# Were we a bit foolish to abandon typewriters? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471 "2015-10-22T16:54:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/21 "2015-10-22T18:59:23Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My boss submitted a budget proposal to purchase a online job applicant system. It was really nice and included an applicant tracking system database. Federal EEO reports could easily be generated. It was about 150k and there was a yearly license fee. The Administration turned it down. > > So we’re still stuck with paper forms and spreadsheets for applicant tracking. I import the spreadsheets into Access to create the EEO reports. a major PITA for the person that maintains the spreadsheets and for me to generate the reports. And a typewriter would help with this how? Make your applications fill-able PDF’s and require electronic submission. Yes, you still have to manually track everything but at least it is readable and you don’t have stacks of paper copies you have to retain. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/22 "2015-10-22T19:17:15Z")
I couldn’t get rid of typewriters fast enough. I typed my PhD thesis on a typewriter 53 years ago and it was gruesome. Have you ever tried correcting an original and 5 carbons? Tried to fabricate math symbols by overstriking one letter with another (e.g. get a theta by overstriking an o with a -) or repeatedly rolled the carriage up a half space to get a subscript? Editing meant retyping, so I never edited it. Then I had typists to type my papers and it was almost worse getting them to do it correctly than to do it myself. I don’t want to go back to that. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/23 "2015-10-22T19:27:20Z")
The cool thing about typewriters is you can now get a Selectric free. Just go pick it up. I’ll bet you can find one. I got one from a law office that was going to keep one and throw the rest out as they’d been storing a bunch of them for years. (This itself was some years ago so now I’m storing it, but only one.) I also have an old Olivetti manual. If you just have one envelope to address, it’s faster than the computer + printer. But yeah, scan the documents, turn them into PDF files, and fill them out that way. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/24 "2015-10-22T19:30:20Z")
Around here, retail and state jobs both require an online application. Only places that do paper forms anymore are hotels, factories, and car dealerships. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/25 "2015-10-22T20:53:29Z")
Forget scanners for this sort of thing. Now-a-days for filling out hard-copy forms, I use the camera on my iPhone. Most modern smartphones have great hi-res cameras, and there are a zillion apps that’ll take the picture, find the document edges, and automatically straighten it, crop it, optimize the contrast, and convert it to a PDF (or jpg… whatever format you want). ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/26 "2015-10-22T21:07:33Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > …and use a program like Adobe Acrobat Pro (or one of the various free equivalents) to add any necessary text. Once you do it a few times it’s very, very easy. What are some “free” equivalents? ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/27 "2015-10-22T21:10:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The best thing is a PDF form designed to allow the user to fill in the blanks. I run in to the problem more often than not, they aren’t designed to do that. They probably were meant to be but are not, and unless you have a paid program that can edit PDFs you’re going to have to print them out. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/28 "2015-10-22T21:32:59Z")
If someone hands me a paper form, I’m not going to reward them with a neatly typed product. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/29 "2015-10-22T21:49:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, he used the correct word. He said his condition impaired his ability to write in an intelligible manner. But legible is the better word. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/30 "2015-10-22T22:30:42Z")
God, people still keep asking for the stupid typewriter at the library and we have to wheel it out for them. I think it’s bad service - we should be teaching them to scan, none of them have the secretarial skills to really fill out a form well with a typewriter. Pro tip - Word 2013 can open most PDFs and edit them. Also, if you think you can apply for jobs now with a paper form you are sadly mistaken. No, not even low level retail. No, not as a fry cook. No, not as a school janitor. I spend my days helping people who are completely helpless with a computer to get an e-mail address so they can tackle the completely impossible school district website so they can apply to run a damned floor buffer. It’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/31 "2015-10-22T22:39:35Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You can do all this stuff with a computer with a scanner, and the right program – scan the form (or music sheet), and use a program like Adobe Acrobat Pro (or one of the various free equivalents) to add any necessary text. Once you do it a few times it’s very, very easy. Heck, you can do it with MS Paint. It is that easy! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/32 "2015-10-22T23:07:50Z")
> [@Carryon](#): > > What are some “free” equivalents? IMO, FoxIt is the best. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/33 "2015-10-22T23:18:58Z")
We have one typewriter available to our staff of 80+ people. I’m surprised to see how often it gets used. If you have one label to make up - sure the computer can do it, but you have to have the rights materials, and it’s time consuming if you only have one label. Pop it in the typewriter, type it up and off you go. Easy peasy. The same with some envelopes that are not a standard size. The printer in my office does envelopes, but not all sizes. Odd size? Off to the typewriter. Need some labels for the office supplies room? Again, easy to do one or two on the typewriter. No one does any major projects on the old veteran, but it’s heavily used for various little projects. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/34 "2015-10-22T23:59:05Z")
I would be willing to bet that most pre-printed forms have an avery template that you can select in msword and run it through a printer. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/35 "2015-10-23T00:07:14Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Pro tip - Word 2013 can open most PDFs and edit them. Whoah! IT pushed an upgrade from 2010 to 2013 recently and the only thing I noticed was how ugly Office suddenly was. But I just checked Word with a PDF, and now my mind is blown. _Awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/36 "2015-10-23T00:28:55Z")
Typewriters are one thing, but does no one also not use ballpoint pens anymore??!? In dealing with Thai officialdom, I am constantly confronted with a barrage of forms. I pull out my trusty pen and fill them in. No problem. I know the OP said he didn’t like doing it, but is it really that much of a burden? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/37 "2015-10-23T00:33:11Z")
I still have a typewriter, though I have not used it in 13 years now. We still have them at work to fill out some shipping forms and some labels. They’re not gone but they are rarely used is true. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/38 "2015-10-23T01:00:28Z")
Twenty years ago I bought a 1959 Olympia “portable” typewriter. The original bill of sale was with it: $159. So it is now worth $1,300.11 in 2015 dollars… My niece and nephew, then about ten years old, thought it was great: you didn’t have to plug it in, so it was truly portable, apart from weighing 20 pounds, and best of all, it printed INSTANTLY! Years ago I read that switching from a manual to an electric typewriter would add about a pound to your weight over a year, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/39 "2015-10-23T01:05:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > We have several scanners. I need to learn Adobe Pro. Get comfortable creating and editing pdf’s. My Acrobat skills are pretty rudimentary right now. Acrobat would be useful dealing with paper forms at home and at work. take a picture of it and email it to yourself. Paste it into Excel or any program that has insertable text boxes. Make one text box without borders and copy/paste it as needed over the form. If you don’t have excel then use the free stuff like openofffce. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471/40 "2015-10-23T01:21:55Z")
Before you go thru the hassle of scanning a form look to see if there’s an ID number at the bottom of it. Most standard forms will have this. Then just Google that number and you’ll probably find a free, downloadable, editable, blank pdf version. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-we-a-bit-foolish-to-abandon-typewriters/735471.md?page=3)