Progress Report, New Improvements

Hey everyone. We are about a month into shipping, with around 200 Zerowriter Inks out in the wild. In this update, I’ll let you know what is new, unexpected things we’ve uncovered, updated shipping estimates, and what improvements you can expect.

As always, you can contact me directly if you have any questions or run in to any problems: adam@zerowriter.ink

Shipping and Fulfillment

Our initial fulfillment took a while, but we’ve gotten a big group of Zerowriters out in to the wild. This first group of shipments helped me identify some issues that had been cropping up in some of the units out in the field. Here’s what we found and how we are fixing it:

• Some 2-3% of units had their power switch break (the physical plastic knob that is used to turn your Zerowriter on or off). The root of this: more pressure than intended on the power switch cover, caused by an overtightened screw on the power PCB. The added pressure combined with fluctuations in temperature (which cause the enclosure to get stiff/rigid and then soften) was an unforeseen situation. However, there is a simple fix: removing the third screw entirely removes the pressure point and makes damage way less likely or impossible, and has no impact to the usability, aside from some very slight wobble on the button.
• Some 5-10% of units had a troublesome backspace key. This has been a bit harder to pinpoint, because it is consistently the backspace key, which suggests something in that area of the keyboard assembly. There is some variance to the keyboard plate during manufacturing, which could be part of the problem. Anyway, there's a similarly easy fix: removing the stabilizers for the backspace key, as there is little to no difference in feel with Choc 1 keycaps and the backspace. If you want to adjust this yourself, you can easily remove the "+" stabilizer housing under the backspace key with a pair of pliers - they slide out without having to take apart the whole keyboad.
• Firmware. Due to a mistake on my part, the flashed firmware from the factory was not partitioned in a way that supported the Zerowriter's SD-card based update system. So, early backers had to do a manual update method which involved opening up their ZW Ink. Subsequent units will be reflashed and partitioned correctly, ensuring an easier experience.

Other than those three issues, there have not been any other big, common problems.

One further detail about the keyboard plate: I chose to use a plate made from PETG, the same material as the enclosure. This is because I vastly preferred the feel and sound with the PETG plate compared to alternatives like FR4 or aluminum, which are other common options for mechanical keyboard plates. However, the printing process for PETG plates has slightly more variance, which seems to manifest in occasional problems like a key getting stuck.

So, there is an alternative where we replace the keyboard plates with FR4 (a more rigid material) which would be more consistent, but have a "clankier/clackier" feel.If you want to order your own FR4 plate, I have posted the gerber on GitHub. I myself have been experimenting with an FR4 plate and I much prefer the stock printed plate, so I can’t really recommend the swap. But it is an option.

Fulfillment Updates

So, what does all that mean for fulfillment? There isn’t an enormous impact. The changes we are making are relatively minor and don’t require any amount of rebuilding. Units shipped to remaining backers will have the above changes. This is taking a bit more time, but not much.

Production-wise, we are all clear of the largest hurdles. We have fully manufactured every enclosure and have nearly everything we need to complete every single order. We are, however, awaiting a shipment of fixed spacebars, as about 300 from our original set were faulty. They are expected any time. This means we should have another 200 units out to Crowd Supply within a few weeks, and nothing blocking production for the remaining units. We should still be on track to be fully fulfilled within 6-8 weeks.

Major Improvements

Switching focus from hardware to software: there’ve been some big changes and improvements done with rapid feedback and testing from this first batch of owners.

Let’s dive in. Keep in mind all of these features are optional additions and you can use your Zerowriter Ink without changing a thing, if you so choose.

Markdown Support

Zerowriter Ink can make and render markdown files. In fact, this whole update was written in markdown, on a Zerowriter Ink. Markdown serves as a .txt-like, markup-based styling layer, so as you write, you can add italics or bold to your document. Since Zerowriter is a .TXT editor, it makes a pretty good Markdown editor, too!

This is a useful feature for anyone who works in online print: journalists, tech writers, bloggers, etc. Or, if you just want the ability to bold or italicize your text, now you can!

Fountain Support

Much like Markdown, Fountain is a text-based markup layer that is used by screenwriters for drafting scripts. If Fountain rendering is turned on, your work on your Zerowriter is automatically styled exactly like a script: character names, dialog, action, etc., following the Fountain guidelines.

Over the last year, I have heard from screenwriters desperate for a tool they can use to help them write screenplays. Happy to say: Zerowriter Ink is the tool for you.

>FADE OUT:

Dark Mode & Terminal Cursor

Dark mode switches you from Black-On-White to White-On-Black. It’s up to you. And, since the minimal cursor isn’t for everyone, I’ve added a block-style terminal cursor that is a bit easier to see, as an option.

There’s a whole lot more that has been improved: bug fixes, editor optimizations, increased speed, and functional improvements such as:

• You can import fonts from your SD card
• Remap your keyboard (if you want) or disable your CAPSLOCK
• Full external file support (add any .txt file from anywhere)
• "Save As" function
• You can add an unlock sequence, making it less likely to accidentally type stuff while your Ink is in your bag

On the Horizon

Alongside rapid updates and improvements, there’s a need for documentation. I’ve started releasing tools and designs on GitHub and I will be dumping more info into this repo throughout fulfillment. This is a big priority for me now, as the current user guide isn’t particularly well done.

I am building more in-depth guides for features on www.zerowriter.ink, like those outlined here. If anyone wants to contribute, let me know!

Keeping it simple

It’s worth reinforcing that the mission here is a device you can just turn on and write with. But I am a believer in inclusive tech; it is not up to me to decide how you write. That is why my focus has been on adding optional tools and features that support how people work.

An example is dark mode and custom fonts. These are extra features, yes, and can add complexity in the menus. However, being able to support visually impaired or cognitively impaired people who want a working device, this is a worthy cause.

Similarly, my approach with Fountain support is the same. If you write scripts, you should be able to do it how you like, on a device that makes it nice.

Regardless, despite new features, improvements, fixes, and so on, my goal is the same: open the box, turn it on, start writing. Due to some unforeseen issues, the first batch didn’t quite live up to that, but the following shipments will.

Ok, that is it for me! Talk again soon,

Adam