As Apple is ready to roll out a serious iOS replace as we speak, which makes digital distractions accessible on the iPhone’s lock display with out even having to unlock the system, Astrohaus’ distraction-free digital typewriters appear to be much more of essential for many who write for a residing. The newest mannequin, the Alpha, shrinks the {hardware}, the display, and the worth tag.

For these not accustomed to the Freewrite lineup, the gadgets can greatest be described as crosses between a laptop computer and a typewriter. They characteristic full QWERTY mechanical keyboards paired with (till now) monochromatic digital paper shows optimized for one single objective: writing. Although the gadgets do embody wifi connectivity for syncing paperwork to different gadgets, the Freewrites are distraction free and may’t entry e mail, surf the net, or hook up with social networks of any sort.

The smallest mannequin so far has been the Freewrite Traveler, that includes a folding ‘screen in the lid’ design just like a laptop computer, however with a $500 price ticket that can alternately get you a properly geared up Chromebook. The Freewrite Traveler stays a distinct segment product for devoted writers who wrestle to remain targeted. The new Freewrite Alpha, by comparability, might enchantment to a wider viewers.

Weighing in at beneath two kilos, the Freewrite Alpha can simply slip into the laptop computer compartment of baggage and backpacks, with a design that’s fairly a bit slimmer than earlier fashions just like the Smart Typewriter.

One large change on the Alpha is that the Smart Typewriter’s box brown switches have been changed with Kailh’s chocV2 low profile switches for a keyboard that appears extra like what you’d discover on a laptop computer, though the keycaps can nonetheless be swapped out as wanted if you happen to choose typing on one thing much less flat.

The large trade-off is that the bigger E Ink screens used on older Freewrite fashions are actually changed by a protracted and slim “Reflective monochromatic FSTN LCD” show, which must be simpler in your battery. But it may also have some glare points relying on the place you utilize the Freewrite Alpha, even with adjustable toes on the underside that may change the viewing angle. The show can also be restricted to displaying simply six strains of textual content with a 15pt font, or 4 strains when these of us with getting old eyes select to bump it as much as a 26pt font dimension.

A 4200 mAh, USB-C rechargeable battery guarantees as much as 100 hours of writing time on a single cost, and whereas the built-in reminiscence can maintain a million pages of textual content, the Freewrite Alpha additionally helps wifi connectivity to exterior storage providers like Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive, which makes getting paperwork onto different gadgets a lot simpler.

At $500, the Freewrite Traveler was beforehand the most cost effective possibility accessible, however the Freewrite Alpha manages to get all the way down to a $349 value level, presumably made attainable with the change to a primary LCD show. You can’t purchase it simply but, however you possibly can reserve one for just $1 forward of an upcoming crowdfunding marketing campaign.