# Is There a Little Computery-Thing That Does This?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 31, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672 "2004-07-31T00:35:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672/41 "2004-08-02T13:55:10Z")

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Just talked to IT Boy: he says the Palms with keyboard attachments and the AlphaSmarts are basically the same thing in different dresses. “And, no, you are probably _not_ going to be able to e-mail yourself the text from these, you’ll have to trust that the text has been saved and download it onto your computer when you get home. _Practice_ first.”

He’s also forwarded me to the King of the IT Boys, who knows even more about this stuff, and I await his answer.

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**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672/42 "2004-08-02T14:04:52Z")

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**Eve** Don’t worry about asking questions. What It Boys everywhere hate is people who don’t ask questions, think they know what they’re doing, and destroy computers.

IT Boys love explaining technical things and answering computer questions. He’ll likely have more respect for you if you display the musch desired ability to admit that you don’t know.

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**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672/43 "2004-08-02T14:12:23Z")

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FWIW, I used to do a similar procedure (take notes, then transfer to PC) with my trusty TI-85, and this was waaay back in 1994 or so. I actually managed to write several school papers on the bus ride home in this manner. I imagine it would have been much easier if it was equipped with a QWERTY keyboard, though.

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**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672/44 "2004-08-02T15:01:26Z")

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An iBook is Apple’s low end laptop. (the PowerBooks are the higher end)  
It certainly can do e-mail and any other normal person computer tasks.

Do you need to email from Lincoln Center? because that might be an issue no matter what solution you pick.

I think the AlphaSmart is the right thing to do.

Brian

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**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-little-computery-thing-that-does-this/257672/45 "2004-08-02T16:08:42Z")

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> [@Eve](#):
>
> Oh, it’s been done, dear.

Simply exquisite. 🙂

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