shoes from that were delivered and stolen the same day had an incredibly detailed response and included links and everything regarding how to go about putting in my claim and how to do it through the insurer. It answered my primary question and then some. I didn't need to ask anything else while going through the detailed steps the message because everything was laid out and explained so well. It covered everything. Even what to do in the face of any potential issues while at any of the steps.

I can't tell if it's weaponized incompetence or if there's some sort of wall between Astrohaus customer service reps and any refund/ replacement information but I almost expect a business that seems to be a small business to at least pretend to care more. Especially in type and over email since writing is their main thing.

I'm going to keep fighting the fight but in the meantime I have ordered a Pomera since that was my second choice writer deck option. It's being shipped to my new P.O. Box I ended up applying and paying for as a result of how terrible this shipping experience has been.

If this were my first Freewrite device, it would be the perfect solution to distraction-free writing. And considered as a device in a vacuum, it is. It is lightweight, easy to carry, and, so far, has enough battery for most writing styles. The “cons” are more in mechanics and expectations than any flaw of the device. My first Freewrite device is the Traveller. There are two key differences. The first is the form factor. The Alpha is like a single piece of paper (it measures just a bit larger than a single piece of paper.) The Traveller is half that size (although double the thickness). Depending on the bag I have at hand, the Alpha or the Traveller is the device I pick up. This is good, but if your EDC bag is not a backpack, you may find the Traveller a better form factor. The second is mechanical. The Traveller supports three “folder” models. Most writers will probably not care, but with Postbox, you can set the folders to different outputs - personally, I use DOCX for my A folder, MD for my B folder, and FDX/Fountain for my C folder. The Alpha does not support this - it only has one storage “folder” and thus one output type. It’s not a huge deal, given the multiple send styles, but it’s a minor annoyance if you have a working style already.

I recommend the Alpha as a platform if you want a solution to encourage you to write more. If you don’t wander far from home or work in established locations (desks, good light), it will do the job. If you tend to work in odd and unusual places, you may find it is not the perfect solution. This weekend, I am taking it to the woods to see how it performs.