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AlphaSmart Neo

Neo Creates New Possibilities

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User Rating 5 Star Rating (1 Review) Write a review

From , former About.com Guide

Neo by AlphaSmart

Neo by AlphaSmart

AlphaSmart, Inc.
The Neo from AlphaSmart provides mobile professionals with an alternative to using a laptop or PDA when collecting information or creating data driven documents. Companies that rely on data input from their mobile workers but don't need Internet access will find the Neo is up to the task. Take a closer look at what the Neo offers and how it can benefit your mobile work-style.

Display & Keyboard

The display screen on the Neo enables mobile professionals to view from two to six lines of text and the font size can even be increased for additional comfort when reading or entering large quantities of text. This comes in handy when you have to share the information with someone else and readability is crucial to ensure that data has been entered correctly.

One of the nicest features of the Neo is the large keyboard which makes it comfortable to enter information. Rather than trying to use a stylus or PDA-sized keyboard, mobile professionals will have the sense of using a laptop. There are quick access keys for files, changing keyboard defaults and adjusting the display. It's a very comfortable keyboard to use, even for long periods of time.

AlphaWord Plus SmartApplet

This is the word processing program includes a Thesaurus, Spanish-English word look-up and built-in help system. AlphaWord enables you to save files using pre-set file keys (1-8) and also by any name that you wish. Find-and-replace is another handy element to this program. Files created with AlphaWord can be transferred to any Mac system running OS 9.0 or later or Windows systems running Windows 98SE or later. Using AlphaWord to create documents for input into spreadsheets or pre-set forms can be accomplished by using comma deliniated formatting or using tabs and spacing.

Files can also be linked which makes it easy to access a set of documents in their correct order to provide information or when collecting information.

Mobile professionals can work in AlphaWord to create their documents or view documents imported into AlphaWord quickly and easily.

IrDA and USB

Using IrDA technology, mobile professionals can beam information from their Neo to other Neos, AlphaSmart 3000s, Danas or other Palm OS devices.

Mobile professionals can also receive information such as address books, memos, to do lists or even appointments from another Palm OS user or device.

Using the USB port, mobile professionals can connect to a printer or another computer (PC or Mac).

Rugged Long Life

While the Neo is light and easy to carry anywhere, it's been designed to be rugged, keep in mind one of it's main uses is in educational settings but it still well suited to a mobile professionals busy life on the road.

The three standard AA alkaline batteries provide over 700 hours of battery life. Using the rechargeable battery pack provides an additional 200 hours or more operation time.

User Reviews

 5 out of 5
Great but one flaw, Member babydollll00

I love my Neo. I am a writer and it is so much easier then lugging around my heavy laptop. There is only one flaw. The software that enables you to send the typed info to a pc WILL NOT work on 64 bit OS versions. I did not notice this when I purchased b/c it was in tiny print below the specifications page on Neo's website. I emailed Neo and informed them that the writing should have been larger. They were nice and emailed me back they they would let me know when a 64 bit version became available. Luckily I have a laptop with xp and my Neo works when I connect to it but not my desktop which is running a windows 64 bit version. Still I have heard via the web grapevine that a 64 bit fix isn't going to be available anytime soon. Also would be better if the screen was backlighted for low light areas but I fixed this problem with a poratble book light like the one I use with my Kindle.

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