Freewrite Traveler | Lightweight and Portable Typewriter with E Ink Digital Screen for Distraction-Free Drafting | Word Processor with Wifi Cloud Sync and Long Battery Life for Writers on the Move

I am typing this review on my new FreeWrite Traveler. I bought it as a shared gift for me and my husband; we both like to write but are easily distracted. I think we may end up battling for time with the FreeWrite and need a second one for the household. I have written more in the last week than I had in the previous six months. As others have said, the FreeWrite helps to focus the mind and fingers on writing only. I think the reason it is working well for me is that it compels forward momentum by leveraging laziness. Backspacing to correct is not impossible but is just hard enough that my brain has decided to keep writing. Instead of deleting or moving a sentence that I don't like, I now just plow ahead and type an alternate version, knowing that it will land in a google doc for editing later. The result is more words on the page, not always a perfect and polished version of the writing, but something to work with. I was afraid of the high price tag and some of the tech glitches that other reviewers have experienced, so I bought the service plan. So far so good. Cons: Latency- doesn't bother me but the letters do take at least half a second to show up on screen after you press the key Ghosts - see latency above - letters and images can also take some time to vacate the screen after they have appeared Key commands- I will need the manual for a while because in order to navigate around the screen, change settings, etc, combinations of keys have to be pressed. Not entirely intuitive, but it keeps the button count down and makes the keyboard clean and simple. Plastic case - I kind of like it but my husband thinks it could look less cheap and not catch fingerprints so easily. Not for editing - it is not easy to navigate around in what you have already typed, that has to be done later on a different machine. Pros: Lightweight and small - easy to throw into a bag, fun to take out to a cafe or library. Increased words per day output - please see above. Keyboard feels nice - not too loud but satisfying to type on, it has a very good depth of key press No eye strain - I have a remote job so I stare at a screen for 40 hours per week. The FreeWrite does not add t o my eye strain, and using it does not feel like spending even more time at work. Ambient light required - the screen is like paper; you will need a book light to read it in the dark.

Buying this device is difficult because there are so many mixed reviews out there that don’t cover anything in detail so I will try to address the regular concerns and explain why I love my Freewrite Traveler. The Freewrite Traveler is awesome! Some people make it seem like the product is complicated but it’s very simple. You boot it up and it walks you through setting up wifi. Once you’ve done that it will walk you through creating a Postbox account with Freewrite. It’s simple and easy. Once that’s happened you can begin distraction free writing. Issues Addressed: - my biggest concern is regarding the WIFI. The Freewrite cannot connect to 5G wifi (it won’t even show it as an option to connect) most home Wi-Fi signals have regular/5G so if that’s the case for you then this is not an issue. However when you go out and about to write you may not find a wifi to connect to. - the price… this thing is stupid expensive and I can’t recommend it to hobby writers unless they are loaded. I freelance write for websites, work as a ghostwriter, and have published my own novel. The device is perfect for providing distraction free writing and helping me stay on task while drafting. - The biggest concern I typically see is about the half second delay between typing and letters appearing on the screen. I personally stare at my keyboard like an amateur while I start typing then halfway through a paragraph I glance up to read/quick edit. With that style of writing I don’t notice the type delay. However, if you don’t look down at all while you type this could become a real issue and may ruin the experience. - the Traveler saves your data on the device until it’s deleted. All my drafts have stayed on the device and there is nothing that has been lost. -Postbox is an awesome system. If connected to WIFI it instantly autosaves your drafts to their system. If you connect your postbox account to Google Documents (another easy thing to do) it will also autosave instantly to Google documents. Postbox also has your writing stats to help keep you motivated and see how hard you’ve worked. - some people say the device appears cheaply made and plasticky. In my opinion it looks great and while it feels a bit delicate it doesn’t feel cheap. The device comes with a cleaning wipe that I use more to clean the cover as it is definitely a fingerprint magnet. Overall there are How To Use Freewrite Traveler like a Pro videos on YouTube. Take the time to watch them and you will learn all the neat features the device has to offer. It is near flawless for what it offers and happens to work so well for me.

