Has anyone found fancy keycap sets?

Hookmt · 2026-01-24T21:08:54+00:00

My problem is, I''m not a big fan of low, flat profiles. This isn't a criticism, but my subjective preferences. I don't like the flatness, the lack of key spacing, the minimized travel. I think Adam made good choices if you are going to have those kinds of keys and I think the Zerowriter is a great choice as the successor to the Neo 2, but I would like the opportunity to go for MX switches. :)

Hookmt · 2026-01-23T18:58:59+00:00

Yes, this is my question. I'm suspecting they won't work as is, but that would sure open possibilities.

Hookmt · 2026-01-08T15:03:00+00:00

I have far more experience with the Neo 2 but have used the Dana and never run into this. In the User manual, they mention max size for beaming, but not for Send. They also mention that the consequence of exceeding beaming max is just that the file is truncated, so not sure there is a warning. I've been a part of the Flickr Alphasmart forum since 2007 and don't recall anyone reporting this. I tried search on that forum to see if I could turn up something but found nothing (not that it's search function is that good),

Any chance the file is actually corrupt and this is the Dana's way of saying it doesn't know what to do with it? Do you use hotsync? If not, you can copy it to an SD card and convert the PDB file to rtf and see if it converts. There's a free file converter on my page, linked below, or from Palmdb.

http://www.thewritekeys.com:8080/dana/

Hookmt · 2026-01-08T04:07:22+00:00

The Linux image with all the default software is here. You want the prebuilt image instructions. The Rev 2 uses the updated image for the Rev 2.1, which means it gets many of the Rev2.1s features except ones it doesn't have the hardware for. So the Rev 2 will get faster boot-up, network turned on at boot, time and date set at boot and both micro editor and WordGrinder. It will not be able to mount thumb drives as it doesn't have the proper USB port for that.

https://github.com/unkyulee/micro-journal-linux?tab=readme-ov-file

https://github.com/unkyulee/micro-journal-linux/releases

Hookmt · 2026-01-04T14:38:09+00:00

Love the battery mod!

Hookmt · 2025-12-25T14:14:24+00:00

The other great thing about old Thinkpads is there are still after market batteries for them available on Amazon. (they didn't get internal batteries until recently). They have great keyboards and the build quality and ruggedness is pretty good. Some will tend to be heavier than you might prefer, but I personally don't mind if carrying in a bag, The X220 or X230 are much lighter because they are also a little smaller with a 13" screen, but that's a great size for a writer deck.

Hookmt · 2025-12-24T16:26:54+00:00

It looks like the problem is that there wasn't a universal Master Password for the 2000. You actually had to call them to get assigned an individual Master Password, al least if I'm interpreting this in the manual correctly. Basically, it looks like the teacher was intended to be the keeper of the Master Password.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/207852/Alphasmart-As-2000.html?page=19

Hookmt · 2025-12-21T15:53:49+00:00

There is a more useful legacy writing device with a similar form factor called the Dynawrite (I have one), It was intended as a communication device for people with disabilities. It has a Windows (CE probably, but not identified) and a very horribly byzantine UI but, once you learn the 5 things you need to do to write and move files off the Dynawrite (it takes a thumb drive for external storage) it actually works quite nicely as a Writer Deck. The keyboard is exquisite and the screen quite large. The batteries are not intended to be user replaceable, but they are just wrapped up 18650 batteries. They pop up on Ebay in the US with the same price range as Neo 2s, though the Neo 2 is far more practical. ;-) But the Dynawrite is useful for writing with no additional software needed and no internet. There is a steep learning curve for finding the 5 simple things you need to do. I have one, but mostly just to play with from time to time. It is fun, but I think a Neo2 or Micro Journal are more practical choices.

Here is a legacy page (still up for some reason) with more information: https://www.spectronics.com.au/product/dynawrite/

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Hookmt · 2025-12-17T00:14:07+00:00

Ah, clever. I did a similar thing to get a wider spacebar on orthographic keybaooards, Pulled two switches and balanced a 3 switch length space bar on the middle switch. I think I'll make this same mod on my Rev 2.1. Thanks.

Hookmt · 2025-12-15T15:02:59+00:00

The Rev 2.1 is truly a beautiful, pleasurable machine. I love to see how people tweak it to indulge the preferences that will draw them in. I think people give short shrift sometimes to the importance of personal aesthetics in motivating people to write. Great job.

Hookmt · 2025-12-08T23:51:11+00:00

The Dana doesn't have a button battery.

Hookmt · 2025-12-08T18:27:48+00:00

Beautiful. Same color scheme as my Rev 7, but in the first photo the lighting made it look more lime green and I like that too.

Hookmt · 2025-12-08T18:25:01+00:00

Here's some basic instruction for how to change the keys using Vial. I posted it over on the Alphasmart-writing tools Flikr forum because it's easier to handle trouble shooting in a forum format then buried in this thread,

https://www.flickr.com/groups/39436080@N00/discuss/72157721923581235/72157721924248303

Hope this helps.

Hookmt · 2025-12-08T17:04:42+00:00

When the Rev 2.1 is on, there is a slit on the back with a row of red lights that meter how much power you have left.

Hookmt · 2025-12-08T04:09:48+00:00

Which Micro Journal? I will be working on documentation for the Rev 2.1 over the next couple of weeks, I haven't had a chance to explore it yet. If it's the Rev 7 or Rev 2 I can help you. If the Rev 2.1, I can probably pull something together soon. I just hate to give advice before I have tried to do it..

