Zerowriter Ink is a writing tool that is currently crowdfunding for a hardware run. It’s built off the Zerowriter project, and is designed to be comparable to the Alphasmart Neo or the Freewrite...
Zerowriter Ink is a writing tool that is currently crowdfunding for a hardware run. It’s built off the Zerowriter project, and is designed to be comparable to the Alphasmart Neo or the Freewrite device.
My trusty old Alphasmart is a friend I turn to whenever I have an idea coming on fast, and all I want is pour the words out as quickly as they come, without distraction. It’s helped me to become a...
My trusty old Alphasmart is a friend I turn to whenever I have an idea coming on fast, and all I want is pour the words out as quickly as they come, without distraction. It’s helped me to become a more productive writer over the years.
Give me a similar device with a customizable e-ink display, a nice, speedy mechanical keyboard and better word count tools? I’d be a happy writer.
This checks a lot of great boxes. Curious to see how the finished product turns out.
I found an old Alphasmart at a flea market last year. While I love the tactile feel of a dedicated use machine, it just didn't gel with my writing style. It always comes down to the number of...
I found an old Alphasmart at a flea market last year. While I love the tactile feel of a dedicated use machine, it just didn't gel with my writing style. It always comes down to the number of visible lines because I'm not economical with space and constantly jumping across the page. The tiny screen on that Alpha drove me nuts so this Zerowriter looks a little better and I'd consider the 2.0 model if its successful. The FM Type folio would probably be more my speed though, especially with handwritten notes but you are locked into their sad keyboard and the price is plain unreasonable even before import hell (at least $650).
I think the King Jim tools are a good middle ground and would love to get my hands on a DM30 or 250 memo-pads and the kakumiru organizer. Until then the notepad on my Samsung S22 will have to do. Pen is surprisingly flexible but typing is a chore.
I’m definitely not the target audience for this machine, but I want to know what kind of use cases this machine has that can’t be done better by say, a low powered Laptop/MBA. You get more screen...
I’m definitely not the target audience for this machine, but I want to know what kind of use cases this machine has that can’t be done better by say, a low powered Laptop/MBA.
You get more screen real estate, more powerful word processors, a device that can do more.
It has a long battery life, but what else would someone use this for? Writing an entire book or essay on that sounds like a painful experience.
I would personally just write notes/bullet points on my phone or in a notebook and type on PC/Laptop when I’m free.
I think some people just prefer the experience of a dedicated writing machine and the limits it imposes. Not exactly the same, but George R.R. Martin famously writes his books using the ancient...
I think some people just prefer the experience of a dedicated writing machine and the limits it imposes.
Not exactly the same, but George R.R. Martin famously writes his books using the ancient Wordstar word processor on a similarly ancient DOS computer. He’s said he prefers the minimal nature of Wordstar over modern word processors, and specifically cited spellchecking and autocorrect as features he doesn’t like. (Though I’m sure it helps to have an (human) editor who goes over drafts for you.)
As for what a device like this offers over a low power laptop: I think a big part of it is the✨aesthetic✨
But also, it’s not about what use cases a device like this can fulfill compared to a regular laptop. It’s not about what I device like this can do, it’s about what it can’t.
I would not be shocked if martins editor has some way of getting his ancient files into a modern format so they can let it do the quick and dirty work.
I would not be shocked if martins editor has some way of getting his ancient files into a modern format so they can let it do the quick and dirty work.
It’s $200, easier to carry by far, and will basically always be ready to use because of that super long battery. In fact that also means you don’t have to lug around a battery or some bulky power...
It’s $200, easier to carry by far, and will basically always be ready to use because of that super long battery. In fact that also means you don’t have to lug around a battery or some bulky power cord that just adds even more space to your kit.
There’s very few devices that small (I should know. I look for such things) and none of them have a nice decent keyboard to type/work with.
This is actually shockingly cheap.
Edit: I’d say my only complaint is I wish they could’ve done a wider screen just to use the real estate better since they’re already forced to be the size of the keyboard, but I’m guessing that’s not easy or is expensive.
I can see the appeal of its limitations. The fact that it’s incapable browsing the web, scrolling through social media, or pestering you with notifications is a boon for some. The e-ink display...
I can see the appeal of its limitations. The fact that it’s incapable browsing the web, scrolling through social media, or pestering you with notifications is a boon for some. The e-ink display also doesn’t carry the various issues associated with backlit displays.
That said I’m not a big fan of the form factor. At minimum I’d like to see a clamshell version with a screen that tilts up (this current version screams neck/back pain to me). A “bare minimum” operating system in the style of 80s/90s Mac OS would be nice too to add basic file management capabilities.
I guess what I really want is an early 90s PowerBook, but built with modern technology and an e-ink or high quality transflective or memory-in-pixel display.
Less is more. The point is twofold; the lack of ability to do anything but write text makes it a distraction-free device. Secondly, the limited screenspace means you have limited ability to edit -...
Less is more. The point is twofold; the lack of ability to do anything but write text makes it a distraction-free device. Secondly, the limited screenspace means you have limited ability to edit - this is a feature, not a bug. It's intended to invoke a writing style more akin to pen and paper, where you have limited ability to go back and modify your text.
