The AlphaSmart keyboard has long been a favorite of those helping students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and others with handwriting difficulties. The unit has many features we want in a device. It is light, portable, easy-to-use, and economical. For students who need to type assignments in class, AlphaSmart is a low-cost alternative to a laptop. It is also a great option for students who do not have access to a computer at home, but still need to type homework.
The AlphaSmart3000 is the latest model of the great machine. It is compatible with any Macintosh or PC. It allows students to practice keyboarding, write and electronically store reports, essays and notes without having to be at a computer. Its portability allows students to use it in the classroom, at home or on field trips. The AlphaSmart has an optional industry standard IR(infrared) interface that allows wireless transfer between the AlphaSmart and a computer or printer. AlphaSmart's web site lists compatible printers.
With a new translucent look and new SmartAppletarchitecture, she new model seems like an improved version of an already great device. Extending its simple functionality is the introduction of applets. Applets are mini software applications that can be downloaded to the AlphaSmart to extend it's functionality for keyboarding, templates, email and much more. Applets can be purchased on CDs or disk), or in the future, downloaded from AlphaSmart's. In addition to the free, built-in word processing applet, AlphaWord, the first 2 applets available will be the Calculatorapplet (free), and KeyWords, a full instructional-based keyboarding program.
The AlphaSmart3000 features a full-size keyboard and a four line by 40-character LCD .text display, weighs only two pounds, and runs on 3 AA batteries for 200-500 hours of typical use. Users can store up to eight separate files and cut/copy/paste between them. It has a built-in 70,000 word spell checker. Also included are features for individuals with special needs (sticky keys and key repeat control), plus support for characters used in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. The keyboard can be arranged four different ways- QWERTY, DVORAK, right-handed, or left-handed.
The Get Utility software allows users to transfer text from any computer to the AlphaSmart. With this feature, a student could start an assignment on a school computer, and transfer the AlphaSmart to continue to work at home or visa versa.
At $224 with an IR (infrared) interface (IR) and $199 without IR, The AlphaSmart3000 is an affordable alternative to a laptop for students who can type on a standard keyboard and whose need's center around producing written assignments.
However, the AlphaSmart 2000 is still a good device. As someone who cannot
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