I was trying to find some information about the transitional period when computers were just becoming popular and typewriters were trying to be a little more like computers, and I discovered that you can still buy typewriters on Amazon.

Cool. But the comments are a laugh. I read the comments for the Brother SX-4000 and wasn’t sure if they were real or a joke. The most common complaint: typewriters are noisy. “Too loud.” “The only drawback is the noise.” And, my favorite, “This machine is much to noisy with three loud clicks for each boldface character.”

The latter reviewer also complained that his wife had vision problems, and was unable to see what she was typing. Did he expect the size of the tiny LCD screen to be software configurable? Or for the size of the typewriter’s daisy wheel to be software configurable? Or for the font weight to be software configurable? The size of the text is obviously bounded by the size of the LCD screen and by the physical size of the type ball. Making it bold means having to hit the paper multiple times slightly apart.

But I’m unsure about this reviewer who called Brother technical support:

…he stated that in order to continue, he wished for more information but that if I didn’t want to give any personal information, I had to say “refuse” or “continue.” I said I just had some questions because I did not think he would need any personal info if I just wanted some answers without committing to buy anything. To my surprise, the gentleman stated again (quickly and abruptly, like the first representative), “In order to continue, you must say “Refuse” or “Continue!”

This felt very strange to me. I felt very robotic and awkward and forced myself to do what he told me to do—i.e.; say “refuse.”

Were they talking to an automated support line? Filtered through another person’s description, it’s hard to tell. I have only seen that behavior when a computer was on the other end, but the reviewer goes on to say that they asked questions and received serial numbers in response; however, they don’t describe how those questions went. So I guess it might have been that Brother’s call line just has very strict rules about when not to ask about personal information.

The rest of the reviews seem pretty positive. Though, if I had my choice, I’d get a typewriter that looks more like this:

Underwood No. 5 courtesy Kolossos on Wikimedia Commons.