Distraction Free Smart Typewriter

Brand: Astrohaus
Model: FST-01-ANSI
EAN: 0799861402459
Category: Gadgets & Tools
Price: n/a  (28 customer reviews)
Dimension: 9.30 x 11.70 x 2.80 inches
Shipping Wt: 4.00 pounds. FREE Shipping (Details)
Availability: In Stock.
Average Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
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Product Description

The Freewrite (2nd Generation) is a distraction-free writing tool with twice the battery life of the original. It combines the simplicity of a typewriter with all of the modern conveniences of cloud documents, e-paper display, and full-size mechanical ANSI keyboard.

Features

  • Serious writers only – Freewrite is designed for drafting top to bottom, and then editing later on your computer. This method busts writer’s block and can 2x or 3x your productivity. Freewrite is not for general purpose word processing.
  • Superior typing experience – Best-in-class, full-size mechanical keyboard featuring Cherry MX Brown keyswitches, made in Germany.
  • Easy on the eyes – E Ink screen provides excellent indoor and outdoor readability. Includes front light for nighttime writing.
  • Safe and secure – Internal memory of over 1 million pages allows you to write where you feel inspired. Seamless backups to the cloud via Wi-Fi let you retrieve drafts in Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive.
  • Leave the charger at home – Weeks of battery life with regular usage. *

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Top Reviews

Hipster nonsense, or brilliant productivity tool?
by banjo-picking green thumber (5 out of 5 stars)
February 9, 2019

I'm a writer. I also have ADHD. It drives me crazy that this device works as well as it does, because I want to be able to believe that I COULD be this productive on a laptop, but I can't, and I know it.

Writing on my laptop, there's always the pull of another browser tab, another notification, another app. You can turn off your wi-fi. You can use browser extensions to try to block your favorite social media sites. You can use plain text apps to try to get yourself to focus on the words. But my brain is skilled in evading all these things, and finding another way to be distracted. Oh, so I've blocked Facebook? Well, maybe there's something interesting on Twitter. Blocked that? Oh, better check out Buzzfeed, or NYTimes, or check my book rankings on Amazon, or this, or that... There's always going to be something. It's the way I'm wired.

I think a lot of people could benefit from this device, to be honest. It may look like hipster nonsense, but it works. Whereas I used to struggle to finish 1,000 words in a single writing session, sometimes spending a couple hours sitting at my laptop, I can now bang out that much in 15 minutes. It's just amazing. I love it without shame. If you wanna get some writing done and you're at all prone to distraction, give this thing a shot.
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Gave it two stars for its look and concept, but actual use leaves much to be desired.
by Arezu (2 out of 5 stars)
August 19, 2018

Let me start by saying that there are several good things about this product. I appreciate the philosophy and the general approach - keeping you focused by reducing your ability to edit at-time, so that you can just move forward - I get that. I also really like the look and feel, although I'd feel pretty silly dragging this hefty, heavy, and pretty noise machine around in public. I like the e-ink display and the back-lighting and the various HUD-style notices (tells you how many words, reading time for what you've typed so far, and other encouraging figures as you go), even the big mechanical knobs that switch between files have a nice tactile sensation that's pretty satisfying.

My two biggest qualms are the significant lag in the display and the one-way sync mechanism. For a machine that costs this much, I expected a smoother user experience.

The display lags so far behind my keystrokes that it's difficult to stay focused on my thoughts. Maybe other people don't watch as they write the way that I do, or maybe I'm just such a speedy typer (sarcasm here) that the machine can't keep up, but it's frustrating and takes me out of my flow.

The sync mechanism is also very clumsy. Every time I add to a document and want to sync to the cloud, it saves as a brand new file rather than syncing with an existing file and updating that one single document. That means that I have to delete a bazillion past drafts, since there's a new one every time I sync. That also means that I can't add to my story from any other device and jump back into the same stream on the Freewrite, there's no way to update what's in the Freewrite's files. At least it syncs over wifi, so that's something.

