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BYOK is my new go-to distraction-free writing tool
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This simple plastic rectangle works with my favorite keyboard, edits text, and stays out of my way.
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I have long been on the hunt for the perfect distraction-free writing setup. The latest contender is BYOK, which stands for Bring Your Own Keyboard. It’s a simple $199 black plastic rectangle with a low-resolution LCD screen that lets you edit text and does almost nothing else.
I’ve tried dedicated apps. I’ve even converted an old laptop into a writerdeck. But neither solution really clicked. Last year, I paired a Boox Palma with a NuPhy Air and there was a lot to like. The unique, quick-refreshing E Ink screen provided my favorite typing experience yet, and it synced seamlessly with my other devices thanks to Obsidian. But Boox’s OS is a bit janky, and the Obsidian Android app is messy. The interface is inconsistent, and you’ll want extensions to make the most of it, which you then have to remember to update, and hope that when you do, they don’t break anything. With BYOK, there are just a lot fewer variables to contend with.