I love to write, and I find myself struggling when I’m feeling creative. I have a story I’ve already outlined completely and even have written half of. When I want to write, the laptop is too bulky with too much to lug around, and I find I get very distracted. This device does one thing: distraction free drafting. It’s a drafting machine, which means when I’m working on writing something, I write it on this, sync it to Postbox, and edit it later. In that purpose it is exceptional. The machine itself is built well. Yes it feels light, and it is made of mostly plastic, but it’s supposed to. It is made for traveling. It doesn’t need to be anything else. Opening it up, right out of the box, you turn it on, you learn how it works, and you start writing. It was super easy to get started, and I haven’t had any issues with it. For mine, I have had trouble with my Internet connection at times where I live. When that happens, I notice it doesn’t sync right away. All of the troubleshooting I have done has worked, so I’ve always been able to fix it. It is important to understand that this machine is not made to replace a PC. It’s not meant for editing, only for drafting. Editing and proofreading come later. Once you get that you really can’t do any major editing with this thing, it becomes clear how to use it. I love it and am thinking of getting a different model for my desk.

This product functions well and fulfills the purpose for which it was purchased. It's easy-to-use, sturdy, and the e-ink screen is wonderful. It provides a distraction-free writing experience and the postbox system for transferring files off the device is super intuitive and easy to set up. As others have mentioned, the lag issue (which was really not that noticable to me) was fixed by a software update. I'm a very fast typist and don't have any issue. There's only one negative thing I can even say about it, which is the price. This thing is EXPENSIVE. You almost feel bad taking it places because at >$500 this machine is essentially irreplaceable on most budgets. It's a quality item, but I'd feel a lot better about it if it was in the 150-300 range. And for 550 it really should come with a carrying case, just my opinion. I'm glad I bought it, and if you're in the market for a low-tech machine like this, you probably will be too. It would just be nice if it didn't break the bank quite so much.

The company is supposed to provide minimal support so that whatever you write can be forwarded to their proprietary app. From there, you can forward it to Word or Scrivener or anywhere else for further processing. Also, you can link to Dropbox for backups. The traffic goes in one direction: (a) from machine to their app (Postbox), from their app to Dropbox for a second backup, and/or from their app, can be copy-pasted into Word or.... The problem is, THEIR APP IS HORRIBLE and it constantly swallows and loses documents. And if your written material is not properly processed in their app, it will not forward to Dropbox. So, you are stuck. You can email versions to yourself, and that is sometimes the only way to ensure that you actually have access to your materials. If you rely on the app, anything goes. Sometimes it works reliably, but you never know when it won't! And yes, you DO lose materials. Or they disappear for weeks, only to pop up on the app without prompting, or they stay stashed in the machine and don't forward to the app at all (even when wifi is ALWAYS on). Really shocking, considering that these machines (the typewriter, and now this traveler) have been on the market for about a decade, and considering that the app support is so minimal and SO primitive that one CANNOT IMAGINE how it would not function smoothly in 2022! As for their technical support: SOMEONE replies, but never acknowledges the problems and anomalies, and never provides answers. It takes 500 emails to get a cogent answer and a solution to a problem. Their website is not much help either, and is in fact SHOCKINGLY sloppy. They need to hire someone to update the materials and get rid of all manner of redundancies that just WASTE TIME! The machine itself? Beyond the hype, it is a typewriter (plasticky, but OK) that is supposed to function as a one-way funnel to the Postbox app which is supposed to update live (so long as one is connected to wifi) so that one can always have access to the latest versions of one's work, which can subsequently be further processed in other ordinary apps on computers and laptops. It is possible to modify the document on the machine, but this is cumbersome. It is really just like a notepad (typed instead of freehand). IF it works as it is supposed to, it is an OK machine, though absurdly expensive. When the online functionality is shaky (no excuse for this after 10 years, and charging the price they charge), there is ZERO justification for the machine. If things change, I will update, but currently I think it takes some brazen cheek to sell machines at this price and not even maintain the proper online counterpart that it depends on in a proper working state. Inexcusable.

