WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

jszymborski wrote: post #4

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

It should run fine under dosemu with a minimal console only Linux.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#6

Post by jwrallie » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #4

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

Something like the Pocket 386 but with a regular size keyboard could be the perfect device for this purpose.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#7

Post by paradoxyl » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 4:52 AM UTC

These programs are great for sitting down and writing with no distractions, but if you have a setup with directories full of word docs, text files, various graphics, even excel sheets all related to what you are working on that you need to refer to and cross-reference, they are less useful than an older version of Word or OpenOffice/LibreOffice. And they are difficult to export, share... there's a reason we don't use typewriters anymore, or DOS programs whose output is confined within a single program.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#8

Post by toast0 » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 4:54 AM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #4

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

I thought freedos could use usb? Get something with built in ethernet or serial and you can transfer that way pretty easy too.

Or just run joe as jstar and close enough, maybe? I use joe for mostly everything, but I never used WordStar (well, I ran into it once)

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#9

Post by hakfoo » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 4:58 AM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #4

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

If you use a machine with an ISA slot, you can get a card with a chip called CH375 or CH376, which deploys a USB flash drive like a normal hard disc with either a loadable driver or option BIOS ROM. You can just pull out the entire drive and mount it on a normal Windows or Linux box.

I think the below-mentioned Pocket 376 might have one soldered-on already.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#10

Post by WorldMaker » Sat, Jun 27, 2026, 5:15 AM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #4

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

Apparently the right combination of BIOS and FreeDOS gives you somewhat easy USB support: https://superuser.com/questions/740474/how-to-access-a-usb-s...