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I've been an enthusiastic user of the AlphaSmart Pro for some time now, having shared my bubbly feelings in a review some months back. When I got a glossy promo from Intelligent Peripherals about the new AlphaSmart 2000, I was eager to check out the latest version of a tool I've come to depend on. The AlphaSmart's combination of long battery life, quiet keyboarding, and the ability to upload text to most any desktop all adds up to a solid addition to my road warrior's arsenal. A number of features have been added to the AlphaSmart 2000:
The unit still sports a full-size keyboard, and it's lighter than ever, tipping in at a slight two pounds. So why am I not more enthusiastic? While the Pro seemed to make the best of its limitations, the 2000 seems to stumble over its improvements. 
Being a travelin' kinda guy, I was tickled that this puppy was so light and looked so cool, so smooth. But after extended use, I'm finding light and smooth to be a lot less than I'd hoped for. The dang thing keeps sliding off my lap. It might look cool, but I don't, trying to hang onto it. And, while the spell checker is handy, the 2000 does not address the one critical flaw of the AlphaSmart product: you still can't cut and paste! This rules out a wide variety of knowledge worker tasks. This is still a good tool for long interviews, but it's a pain in the butt to edit with the thing. The most annoying problem, however, has to do with the noise level. I capture meetings on a regular basis. My transcriptions are certainly not verbatim, but the keyboarding is constant enough to become part of the meeting ambiance. I'm sad to say that the 2000 is a lot louder than its predecessor. Still, the price is right at $249. While it's certainly not an unconcious carry at two pounds, you'll be able to do real text-intensive work that would be impossible on a palmtop. I just wish I could have been as enthusiastic this time around as I was the last. - Peter Sugarman [3/18/98]
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