Again, I appreciate the concept and I see what they're aiming for, but given the cost I simply can't abide a machine with these types of setbacks. Gave it two stars for its look and concept, but execution leaves much to be desired.
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Get it.
by Casey (5 out of 5 stars)
March 8, 2019

Here's the short review. If you're thinking about getting a Freewrite, do it. The thing is great. It feels great. It looks great. I just typed 4,000 words at the library in one go. Tengo fuego, mamacitas.

Here's the long review. I think knowing my context will help you understand why I like the Freewrite so much. I'm going to be a Graduate Assistant in an English program next semester. I'm invested in students being more productive and creative. Anything under that banner interests me. For my undergrad, I studied media theory and minored in creative writing. My days started with hearing how social media is ruining us (depression, anxiety, FOMO, etc). Then, I tried to be productive in English while being inundated by Twitter, Instagram, Email, YouTube and the lot. It's easy to see why I vibe with Astrohaus's mission and philosophy. I don't think it's crazy to say that's an important aspect when buying from a company.

The pretension of quoting Joan Didion on an Amazon review isn't lost on me. Know that I cringe with you when I say, "I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking." But she's got a point. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be philosophically resolved before we create (and maybe do anything in life.) The process of writing is discovering what's in your head. The Freewrite is for that discovery. Sit down and type and you'll surprise yourself. I suffer from analysis paralysis. The more I care about what I'm writing the more caution I take with every word and thought. This goes to the point of unproductivity. No! Jump in, create. Save the thinking for editing. Now's the time to find and feel.

And it feels good. These keys aren't a joke. Stop stabbing your fingers into membranes. You deserve better.

And now I have to admit how much I like the visual design. I love it. Is that a crime? I spend one third of my life typing. I should enjoy what I'm staring at. Our clothes have aesthetics we enjoy. Our favorite restaurants have aesthetics we enjoy. A Stratocaster isn't a wooden plank with strings. Someone sat down and made the Freewrite beautiful. Look, I'm a visual creature; light me on fire and pray Odin forgives.

If any of this resonates with you, I think you'll love the product. Here's to your creative endeavors!
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A review from a skeptic
by Zach Lien (5 out of 5 stars)
August 1, 2019

First and foremost, I spent months of research prior to deciding to buy the FreeWrite. It is a very expensive tool, and I was mulling over reviews on Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon. Many reviews do not paint the FreeWrite in a positive light. I kept second guessing wanting to purchase it because of this. However, after doing so, I now realize why there are negative reviews, and why I was correct in purchasing the Freewrite. Skip to the bottom for a TLDR (too long, didn't read).

It is easy at first glance to discredit the Freewrite - it is also easy and lazy to say it is expensive and a "hipster" tool. People love to be enraged about something, no matter what it is. I had wanted a typewriter in order to write distraction-free. I have spent over ten years coming up with ideas, writing countless pages of notes and outlines, but never finishing one book. My outlines and notes probably encompass dozens of novels on their own. I was desperate for a tool that would help me take these notes and finally finish a novel. I came across the Freewrite - it immediately intrigued me, but I didn't want to impulsively buy it (most writers can relate to being impulsive). I waited a few months to be sure I wanted it, part of this waiting including coming up with the money to buy the device. Once I decided that I really wanted it, I bought it.

Within a few days, it arrived. The keyboard is mechanical and feels like a typewriter with a little less resistance. I quickly grew to love it. The form factor enables it to be easily transported, while still having some weight to it when working with it on a surface. After some brief reviews of the manual, the interface was easy to use. At first, I was incredibly annoyed at the document reviewing capabilities. The Freewrite restricts the ability to easily cycle through your document. You can go up and down (pg up, pg down, up and down arrows), but it can be tedious. This is intentional and it is a GOOD thing. So, what would have originally been a negative point for me, ended up being the Freewrite's most important strength: its focus on linear writing.