I bought the Freewrite Traveler as an alternative to carrying around a laptop. If anyone remembers the compact word processors from the 1990s, the Freewrite is a mobile word processor with fewer capabilities and a smaller screen. It is designed to reduce distractions and discourage editing so that the user focuses on putting words on the screen. I don't have many issues with distraction, but if I don't need my laptop, I don't want to carry it around all the time. The Traveler fits easily into my work bag. Astrohaus also offers a felt case for it, however I refuse to pay $50 for a felt sleeve. The Traveler already costs over $500. The felt case should be included. I keep mine in a padded keyboard bag which protects it just fine. The Traveler's glossy hard clamshell can be scratched. I'm sure mine will be scratched-up with use. If you wanted to protect the shell, you could trim a skin for it from vinyl or silcone shelf liner. Astrohaus may offer their own protective skin at some point. If I can make my own, I'm not going to pay for it. To carry on the theme of no-frills writing, the Freewrite Traveler comes a charge cable a small polishing cloth. That's it. That's the sum of your accessories. The screen is black and white and easy to look at. The keyboard is comfortable. If you care about sound, it ticky-taps in a 'normal' way. I'm not a keyboard savant beyond beyond noting comfort or ease of use. I am a little put-off with the delay between keystrokes and when they appear on the screen. It takes a second for the Freewrite to catch up with my typing. If the Traveler is powered-off, it takes a long time for it boot up. It gives you enough time to fix a cup of coffee. It does come up right away if you wake it from stand-by, but stand-by still uses battery life. Being connected to WiFi also uses battery life. The Freewrite allows you switch off the Wifi connection when you don't need it. I turn my Traveler completely off if I'm not going to use it for a while. The initial charge new-from-the-box took about five hours to get it to 100%. The Traveler is not difficult to connect to WiFi. When you want to send drafts to yourself, Freewrite does this through a website called Postbox. You can view your drafts there on your computer, and you can have them automatically sent to your email in .txt format. Postbox will also save drafts to Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have questions, Postbox has a product support page. If the FAQs fail to satisfy your needs, there is also an email to ask for help. I have not contacted Product Support, so I don't know if your message reaches someone at Astrohaus, Zendesk, or an AI helpbot. Caveat: This device encrypts nothing. You can activate a lockscreen that requires a password. That's as secure as it gets. If you write stuff you don't want people to snoop, such as a private journal, don't store it on the Traveler.

I really wanted to love this machine. Perhaps it was the nostalgia of once again writing on a dedicated word processor, only updated to accommodate the modern need for constant backups. The Traveler meets both of those needs. It is indeed great to take this light, compact little machine anywhere. I did stay focused while writing. I did manage to churn through a difficult part of the book I’m writing, largely because the paragraph-long display wouldn’t allow me to easily review (er, obsess over) what I’d already written. I loved hitting Send and instantly getting an email with my draft on it, confident that it was also stored on the machine’s impressive million-word memory card. Setup was simple. Beyond that, there were issues, enough that I reluctantly returned it: PROS: Sleek, compact, easy to set up and use. The forced-focus concept in today’s blue-screen, notification-blitzing world is excellent. A truly great idea for GenXers and others who remember being able to write more prolifically in the Before Time. CONS: Way overpriced for what you get. If this had been $275, I would’ve kept it for niche use. At $549, there are too many issues. For one, the much-shorter-than-advertised battery life. I wrote 2,000 words one day and charged it fully. A few days later, I wrote 1,800. The total word count barely put a dent in the storage. I put it away for 6 days, only to discover I had just 45 minutes of battery left. Naturally, I had traveled with the Traveler and so I didn’t have the charging cable with me, rendering it useless. A month-long charge like a Kindle? No. As other reviewers have said, the floating e-Ink display (looks like LCD) is ok, keeps that blue-light glare out of the picture. However, the few-second lag of each letter typed is maddening. The display itself is grey, fairly dim, and not adjustable. If you can draft a whole novel this way and have sharp vision, it’s perfect. I love the compact, fold-up design. It’s easy to carry anywhere and looks very sleek. In usage, however, that means a small keyboard and an index-card-sized display. I have long hands (ladies XL in gloves). I was fine with typing on it for an hour or so. Longer than that, the plasticky feel of the keys and the lack of key travel started to wear on me. OVERALL: I’m impressed enough with the concept of the Freewrite that I’ll keep my eye on the product. If I catch a really good sale or a used one, I might re-buy it for niche use. Right now, I’m not going to bite again until there are a few more tweaks, like a faster processor and a backlight, and I can feel more confident that this expensive yet plasticky machine will last long enough for me to get some serious work done. UPDATE: I traded this in for the Freewrite Alpha, which I kept. Please check out my Alpha review for a comparison!

