Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
1–10 of 51 posts
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#2I think that learning to type on an actual typewriter makes these kinds of exercises not as useful for me. Although I learned on electric typewriters that allowed one full line of text, displayed in a LCD, to be typed before "printing", the first half of the class we were not allowed to use this feature.
When I want to put words down without intrusion, I disable spellcheck and generally don't find myself that concerned with mispelling.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#3I think that learning to type on an actual typewriter makes these kinds of exercises not as useful for me. Although I learned on electric typewriters that allowed one full line of text, displayed in a LCD, to be typed before "printing", the first half of the class we were not allowed to use this feature. When I want to put words down without intrusion, I disable spellcheck and generally don't find myself that concern…
I remember that one line buffer during typing class in the 1990’s when I was in typing school. We weren’t allowed to use it either. One kid tried to secretly use it anyway but anyone who’s used that feature knows there’s no way to keep it a secret. That thing sounds like an A-10 firing its gun when it types from the buffer.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#4I think that learning to type on an actual typewriter makes these kinds of exercises not as useful for me. Although I learned on electric typewriters that allowed one full line of text, displayed in a LCD, to be typed before "printing", the first half of the class we were not allowed to use this feature. When I want to put words down without intrusion, I disable spellcheck and generally don't find myself that concern…
I bet. I'm in the first generation raised on Mavis Beacon, and I've been writing in malleable text environments most of my life. The temptation to edit as I go can be overwhelming, and I sometimes envy the writers who were forced by their tools to work in actual drafts.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#5I think that learning to type on an actual typewriter makes these kinds of exercises not as useful for me. Although I learned on electric typewriters that allowed one full line of text, displayed in a LCD, to be typed before "printing", the first half of the class we were not allowed to use this feature. When I want to put words down without intrusion, I disable spellcheck and generally don't find myself that concern…
I bet. I'm in the first generation raised on Mavis Beacon, and I've been writing in malleable text environments most of my life. The temptation to edit as I go can be overwhelming, and I sometimes envy the writers who were forced by their tools to work in actual drafts.
What's whiteout for if not edit as you go? I used so much of it back in the day.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
I bet. I'm in the first generation raised on Mavis Beacon, and I've been writing in malleable text environments most of my life. The temptation to edit as I go can be overwhelming, and I sometimes envy the writers who were forced by their tools to work in actual drafts.
What's whiteout for if not edit as you go? I used so much of it back in the day.
Ha, now that you mention it, I remember my mom using a lot of white-out too.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#7i bet there is an emacs minor mode that disables backspace and various other editing commands. If not, someone ought to do it.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#8i bet there is an emacs minor mode that disables backspace and various other editing commands. If not, someone ought to do it.
This needs to happen. I wish my emacs-lisp fu were stronger, or I'd do it myself.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#9I've been taking a writing class through Second City, and I've found it incredibly useful to write out my first drafts on paper, by hand. I don't think I'm losing any time by having to type my second draft into the computer afresh - you're going to be looking at it anyway, and it's useful to be forced to reread every word. It's easy to skip over parts if you don't need to touch them.
There's the bonus that my notebook had no flashing lights, no notifications, no way for me to switch to my email.
Also I enjoy the tactility of a fountain pen on paper.
Re: Show HN: Turn your fancy, expensive computer into a stupid typewriter
#10This reminds me of how Jonathan Franzen writes on a giant old laptop with no internet. (Forgot where I read this.) Different dimension of keeping it simple.
Interesting to contrast with the likes of grammarly or google suggestions. I can’t stand having that stuff in my ear while writing. However, I did have a friend who was a non-native English speaker and he liked it because he felt less self-conscious about screwing up grammar elements when writing.