The FreeWrite isn't meant to just be another "word processor". I've seen countless people complain about it being the same as one, many of these complaints coming from people who clearly don't have the device. I want this to be clear: Freewrite is not a watered down word processor. I quickly came to realize that the Freewrite needs to be seen as two things (hear me out, this may sound cheesy at first):
1. A writing philosophy
2. A tool to fulfill this writing philosophy

My original purchase was based without either of these in mind. I know there are other writers out there like me who have trouble completing something for MANY reasons, whether it be expecting perfection, personal roadblocks, issues with attention, etc. Once I started writing with this device, it very quickly changed my perception of how to reach my end goal. At the start, I went against the grain of what Astrohaus preached, and would go into my cloud document and edit it, then go back and forth between typing. This started to become painful. I had a moment of clarity where I realized I had bought the Freewrite for a reason - so why not try and follow their philosophy? Reluctantly, I reorganized my outline and research, broke down each chapter, and decided to just plow through it (spelling & grammar mistakes and all).

Within a few months, I have finally finished the first full draft of my novel after wrestling with a philosophy that many writers need to follow in order to finish something. I had written outlines and notes for YEARS, but never made much progress. Change is hard, and it can suck. It did at first for me. But once I saw the progress I was able to make in adhering to what the Freewrite was MADE for, everything fell into place. Was my draft full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors? Yes. Do I still need to edit a lot of it? Yes. But I have a completed structure that I now only need to modify. I'm not stuck in the loop of trying to get every single thing perfect, and not getting past the first chapter.

The Freewrite is expensive - I won't argue that. But it is very hard to put a price on such a positive change in my writing. Can you do this with other devices? Sure. But I can tell you that this device was worth the money. It is a great piece of hardware, has amazing support, and has some awesome features you won't find in many tools, including cloud backups, portability, and the complete elimination of distractions (what I call "alt-tab" or "command-tab" (mac users) hell).

TLDR:

If you are a writer who struggles with finishing projects or dealing with distractions, and you can afford the FreeWrite - BUY it. I don't exaggerate when I say that it has not only helped me finish my first full draft after ten years of not being able to do so, but it has also changed my writing philosophy for future projects. I am now confident in continuing my completion of work that has been backed up for a decade. The floodgates have opened, and now I can compartmentalize my research and notes into books. It sounds simple - and many of us are taught everything I've said. But having a device that forces this method on you is game changing.

Quick tips:
1.When using the FreeWrite, put away the laptop and phone. I only use notes, research, and books that don't live in an operating system with hundreds of traps. I do not allow myself to get distracted and caught in "alt-tab" hell.
2. Contact Astrohaus support. They are amazing and more than willing to help you with any issues you have.
3. Use word count and set goals - there are plenty of tools within the Freewrite to help you continue your writing journey.
4. Ignore the naysayers. If you are a writer, the FreeWrite will more than likely benefit you. Many of these negative reviews are from people unwilling or unable to spend the money. While I understand if it is too expensive, justifying this by giving a negative review isn't cool.
5. There ARE alternatives if you can't spend the money - the AlphaSmart is one of them. But I promise you there is a huge difference in quality between the two. If you must, grab the AlphaSmart - in time if you can afford the FreeWrite, see it as a huge upgrade.
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Freewrite - has helped me to unlock stories in my head
by Plain Jane Plain Talk (5 out of 5 stars)
March 15, 2017

I've waited a few months to write this review, to give my Freewrite and I time to get acquainted. And, if you only have a few minutes to read, I can summarize by saying we are best of friends and this typewriter has changed the way I write.

I used to write my drafts, skits, story lines on the computer and after several sentences, surely there was a better way to phrase this or that. It didn't take long before I got into edit-mode, and before the story had a chance to evolve I was busy editing a word here, a thought there -- and voila my imagination lost it's momentum.