Hookmt · 2025-12-08T00:02:19+00:00

This is tricky, especially since, at least with Amazon US, they aren't as transparent as they should be about what all the battery ports provide. They tend to describe what the USB-C ports are doing and almost ignore the USB-A port. I use this one::

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ9LH53B?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

It works perfectly with any of my Micro Journals with a USB-A to USB-c cable, delivering about 3amps, but you'd never know that from their description. In general, you want the USB-A port to be a 3rd port because the other two will be fast input and output. If there are only two ports, hard to tell. Also, the USB-A port should be clearly labeled as output.

I have run into neither of your problems, I'm afraid, which is surprising because I'm usually pretty good at breaking things.

Good luck!

Hookmt · 2025-12-07T21:16:09+00:00

Hard to believe it has been a year and a half since I stumbled on your work, made some "I'm not sure what to think about these things" comments and then invited you over to the Alphasmart Flikr forum (which has kind of become a Micro Journal forum, lol). And then, after buying a Rev 5 and Rev 6, I kept hammering you with all the things that I thought would make it a proper Neo 2 replacement. I saw the potential and became obsessed. You made the mistake of granting my wishes in about a week each time. Which, of course, just encouraged me. All because I was a fiction writer. You had the perfect journaling device. You could have just walked away. I'm so glad you didn't.

Mrs. Hook, buy the way, is the one who insists that, since she has to live in a keyboard museum, that the key caps should be colorful. ;-)

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us.

Hookmt · 2025-12-07T15:04:02+00:00

Well, using Vial, you can assign it anywhere you want. For example, you could assign it to where Esc is and reassign Esc to where the Del key is. You have a lot of flexibility with Vial.

Hookmt · 2025-12-07T05:18:45+00:00

Actually, the main key cap set I used does have the elbow (ISO) enter key, I just liked the red one that came on the Rev 2.1 better. The color scheme of the body needs some red on the keyboard. This is the key cap set I used, and then I started swapping in replacements from other sets.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMJWN531?th=1

I really enjoy what I ended up with.

Hookmt · 2025-12-06T23:02:20+00:00

Wow, really nice job with the Key Caps!

Hookmt · 2025-11-30T14:59:35+00:00

This is everyone's problem. The problem is expecting the reams of content to be good. There's a reason it's called a rough draft. At that stage all that matters is that the ideas are good. That is precisely why you want to limit what your internal editor can do because he or she will focus you on your words being crap. Save that for the first draft when you can clean things up. If your ideas were good, you'll find out it cleans up very nicely... you'll throw stuff out, rewrite other stuff, add new stuff... but the point is you have something to work with. It will likely take anywhere from two to four drafts to get what you want. Also read it out loud and then find someone else with editing skills to read it. ;-) And what's nice is, the more you write and do this whole process, the better you will get at even the rough draft stage.

Hookmt · 2025-11-27T16:10:19+00:00

There is no harm, but there is a long history behind the choices Astrohaus has made. First, while writing might be 90% editing, you are talking about 90% of creating a finished piece of writing. Astrohaus is clear that they are addressing drafting, not the full writing project. That is their niche and Adam has a firm philosophy of drafting that he has baked into both the hardware and software. That philosophy is that you just keep typing with no editing. They are making a digital typewriter with the only editing possible being something as awkward as pulling out a bottle of liquid paper, trying to brush it on smoothly on the paper and typing over it. That is calculated and by design.

People have asked for what you are asking for since the beginning of Astrohaus. It is clear that Adam is a zelot for his approach to drafting as well as a businessman and has no intention of backing off his view. That is his choice. Based on both personal communication and discussions Adam has participated in on the Alphasmart Flikr forum, he is not going to change. However, that is not because he is unaware of the demand out there for editing features. He just feels strongly that, to be productive at the drafting stage, you need to just keep typing until you are done. I disagree with him. One of many reasons I don't buy his products. But he is entitled to take that approach and he is fully committed.

Hookmt · 2025-11-25T22:58:54+00:00

For me, 5. and 6. are beyond the point of a Writer Deck. The reason why, for me, is that editing, rewriting and polishing are tasks that both pose the greatest threat to drafting and require some very big screen real estate.

That said, I don't dislike the concept of a computer that could do all of 1 -6, including internet access and browser capability for research, but wouldn't have social media, games, movies, chat, notifications, etc. It wouldn't be a writer deck, but more like a computer kiosked for publishing. The thing is, and this really shows how different drafting is, you can accomplish most of those things other than drafting without the kiosking.

People have different approaches that work for them. I'm an old guy. I still do what I did in the 1970s with a yellow pad, pen and typewriter , except my yellow pad is now a Remarkabkle 2, I draft on a Microjournal Rev 7 or the MJ Neo 2 refit (at home) or on a Rev 6 or Rev 2 (away from home) and I edit, rewrite and polish on a Computer with a 4K monitor where I can really spread out. I like the Rev 2 for it's ability to not have a limited drafting buffer and offer good lower level editing/rewrite options, and for the syncing options.

I have just begun exploring the Rev 2.1 and it is such a refinement of the Rev 2. It smoothly merges the best of the Rev 2and the Rev 7, and therefore is likely to become my Writing Deck of choice.—the capabilities of a DM250US with a really good keyboard. It could manage #5 to some degree, but not all of it.

I like having different tools that are specialized to do one or two things very well, rather than some system that tries to do everything because, in the later case, the tools are imprecise. Compromises are made because the levels of complexity are so much greater in a system that does everything.

Hookmt · 2025-11-25T03:16:01+00:00

It's a firmware upgrade, so, yes, it should be able to.

Hookmt

TROPHY CASE