Cheapest device with keyboard and display?

[kranky]

A friend is in the hospital and can't speak due to a tracheotomy. The way he's communicating is by pointing to letters on a sheet of paper. This is taking a long time and since he can type, we thought a laptop would make it much easier and faster for him to communicate.

He types, we look at the display, that's it.

But since there's no real need for a actual computer - just something with a regular keyboard and a display to show what was typed - I thought I'd ask if anyone had an idea for a device other than a laptop.

 

[BigJ]

Apparently a company called DynaVox puts out a whole bunch of speech-output solutions.

 

[DaveSimmons]

A PDA with thumb keyboard? But then it's a tiny screen.

There is a Nokia $400 web tablet (need to add a keyboard), but laptops are only $500-600 new, less used.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
A PDA with thumb keyboard? But then it's a tiny screen.

There is a Nokia $400 web tablet (need to add a keyboard), but laptops are only $500-600 new, less used.

Also, I'm sure you could get a very cheap laptop off of craigslist for less than $100.

 

[Crucial]

Whiteboard?

 

[uhohs]

another vote for a cheapo budget or used laptop.

 

[kranky]

Looks like the cheap laptop is going to be a good solution.

Thanks for the tip on DynaVox - turns out they are local to me - but the stuff is much more expensive. Their equipment is very cool but overkill for this situation. It would be ideal for people with long-term inability to speak though. It was interesting checking out their product line.

Thanks to all. Heading over to FS/FT to see if there's any available there.