I have been wanting to buy a typewriter, but quickly found myself lost in what to buy. Ideally I'd like something for which acquiring ink/toner/tape/etc is not overly difficult or expensive, as I intend to actually use the thing. Does anybody have recomendations?
Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
41–50 of 58 posts
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#42Having grown up at a time where I was forced to use typewriters and listen to vinyl LP records, I don't wax so nostalgic over those old technologies. As soon as I got my Commodore 64 and my Star Gemini 10x dot matrix printer, I never used a typewriter again! Vinyl took a little longer to get off of as I had (and still have) a fairly significant vinyl collection.
I'm with you on the vinyl, and I was with you on the typewriter until a few years ago when I was looking through a museum and they had a typewriter that could be used by the guests. It was a little older than the typewriter I had to use as a kid before getting a computer, but not radically different.
Typing on it was at first nostalgic, but I quickly realized I was typing way more steadily and efficiently (far fewer mistakes) than I do on a modern keyboard. After continuing to use it I realized there really is something important in the physicality there. There's also a lot of value I think in the "distraction free" nature of the typewriter. It's not going to deluge me with notifications about email and slack messages I'm constantly receiving.
That said, I do think I'd get very frustrated if I had to type on it when tired or rushed as mistakes are far more costly on a typewriter than a modern computer. It's certainly not the panacea that nostalgia makes many of us think it will be, but I do think there's real benefit in it.
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ditto for the fountain pen. For the past few months I've been trying to switch off the computer as much as possible and do as much writing as I can by hand. I can concentrate a lot better and I enjoy the physicality of handling a good pen and actual paper.
If you want to try something wild: take a side project and do your programming on paper. Type the code in and run it if you must. But go back and write in pen and ink. It sounds weird. Programming languages have a lot of funky syntax. You’ll find the impulse to either find short-hand or else you will start structuring the program such that you can keep (parts of) it in your head.
When I was learning Python on Udacity’s Python course, I worked out solutions to the problem sets on paper. That’s when I do my best, 100% focused thinking: with a good pen and a nice notebook.
It’s still the most enjoyable programming experience I’ve had.
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ditto for the fountain pen. For the past few months I've been trying to switch off the computer as much as possible and do as much writing as I can by hand. I can concentrate a lot better and I enjoy the physicality of handling a good pen and actual paper.
I've loved fountain pens and ink for years. Used an iPad with an Apple Pencil (which are great) for a couple of years, and then recently came back to fountain pens and pencils. I missed them so much! What pens have you/others been using? I like the TWSBI 580.
I use a Lamy 2000 and find the shape, balance, and weight to be perfect.
Different inks can transform the writing experience; Aurora’s Black ink is very wet, and in my Lamy, writing with it is effortless.
I also enjoy writing with dip pens. The Sailor Hocoro (1) works with fountain- and dip-pen inks and has a smooth-writing steel nib. I use it when I want to write out some passage or quote in another color. India ink is the blackest black and I love it for that, while walnut ink is a pleasingly light sepia.
1: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/sailor-hocoro-dip-pen-se...
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#45will gift this to someone someday, along with some liquor.
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ditto for the fountain pen. For the past few months I've been trying to switch off the computer as much as possible and do as much writing as I can by hand. I can concentrate a lot better and I enjoy the physicality of handling a good pen and actual paper.
I've loved fountain pens and ink for years. Used an iPad with an Apple Pencil (which are great) for a couple of years, and then recently came back to fountain pens and pencils. I missed them so much! What pens have you/others been using? I like the TWSBI 580.
All through university and for several years afterwards I had an Online Vision Classic, which served me very well. Unfortunately I lost the first one at some point, and its replacement had various issues. So a couple of months ago I decided to go for a really good pen, and got an Otto Huth design 04. It looks great, lies comfortably in the hand and has an excellent nib.
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#47Owning a record player and a vinyl collection helps me reconnect with music and keep the inspiration up. I went digital for quite- years actually- but after the initial joys of discovering and collecting digital i found that my interest in music started to wane. It only came back after investing some time in my vinyl collection again though buying&selling.
I think it is healthy to keep a good part of ones life analog, detached from a computer screen or mobile device.
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#48Van Neistat (Youtuber) uses typeweriter exclusively for writing, because it helps him focus, and also it seems to magically enhance his creativity. (He is one of the most creative person I've watched on youtube.) [Manual Typewriter vs. The Computer - Van Neistat - YouTube]( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iViMlNj_Ca4 )
Thank you for this one!
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#49I have a Monica and while I like typing on it I couldn't imagine writing anything substantial with it, the physical effort required to hammer down the keys hard enough is already quite fatiguing, even for someone enjoying mechanical keyboards. There are a few more modern electrical typewriters that I would consider for serious writing duty.
You need some time to switch from computer keyboard mindset. Even though it's the same thing, typing on a typewriter is completely different experience and the way you type is different. You have to place your hands differently, and get some muscles in the fingers since you have to hammer that key. Especially for ring finger and small one - they are the weakest. But as you type more you become better at it, works for basically everything else in life.
Re: Tell HN: I'm a programmer who bought a typewriter
#50You should definitely check out https://getfreewrite.com/ . You'd like that. It's like getting the best of both worlds.
I personally don't like small screens. I have s smartphone and it suits me well for other purposes, but for writing I want to feel that key hammering the paper, smell of the machine, and vibration they produce whey you type. You are definitely connected to the machine in some way. And while we don't have delete button, the way you think is pretty much different then when you have that delete button.