Having a laptop defeats both of those purposes. The larger screen means you are liable to edit, and the ability to do other things like browse Reddit makes it just as distraction-filled as any other device you have.
It's from the lineage of AlphaSmart devices, which were basically little typing training devices which got a cult following from writers who desired for that kind of stream-of-consciousness, low distraction environment. They're out of production, go for ludicrous prices on ebay, and the keyboard is pretty ass.
Looks pretty cool and fairly well-thought-out as far as hardware and software go. I am wondering about the ergonomics of it though. It seems to me that when you type on it for any amount of time...
Looks pretty cool and fairly well-thought-out as far as hardware and software go. I am wondering about the ergonomics of it though. It seems to me that when you type on it for any amount of time this well strain your neck.
Zerowriter Ink is a writing tool that is currently crowdfunding for a hardware run. It’s built off the Zerowriter project, and is designed to be comparable to the Alphasmart Neo or the Freewrite device.
My trusty old Alphasmart is a friend I turn to whenever I have an idea coming on fast, and all I want is pour the words out as quickly as they come, without distraction. It’s helped me to become a more productive writer over the years.
Give me a similar device with a customizable e-ink display, a nice, speedy mechanical keyboard and better word count tools? I’d be a happy writer.
This checks a lot of great boxes. Curious to see how the finished product turns out.
I found an old Alphasmart at a flea market last year. While I love the tactile feel of a dedicated use machine, it just didn't gel with my writing style. It always comes down to the number of visible lines because I'm not economical with space and constantly jumping across the page. The tiny screen on that Alpha drove me nuts so this Zerowriter looks a little better and I'd consider the 2.0 model if its successful. The FM Type folio would probably be more my speed though, especially with handwritten notes but you are locked into their sad keyboard and the price is plain unreasonable even before import hell (at least $650).
I think the King Jim tools are a good middle ground and would love to get my hands on a DM30 or 250 memo-pads and the kakumiru organizer. Until then the notepad on my Samsung S22 will have to do. Pen is surprisingly flexible but typing is a chore.
I’m definitely not the target audience for this machine, but I want to know what kind of use cases this machine has that can’t be done better by say, a low powered Laptop/MBA.
You get more screen real estate, more powerful word processors, a device that can do more.
It has a long battery life, but what else would someone use this for? Writing an entire book or essay on that sounds like a painful experience.
I would personally just write notes/bullet points on my phone or in a notebook and type on PC/Laptop when I’m free.
I think some people just prefer the experience of a dedicated writing machine and the limits it imposes.
Not exactly the same, but George R.R. Martin famously writes his books using the ancient Wordstar word processor on a similarly ancient DOS computer. He’s said he prefers the minimal nature of Wordstar over modern word processors, and specifically cited spellchecking and autocorrect as features he doesn’t like. (Though I’m sure it helps to have an (human) editor who goes over drafts for you.)
As for what a device like this offers over a low power laptop: I think a big part of it is the✨aesthetic✨
But also, it’s not about what use cases a device like this can fulfill compared to a regular laptop. It’s not about what I device like this can do, it’s about what it can’t.
I would not be shocked if martins editor has some way of getting his ancient files into a modern format so they can let it do the quick and dirty work.
It’s $200, easier to carry by far, and will basically always be ready to use because of that super long battery. In fact that also means you don’t have to lug around a battery or some bulky power cord that just adds even more space to your kit.
There’s very few devices that small (I should know. I look for such things) and none of them have a nice decent keyboard to type/work with.
This is actually shockingly cheap.
Edit: I’d say my only complaint is I wish they could’ve done a wider screen just to use the real estate better since they’re already forced to be the size of the keyboard, but I’m guessing that’s not easy or is expensive.
I can see the appeal of its limitations. The fact that it’s incapable browsing the web, scrolling through social media, or pestering you with notifications is a boon for some. The e-ink display also doesn’t carry the various issues associated with backlit displays.
That said I’m not a big fan of the form factor. At minimum I’d like to see a clamshell version with a screen that tilts up (this current version screams neck/back pain to me). A “bare minimum” operating system in the style of 80s/90s Mac OS would be nice too to add basic file management capabilities.
I guess what I really want is an early 90s PowerBook, but built with modern technology and an e-ink or high quality transflective or memory-in-pixel display.
Less is more. The point is twofold; the lack of ability to do anything but write text makes it a distraction-free device. Secondly, the limited screenspace means you have limited ability to edit - this is a feature, not a bug. It's intended to invoke a writing style more akin to pen and paper, where you have limited ability to go back and modify your text.
Having a laptop defeats both of those purposes. The larger screen means you are liable to edit, and the ability to do other things like browse Reddit makes it just as distraction-filled as any other device you have.
It's from the lineage of AlphaSmart devices, which were basically little typing training devices which got a cult following from writers who desired for that kind of stream-of-consciousness, low distraction environment. They're out of production, go for ludicrous prices on ebay, and the keyboard is pretty ass.
In this case the e-ink seems to be a factor. It makes for a really different experience as far as strain on your eyes go.
Looks pretty cool and fairly well-thought-out as far as hardware and software go. I am wondering about the ergonomics of it though. It seems to me that when you type on it for any amount of time this well strain your neck.
The chicken pecking in the video bothered me.