I (not so) fondly remember summer school typing classes, where I had to labor to learn touch typing on an old-fashioned typewriter. No word processor for me; if I made a mistake, it would be Liquid Paper brushed on and waiting for it to dry before I could continue my keystrokes.
Despite my irritation at being stuck in a classroom in July as a teenager, this skill I was learning would later prove invaluable, especially as I turned to screenwriting. Though by the time I had become a professional writer, I no longer had to worry about making mistakes…if I misspelled something, all I had to do was hit the “backspace” or “delete” keys on the computer, and those mistakes were magically erased.
As I entered the world of computers, one thing that I missed was the feeling of the old typewriter keyboards. There was always something so satisfying and responsive of the feel of the keys as you struck them. Which is why I turned to mechanical keyboardards for my writing. These keyboards with their Cherry mechanical switches just felt better, like the keyboards of old even though they resembled any old standard computer keyboard.
Enter the Qwerkywriter. This mechanical keyboard hearkens back to the manual typewriters of old, yet contains a ton of modern sensibilities. And now, on the 10th anniversary of their original keyboard, Qwerkytoys has a Kickstarter campaign for a brand new Qwerkywriter keyboard. Creator Brian Min recently sent me a prototype of the keyboard to try out for myself.
What Is the Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition?
The Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition is a Bluetooth/USB-C mechanical computer keyboard designed to look like a typewriter. It has an earlybird pledge of $199, or a standard pledge of $219, and is currently available to pledge for on Kickstarter, with an estimated ship date of November 2025. The campaign will run until July 8th.
Here’s a look at the Qwerkywriter Anniversary Edition’s features, as compared to the original Qwerkywriter:
New to Kickstarter? Check out our crowdfunding primer.
Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition Components
I received a prototype of the keyboard, as well as a Qwerkywriter wrist rest. Even though it’s a prototype, the creator assures me that what I received is 99% close to what backers will receive upon campaign fulfillment.
Along with the Qwerkywriter keyboard and wrist rest, there was also included a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a keycap puller tool.
The keyboard has a nice heft and solidity to it, thanks to the aluminum chassis. It definitely is a visually striking peripheral, but as anyone who does a lot of writing knows, it’s not just appearances, it’s how the keyboard feels and responds that is ultimately the most important. Though as this is a computer keyboard that looks like a typewriter and not a typewriter keyboard, functionality is also a very important aspect. Thankfully, as we’ll see below, the Qwerkywriter delivers in both regards.
Using the Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition
Note: This review was written using the Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition.
First things first: typing on the Qwerkywriter is a very satisfying experience. The mechanical keys used are Cherry MX2A Speed Silver Switches, which have the fastest actuation force that Cherry has every produced, and are factory lubricated. What does that mean in practice? The keys are highly responsive, with just a slight bit of pressure to register a keystroke leading to a faster typing speed. Also, while there is still a bit of clack, this is far from a loud keyboard. For anyone that enjoys a nice loud clack, Cherry blue switches will be offered as add-ons during the campaign. The switches can be hot-swapped, so it should be a fairly simple process to trade the switches out if you don’t like the Speed Silver ones.
Features-wise, Qwerkytoys has done a nice job of taking some of the parts of a traditional typewriter and repurposing them for use in a modern keyboard. The two cylinder knobs have been re-tasked as volume and scroll dials. The carriage return lever by default doubles as an “Enter” key, but can be reprogrammed as a Macro of up to 15 characters. And the paper feed is actually a stand for tablets and phones.
My computer doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth, so I simply had to connect the USB cord to the Qwerkywriter keyboard and start typing. However, I did pair it with my iPhone via Bluetooth, which was an effortless process. When paired with a Bluetooth device, the keyboard can be operated off of its built-in battery, which is rated for 1-2 months of life before recharging. For better or worse, there are no wireless options with the Qwerkywriter.
Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition – Final Thoughts
As a writer, I’ve been very satisfied using the Qwerkywriter 10 Year Anniversary keyboard. The keys are extremely responsive, and despite its retro typewriter appearance, the keyboard has all the features you’d expect from a modern keyboard. It doesn’t come with a ten-key, but the $100K stretch goal for the campaign is a “Numkey” that will be built that matches the Qwerkywriter.
Granted, with the Qwerkywriter you’re not going to get all the fancy lighting that you’ll find in gamer keyboards. However, you get your flash in other ways with the Qwerkywriter keyboard. Its appearance is one of old-fashioned elegance, from the rounded keys to the all-metal body. And despite the black finish on the keyboard, it doesn’t show any smudges or fingerprints. The Bluetooth functionality allows you to pair it with multiple devices, for your convenience. And finally, using the keyboard is just fun, especially for those of us that remember using actual typewriters. All it’s missing is the old “ding” of the carriage return.
For more information or to make a pledge, head to the Qwerkywriter Typewriter Keyboard 10 Year Anniversary Edition Kickstarter Campaign Page.
Qwerkytoys provided a unit for evaluation, but had no input into this review.
Fonte: GeekDad - Leia mais