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I have used multiple typewriters in my life, and agree. In addition, the look of film/tape vs cloth/nylon is very different, and tape ribbon can look very crisp
by anon946 2y ago
I have used multiple typewriters in my life, and agree. In addition, the look of film/tape vs cloth/nylon is very different, and tape ribbon can look very crisp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink_ribbon#Single-pass_(polymer)_ribbons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink_ribbon#Single-pass_(polyme....
- joe_guy 2y agoDo you mind if I ask why you still use typewriters?
- SoftTalker 2y agoFor some things (e.g. a one-off need to address an envelope) they are still faster and easier than anything else.
- Twisell 2y ago...except a pen
- Faaak 2y agoI don't think I would write faster with a pen than with a typewriter..?
- ghaff 2y agoYes. But for the one off need described (or similar) it’s way faster to write an address than to get things set up with a typewriter. Of course for certain forms, better legibility in many cases may make it worth it.
- SoftTalker 2y agoYes. Post Office OCR is pretty good, but deliverabilty of hand-addressed envelopes is not as good as with typewritten addresses. If you have really neat block printing it might be a wash.
- talldatethrow 2y agoI bought one recently at an estate sale so that I could write things without the ability to open a window and browse the web.
- Maxion 2y agoAnd, today, with LLMs it'll take you a few seconds to digitize the document, too. For this reason I've also been considering a typewriter...
- fmbb 2y agoOCR has been a solved problem for years. Long before LLMs started being hyped. At least from typewritten documents that you did not torch or shred etc.
- ryanjshaw 2y agoNo it hasn't. Just 1.5 years ago I tried all the latest OCR tools, including AWS, GCP and Azure services, and none of them could consistently and reliably read a receipt printed at a store.
- sdedovic 2y agonot the OP but, I am in my 20s and I use a typewriter somewhat regularly to journal. I was raised on computers, getting the jumble from my brain onto paper is faster with a keyboard than a pen/pencil and paper. And a typewriter is nice and analog - no screen, no lights, no battery. I'm disconnected, focused, and performant.
- FredPret 2y agoIs it hard to find ink for it?
- astrodust 2y agoYou can re-ink a ribbon if you're adventurous, or you can find new ribbons for many popular typewriters. No harder than finding ink for a stamp.
- sdedovic 2y agonot too bad. I find a lot in local garage sales and on ebay. hasn't become a problem _yet_
- catlikesshrimp 2y ago(I saw this in another HN thread) https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/default.asp https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/default.asp There, solved it for you ;) They make the stuff
- satvikpendem 2y agoYou might be interested in this video about why Gen Z is starting to use typewriters again [0]. In a word, focus. They say they are often too distracted from writing when using a computer as it is easy to surf the web instead of writing your paper, so having a single purpose utility rather than a multipurpose one is actually a boon. [0] https://youtu.be/PdYPZr1Flog https://youtu.be/PdYPZr1Flog
- armada651 2y agoSounds like we need a single-purpose Linux distro that only runs a word processor. Of course that's not nearly as interesting as using a physical typewriter, but it sure is easier than scanning all those typewritten pages using OCR.
- flobosg 2y agoI built something similar using a spare ThinkPad x220 I had lying around and a minimal Debian installation. I would prefer something closer to the AlphaSmart Neo line of digital typewriters, though.
- helij 2y agoSounds like they need to learn how to deal with this. Turning off notifications might help as well. Eventually typewriter will not work as it's a mind issue and not a tool issue imo.
- michaelt 2y agoThe typewriter is them dealing with it. Isolating oneself from outside distractions to help concentration is nothing new - libraries have provided quiet places for studying for aeons.
- filleduchaos 2y agoNah, if you don't set up on a train station platform and do all your work from there you simply have a mind issue and should learn how to deal with distractions
- Fatnino 2y agoI dont think the person you are replying to said they still use one. Just that they have used multiple typewriters in the past. I have too, for that matter, but I haven't touched one in over 25 years.
- ezequiel-garzon 2y ago"Have used" does not necessarily imply present use, right? More likely than just "used", but still. I hope OP replies.
- anon946 2y agoYes, used in the past. I don't currently use them, though I think they are cool mechanical marvels, especially IBM Selectrics. Those were way too expensive to own personally, but were common in offices. My personal typewriter was a much cheaper Smith Corona electric.
- anon946 2y agoOh, I personally don't currently use them. This was in the past, starting from playing around with my Dad's manual typewriter. Took typing course in 8th grade on a manual. Owned a Smith Corona electric in high school. Used IBM Selectrics for school newspaper, etc. I'm old. :-)