With my Freewrite, my thoughts and words freely escape from my head to my fingertips, anywhere, any time. Knowing that editing is not the idea with this typewriter, the words flow. While it took several weeks for my brain to stop trying to edit every thought that escaped, eventually, I let go of the edit-need during the creative process.

Now for the tech details:
-- Battery life is approximately 15 hours of writing -- or 15 days if you write one hour per day
-- You can extend that battery life by turning off the Wi-Fi -- and turning it on only when you need it
-- The Send button is great -- works exactly as advertised. You hit Send when you want to post your work to your DropBox. I have my DropBox configured to further post my work onto my Google Drive You get an email too, with a text file and PDF attached. If you are ready to move beyond the free thoughts and start editing - just open that text file and grab all of the contents.
-- You can switch between 3 active documents on the Freewrite. Let say you have some characters in mind for Document 1....a plot outline in Document 2...and your story creation in Document 3. Can't remember the name of that seldom used character in Doc 1 - just switch the dial, reference and go back to Doc 3. It's that easy.
-- I like the mechanical feel and sound of the keyboard. I did order the dampener kit to minimize the sound, but then decided I preferred the sound of the keys clicking after all. Personal preference.

Customer support has been fantastic. I had several questions, and my emails were responded to within the hour.

If you are wondering how you can kick start your creativity and imagination to a new level, this little typewriter is more than a novelty. It has helped me to unlock my thoughts, and all sorts of stories in my head I never knew existed.
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I want to love it.
by Amazon Customer (3 out of 5 stars)
March 23, 2019

Bottom line up front: The Freewrite works for the most part, but suffers from several significant (sometimes crippling) problems.

The Freewrite is supposed to be a single-purpose machine -- good for pounding out first drafts and nothing else. There's nothing to distract you and no way to edit what you're writing short of backspacing, which is exactly what I want in order to be productive. Anyone complaining that the thing needs arrow keys or isn't good for editing is missing the point. That being said, the complications are numerous and large enough that it's hardly the distraction-free tool it's made out to be, and may be unusable for anyone without consistent wifi access. If you're thinking of hiding away someplace and banging out that first novel, think again.

Appearance: Gorgeous.

Physical construction: Nearly perfect. It's pleasantly heavy, and very sturdy. The top and sides are aluminum, but the bottom is plastic. The interior is inaccessible (no panels or hinges). The keyboard is easily the best one I've ever typed on. The two switches on top are satisfyingly stiff, and recessed in such a way that they won't be accidentally turned. The screen is pleasant to look at even for long periods of time, although it does refresh a bit slowly (think Kindle Paperwhite). I haven't found it to be a problem.

Battery life: I've had mine for a couple of months, and I've had to charge it three times with light use. Wifi and backlight can be turned off to push this out even farther. There is a battery level indication, but it doesn't work. I haven't timed anything, but the advertised battery life seems about right. There doesn't appear to be any way to replace the battery, leading me to assume that my Freewrite will be trapped on my desk and constantly charging at some point, or else be the victim of some potentially disastrous tinkering on my part.

Software: This is where things get questionable. All syncing is done through Astohaus' Postbox web client. It syncs perfectly with my Google Drive and Gmail, but only after going through Postbox first. It was originally advertised as being able to sync offline via a USB-C cable, but this feature apparently doesn't work on many units, including mine. This means that if you don't have access to wifi or anything happens to Postbox, nothing can be synced from your Freewrite. A fix for the offline syncing via firmware update is allegedly in the works (I emailed Astrohaus and asked).

