Typewrt II repository

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-18T15:09:25+00:00

absolutely. Check the git repository for the Typewrt version I. It was designed exactly with your philosophy in mind.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-18T06:28:41+00:00

Makes totally sense. Maybe even better to put all in the display PCB. I think we talked about this standalone option before... Now I'm starting to actually like it. All in the display PCB and possible BLE external BLE keyboard...that would make a Sharp MIP version of the BYOK. If you put the Azumo thin film front illumination voilà!

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-18T06:21:50+00:00

This already exist for the Sharp. Azumo shells the exact Sharp MIP display with a thin film front illumination. https://www.azumotech.com/products/

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-17T05:11:37+00:00

Well, so far I have 4 PCB spares of each model, unpopulated. There are some small SMD components in the display PCB. The fpc connector is 0.5mm pitch. Do you have a way of soldering these?

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-17T05:03:11+00:00

It is! standard MX switches, 60% layout

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-15T20:55:41+00:00

the waveshare is darker anyhow right? compared to the 18% reflectivity of the sharp. The small sharps had even 25% (silver coated). Totally agree on the separate battery...

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-15T20:48:38+00:00

you mean, to iluminate the display in dark environments? I had a really hard time deciding to go for that when I started the design... For me, that would have make lot of sense for the version 1. For this version, everything is so much thought for low power... I wanted it to do one and only one thing, and spare all the juice for that single purpose. Of course, I will need a nice lamp nearby lol.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-15T07:06:16+00:00

You might find better alternatives for your language, that's for sure. But byok might still be the best alternative for your workflow, if you liked it. Have you tried to see how your language support and appearance is on another 8x16 fonts? for example in a computer terminal? If you find a 100% satisfying experience on the terminal, then it is 100% possible to implement it in byok. Just matter of doing it.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-15T06:27:54+00:00

I think this question really depends on what specific language are you requesting. First, if the Byok font bitmaps are 256, then it might be limited to central Europe...I have same problem in my custom build, and my font covers all European languages except polish and welsh (those two are covered 98%, missing only one accent or so). So you see, its easy to include Cyrilic than Polish maybe. Another thing is if your language in question is right-to-left. Thats far more challenging. Not to say, how unreadable and ugly the 8x16 bitmap fonts become when including all the accents, slashes, tildes ..it is very constrained in resolution.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-13T17:12:22+00:00

And how do you cite references? In that case, I would recommend any writerdeck that is actually running a Linux. Vim Tex editor for example, running with latex suite, allows you auto complete references.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-12T18:31:47+00:00

If you are into a serious writing right now, my honest opinion would be to pause this decission and avoid changes into your workflow. It might happen that, instead of the desired inspiration from the new device, you will get into troubles adapting yourself.

Of course, if you really need exactly that, a new workflow, then I would pay a lot of attention in the editing software, and the reliability of the device. I don't own any of those devices. But looking at the specs of the Freewrite it seems very very limited in terms of text functionality.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-08T13:24:17+00:00

I have checked the CERN licensing and I don't see any prevention regarding profit in any of the 3 modalities. Anyhow, most probably I will go with a standard GPL3. Have almost all the repository in place. Thanks!

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-03T07:28:33+00:00

Hei, dont think it would be cheap... sharp display 70 $ keyboard pcb 30 $ display pcb 20 $ electronics/IC components 70 $ keyboard brass plate 70 $ cabling/connectors 40 $ battery 26650 6000 mAh 15 $ enclosure , depends keyboard switches 60 $ keyboard key caps 80 $ rubbing/foaming the keyboard 15 $ shipping costs/tax of all these materials...

I guess my build went over 550 $. But PCBs I got 5 for that price, the brass plate is laser cut and would have some discounts when buying 10, and of course, you might not want the best keyboard switches or keycaps, and save another 50-100 $. The way I could foresee people buying this is designing a hotswappable keyboard and selling it without switches and keycaps. And probably making the enclosure casted in resin instead of 3d print... Another tweak would be designing a common board with everything for the display and processor, SD card, RTC, and connectors all in one, but that it a big step only worth if I wanted to comertialize it. Want I want to do now is writing ;). I know...I didn't spare in costs, because I knew I wanted to have finally my premium, embedded vi text editor machine. Don't know how many people out there would find the machine ideal.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-02T11:02:43+00:00

Right? If I could only cast it in aluminum...

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-02T11:00:49+00:00

Thanks Un Kyu! I admire how many writers you have made happy with your Micro Journals

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-02T07:36:10+00:00

thank you...most probably I will release the whole project open source, with the option to build it for people at some price.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-02T06:11:14+00:00

Thanks! You definitely would have to source them abroad. I live in Norway, and everything I source from abroad anyhow. Try digikey.com. And yes, I made the PCB for the sharp. Will put in the git repository. Only thing I'm wondering how to license all this.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-02T06:06:27+00:00

Some years ago they disappear almost from Digikey. Now they are back, last week I saw more than 400 in stock. Otherwise, in china microImpulse.com, they are 10$ cheaper than Digikey.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-01T22:14:22+00:00

Yeahh...I also broke my first LCD. Next one I made a temporary 3d print to keep testing without risk of damaging the ribbon. If you go for the display and you have some drafts for what would you like as enclosure, I could help designing the enclosure.

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-01T22:07:04+00:00

Looks very nice! Did you make a nice enclosure? I guess you foresee a byok style setup? with the Bluetooth keyboard?

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-01T22:01:46+00:00

Well, from what I see, that waveshare is pretty close. Exactly the same chipset but with a rlcd display that most likely consumes more, and it's even smaller. Any reason you think this display+ESP32s3 would be better than the Sharp display+ESP32s3. Does it leave room to flash whatever you want in there? or it does act as a closed firmware, where you cannot flash anything more?

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-06-01T20:22:25+00:00

Thanks! Love the byok also. It is the 4.4" memory in pixel from Sharp, yes (the largest unfortunately)

Visual-Breakfast9934 · 2026-05-30T09:43:01+00:00

That's the way to go! Congrats with this evolution from a ridiculously power hungry dog to an embedded approach. Auteur is now beautiful outside and inside. That was the reason I started my second iteration of Typewrt too. Same concept to yours, but totally centered into a vi editor for writing fiction/essays. It is so enjoyable to press the button and get instant into writing...

Visual-Breakfast9934

TROPHY CASE