In February, I was able to purchase a new computer primarily for writing and that is my HP Stream. The Stream was only $228 from Amazon and I have loved every minute of my use of it.
In the world of tablets and other gadgets, it was very tempting to go the tablet route. It was also hard to force myself to buy a new computer when my standard laptop was holding up so well. The problem with the standard laptop was primarily the startup time. Because there are so many programs that run in the background for the laptop it would take a long time to load or wake from sleep mode. By the time, I could type, I was already bored with the task of writing—so many times I wouldn’t. The Stream starts within seconds and is for me to begin work. Because there is no CD drive—there are no CD based programs added in. Because I use it for writing, all that I keep on the computer is Microsoft Office. This ads to the startup time—because there is nothing else to boot up.
The computer is roughly the size of a National Geographic Magazine, in all of its dimensions. So, it is easy to simply place in my backpack for work. This steps up the level of portability. It also can run wireless internet and currently runs the Windows 8 software. I have used it for about four months and I have had no complaints at all—not even one. I recommend it to other writers as a tool to make writing more portable and focused. The HP Stream has definitely made my blogging much more enjoyable and has helped me take my writing to the next level as well.