In conclusion: I want to love my Freewrite. It's very satisfying to work on, and it genuinely increases my output. The distraction-free, back-to-basics philosophy works. The miscellaneous little issues like the somewhat laggy display, broken battery indicator, and sometimes clunky navigation are things I'm willing to live with, and will likely be fixed in future firmware updates. The inability to sync offline and complete dependency on the Postbox service require near-constant wifi access, which is a dealbreaker for me. If I had understood these problems, I wouldn't have purchased the device to begin with. I'm essentially waiting to see if a firmware update will fix this issue for me before putting the thing up on eBay. In the meantime, the Astrohaus team is releasing the Freewrite Traveler, making me wonder if the Freewrite itself might go by the wayside.
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The best thing I've purchased for writing
by Robert Holmes (5 out of 5 stars)
March 7, 2019

I have gone through them all... the desktop, the laptop, the Neo2, the Dana, the Chromebook. For a while, I touted the Neo2 as the best thing for a writer in the electronic age, and I still have mine, but it has been sitting on the shelf since I got the Freewrite.

Pros:

My fingers love it. I actually type much faster on the Freewrite than on any other device. Part of it is the sensation I get while typing, which is missing in almost every other device. I love the way it feels! And the noise the keys make is wonderful.

Cloud backup. I was hesitant about using Postbox but it syncs to my Drive account flawlessly.

The screen. Ah... The screen! My eyes get tired very easily when looking at a computer screen, which I do at work all day, but I can still type for an hour or more when I get home without more eye strain.

The size and weight. Perfect for lap typing.

Cons:

No battery charge indicator to tell it's fully charged or still charging. You just have to check by turning it on and holding down the spacebar, which still only gives a battery icon and not a percentage.

And that's all I have! One con!

I am going out on a limb here to say this device is perfect. I do not say that with abandon, either. I have typed on it for hours and love that - because there are no direction keys - I can't go back, only forward. That's exactly what I need! And the device itself is a work of art. Wonderfully designed and so pleasing you'll want to spend hours with it. I do.
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Just what I needed
by Vanessa (5 out of 5 stars)
July 25, 2018

The Freewrite is absolutely wonderful. Although it takes a little getting used to not being able to edit on the fly, it's also liberating. I constantly fall into the trap of rewriting until I've exhausted my momentum and give up creating new material. This machine helps break that habit and encourages me to continue.

The machine itself is very well-built. The e-ink screen is great in any light and doesn't produce a glare, and the backlight is a nice addition for writing in the dark. With cherry switches, the keyboard is a pleasure to type on, and makes each session an experience. Best of all is the lack of additional functions, like email or apps. It's easy to get lost in your work when there's nothing around to distract you.

The Astrohaus team's customer service is also top notch. I had an issue with my order and their responsiveness was impressive. They immediately sent me a replacement, which I received within a few days, along with a thoughtful, hand-written note that gave me the impression they had taken the time to test it themselves. Thanks to Charlie for handling my return, Adam for following up, and to the whole team for creating exactly what I needed to get some work done!
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Fantastic Product in Every Way
by Cory J. Devore (5 out of 5 stars)
March 10, 2018

Seriously one of the best purchases I've made. I type in fountain syntax which syncs perfectly to my Google drive for later editing in Slugline. When you work on computers for most of the day, and your connected to everyone at all times, it's nice to sit and type on this thing with some peace and quiet. It's the perfect size to sit on my lap, even with my feet kicked up on the couch! Not to mention I prefer it to any other keyboard I've owned. A great product.
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A Great Tool
by M. House (5 out of 5 stars)
August 11, 2018

Be sure you understand exactly what the Freewrite is before you buy it. If you don't, then you are apt to be disappointed. They call it a "smart typewriter" for a reason. The Freewrite is a forward-momentum first draft machine. It's there to get words out of you by ensuring that it's extremely difficult to do much else. It's limited by design. And when I say limited, I mean it. The Freewrite is all but useless when it comes to editing more than three or four words at a time. As long as you understand this I think you'll love a Freewrite. I enjoy the heck out of mine. First and foremost, the keyboard is great. Even the best laptop keyboards leaving me wanting. Finally, I don't have the willpower to sit with a multi-function device like a laptop and stick to writing. I suspect that it's a common affliction. I can put my laptop away and be channeled directly into a creative mode with my Freewrite.

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