In this small update, I want to talk a little bit about building the Zerowriter keyboard. I’ll be posting a big update next week as we enter the last week!

This video above all about the Zerowriter Ink keyboard. In it, I go over the basics, the quick & dirty of how it works, and how to switch out the keycaps and switches. It’s using my trusty prototype, so things are a bit looser than they will be in the final version. But you’ll be able to get at it just the same!

I also demonstrate some of the different switches available for Zerowriter Ink. There’s a ton of options: silent, clicky, tactile, and everything in between. I plan on making a more in-depth video with the different switches that are available when I have a production-ready unit.

And, of course, I am still deciding which switch to use as the standard switch for Zerowriter Ink. I thought I would be happy with the browns, but I think I might need to keep searching.

If you are curious, check out lowprokb.ca for some enthusiast choc switches. That’s where I found my silent ambient switches. They are a bit out of budget for the scope of Zerowriter Ink, but I might be able to offer them as an upgrade or post-purchase later on. Anyway, check ‘em out.

More Keyboard Choices

Keyboards are very personal things. They involve keycaps, switches, ergonomics, and all sorts of other considerations. My goal with Zerowriter Ink is to give you a nice starting point that is flexible enough to fit your needs, however they change or grow. Usually working alone? A tactile, louder switch might be for you. Don’t want to drive your partner insane? Maybe a silent or linear switch would be a better fit.

And, with the ability to customize the keyboard mapping, you can truly make a unique keyboard that fits your needs or language requirements. (And you can share it with others, by the way!)

It’s impossible to fit all of those choices on a single Crowd Supply page, so I am working on a way to offer a variety of switches, keycaps, and more after the campaign is over. Rest assured, everything you need will be in the box. But if you want to go a bit further and explore more options, stay tuned. I’ll be talking more about how to do that in the near future.

Up Next

In my last campaign update, I’ll dive into news on enclosure designs, discuss Inkplate’s development pass, and update the software-related changelog and development priorities. There are a lot of new features to talk about!

Community Shoutouts

Someone in the Zerowriter Discord (join us! links on YouTube) found a new little tool for tracking a writing session. Something like this might just end up as a feature for Zerowriter Ink…