My office chair has been showing signs of
wear for the past couple of months, and I can’t say that makes me sad. I knew
when I bought it that even with the adjustable seat and back, it was never
going to be as comfortable as my last chair. Actually, I haven’t loved any of
my office chairs since about 2000 when I found a very small model without armrests, that
fit my vertically challenged body.
Fast forward to 2019 and nothing has
changed. Ergonomically designed office chairs are still proportioned for
someone a little taller with slightly longer legs. The constant strain on my
hips and back have taken a rather painful toll, lately. The only chair in my
house that seems to fit me is a rocking chair that my grandmother gave me when
my oldest was a baby. My back is supported and my feet touch the ground. It’s
been in my office since I had it reupholstered a couple of years ago; the
perfect chair, right under my nose.
Writing out entire drafts by hand would
be tedious though, and my laptop crashed a couple of months ago. I thought
about using Dragon and just dictating the first draft while sitting in the
rocker but I never really liked the program. I’d heard that it didn’t adapt
well to certain accents, and while I’ve never thought of myself as having an
accent, I might as well have been speaking Klingon. Dragon is not an option for
me.
My options for an ergonomic workspace
where I might be able to produce a decent word count without crippling myself
were dwindling when I remembered the Alpha Smart. I’d heard about the battery
operated word processor, many moons ago, at a Romance Writers of America
conference.
A little research revealed that the Neo2
model would be an ideal fit for my needs but it had been discontinued in 2013.
Lucky for me, I found a seller on Amazon that had several never been used
machines and I purchased one along with a lap desk. I know buying a smaller
laptop that would fit the space is an option but one of the points in the Neo’s
favor is the added bonus of not being tempted by the internet.
So far, I’m impressed. First of all, it’s
very light, runs on 3 AA batteries and can hold over 200 pages of text.
Transferring files to my computer is easy. All I have to do is plug the USB
(that it came with) into my computer, open Word and push the Neo send button. It types the text into the
open document or can be connected directly to a printer if I want a printed
file.
New technology doesn’t bother me and I’ll
be the first to admit that I will use my desktop to edit and format my
manuscript because it’s easier when I can see the entire page instead of four
or five lines. However, I spend a month or more on first drafts and I’m looking
forward to being comfortable for that time and hopefully, more productive.
I’m still fiddling with it and plan to
log my time and word count to see if I’m more productive. I’ll let you know how
it all turns out. What about you? Is there anything about your workspace that
you’d change?
Have a wonderful June!
Paris Brandon
Website: http://parisbrandon.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ParisBrandon
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/parisbrandonaut/
Amazon
Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00N3M7EEM
Paris Brandon is a paranormal romantic suspense
author who also writes contemporary, erotic, and historical romance. When not
dreaming up stories featuring heroes who aren’t intimidated by strong heroines,
she can be found strolling through antique and thrift stores searching for
vintage treasures, or communing with nature, which is code for sitting on the
patio with a cup of tea and a good book.
8 comments:
Paris, I have an Alpha Smart I bought in the late 90's. I no longer use it but it was perfect for me when I worked. I'd use it during my lunch hour to write, then transfer my work to my computer when I got home. My Alpha Smart is still in good condition. I guess I should try to sell it. I'm vertically challenged too so I understand how hard it is to get a chair that allows your feet to touch the floor. My desk chair is good, but my toes can touch the floor. I can't put my feet flat.
Cara,
I'm hoping this solution works out and I'm able to keep up a decent word count. Have you ever thought of getting a small box to rest your feet flat? I used that method, once upon a time:)
We used the Alpha Smart at school when teaching the children how to type. They loved it but never used it for word processing, but you have given me a great idea! Thanks!
Good deal!!!
Melissa,
I had no idea it was used for school until I started researching it. It seems like it would have been a handy tool:)
Hi Anny,
I'm looking forward to being comfortable while I work:)
harperyn (at) outlook (dot) com from CANADA writes:
Haha whatever works right? I use this IKEA chair that's on wheels and it's height adjustable. But the real clincher that sealed the deal was that it came in a gorgeous turquoise aqua colour.
Post a Comment