The traveler is perfect for writing on the go, especially when I'm on a deadline and need a change of venue. The traveler has smooth, buttery keys that are a delight to use. The battery life is fantastic and even with frequent use, I'm charging it only about once per week. Once set up with Wi-Fi, connecting to transfer documents to the cloud (Postbox, Gdrive, Dropbox, etc) is simple and headache free. Honestly, my favorite part is being able to toss it into my purse and take it with me everywhere. Last month we saw Hamilton, and pulled it out during intermission and work on a project. I have multiple Freewrite devices, and all are fantastic, but the traveler is honestly the best for taking on the go. It's lightweight and slim enough to tuck into a bag and the glare free screen makes it perfect for writing by the pool or at the beach.

Cercavo uno strumento del genere da anni, lavoro 9 ore al giorno con il PC e quindi per me era essenziale avere uno strumento senza retroilluminazione e distrazioni per poter scrivere in santa pace e mentalmente staccarmi dall'utilizzo del PC oltre il lavoro. Freewrite traveler è quello che cercavo, leggero e piccolo ed entra perfettamente nella mia borsa. Da quando l'ho acquistato scrivo ogni giorno senza alcuna distrazione e rimanendo coinvolta al 100% nella mia storia. Il prezzo non è economico ma per chi ha la passione della scrittura, ha in cantiere in romanzo o lavora con le parole è favoloso e un ottimo investimento. Unica pecca il fatto che ogni tanto è un po' lento per chi, come me, ha una scrittura alla tastiera fluida e molto veloce.

El producto es maravilloso, excelente, fucnional y practico, me encanto. Muchas gracias y felicidades!

Depuis autant de temps, je peux dire que la Freewrite est le meilleur outil que j'ai eu entre les mains. Je suis un écrivain compulsif et c'est un vrai plaisir de pouvoir écrire n'importe où n'importe quand. C'est vrai que c'est un investissement, mais le résultat est là. On est bien plus concentré ! C'est un bel objet et plutôt résistant. Passe partout ! Bref, un régal ! Et le bruit des touches est reposant ! Je conseille cet achat.

Es un buen producto y está claro que la productividad debería mejorar cuando no hay posibilidad de edición, pero la barra espaciadora funciona mal y, en muchas ocasiones, o bien salen dos espacios o las palabras acaban juntas (muy a menudo) y ese hecho rompe el ritmo de la escritura. Le doy una oportunidad por la portabilidad, pero no por la productividad.

Tengo 3 días probándola, pero hace un zumbido muy molesto, no permite concentrarse para escribir ¿así es su funcionamiento o tiene algún problema? ¡Si el ruido es permanente tendré que devolverla! ¿ALGUIEN TIENE EL MISMO INCONVENIENTE?