In a previous post, I blogged about my current portable writing solution: my MSI Wind u100. I’ve since doubled its initial RAM; I’ve upgraded to a faster wireless card; and I’ve upgraded its original 3-cell battery to a 9-cell battery, which gives me up to 6 hours of battery life with my current configurations.

I’m always on the lookout for newer, alternative solutions, and so I thought I’d share some of these with you today.

The first is the most cost efficient: at $99, the NEO 2. It’s small and lightweight. It uses AA batteries (the company claims it can run for 700 hours off of one set of batteries!). It features a full-sized keyboard. It only provides you with four viewable lines of text at any given time, but this can be a plus if using this strictly during the drafting process. I imagine editing would be a pain! But, hey, we’re talking about portable solutions here. What portable solution wouldn’t be a pain when compared to a desktop setup, right?

Next, for people looking for additional functionality in a portable package, I provide an Apple iPad with Retina display paired with ZAGGkeys PROfolio+. The two essentially create a lightweight laptop alternative. With its sharp 2038-by-1536 resolution display and up to 10 hours of battery life, the new Apple iPad increases its word processing capabilities with a ZAGGkeys PROfolio+. Although no true Microsoft Word app exists at the moment (I’ve read rumors of a tentative 2014 release date), there are other apps that can function for you in the meantime. Also, the PROfolio+ is a Bluetooh keyboard designed to last 3 months off of a single charge! I like its backlit keys, too.

Last, but not least, Apple also released its new Macbook Air lineup for 2013. From the outside, not much has changed from last year. However, I’m most impressed with the 13″ Macbook Air’s battery life. It has been confirmed to last up to 12 hours with light usage. Weighing in at about two-and-a-half pounds, and featuring a full keyboard, it easily trumps my netbook. But it comes at a cost: the standard 11″ Macbook Air retails for $999, while the standard 13″ Macbook Air retails for $1099.

Of course, there’s always the classic option of paper and pen.

Cost: Too low to advertise!

That’s it for this week. However you prefer write on the go, write your heart out.

Photo credit: Amir Kuckovic / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA