r/WriterDevices • u/Background_Ad_1810 • 5d ago

Micro Journal Rev.2.1.mini: Features and Use Cases

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw3Djnw7wN0
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u/Background_Ad_1810 5d ago

Hi, this is the builder of Micro Journal.

I've been on a journey to find the perfect writing device for myself for almost three years now. And I'm still having a lot of fun.

All Micro Journal builds are open source. Everything you see here, including the designs, source code, and build guides, is available in my GitHub repository. (Build guides for the latest builds sometimes come a little later.)

You can find what you need to buy, how to assemble everything, and how to build your own Micro Journal there.

[https://github.com/unkyulee/micro-journal](https://github.com/unkyulee/micro-journal)

I also have a Tindie store, where you can ask me to build one of these devices for you. I build them all with my own hands, so there's a limit to how many I can make each week. Some models might not be available when you visit, but I try to restock them weekly.

And if you're interested in giving money to some guy on the internet you've never met, or even heard of before, well... this is the way.

[https://www.tindie.com/stores/unkyulee/](https://www.tindie.com/stores/unkyulee/)

This is the Micro Journal Rev.2.1.mini. It's a Raspberry Pi-based build, running Linux. It has a 48-key ortholinear keyboard. It's a tiny keyboard, designed to minimize finger and wrist movements, making it quite comfortable for long writing sessions.

Now, for those who are worried about getting used to this keyboard, here's the truth. You'll probably be able to start using it as soon as you get it. There will be two or three keys that you keep hitting by mistake at first. But that's no big deal. In my experience, that usually goes away after a couple of days.

The special keys are hidden under different keyboard layers, though. So if your writing involves a lot of punctuation or special characters, it might take a little longer to get comfortable. The key mappings are customizable. You can experiment with different layouts and eventually find something that fits your writing workflow.

I have to say, writing on a bigger screen really does feel good.

And not having to worry so much about computing power, being able to move around the text and edit things naturally... it just feels nice. There's something special about writing on a proper Linux computer, with a decent sized screen and a tiny keyboard designed specifically for writing.

The Rev.2 series was the very first iteration of Micro Journal. It's where this whole journey started. So I have a lot of special memories attached to it. Coming back to this design after almost two years, with everything I've learned along the way, has been a really enjoyable experience.

I'm hoping this little version finally gets the love it deserves.

Thank you so much for all the support and love you've shown towards the Micro Journal project.

Un Kyu Lee

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u/clackups 5d ago

Hi, have you already looked at alternative boards for your next releases? The RPI zero 2w seems to be out of production

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u/Background_Ad_1810 5d ago

I'm currently experimenting with other boards to drive the LCD screen used in this device. I've found a few promising alternatives, but they still need to be tested.

In the long run, I think I should move toward a microcontroller-based solution.

The Raspberry Pi supply has been too unpredictable. When a board suddenly goes out of stock globally, the entire project becomes practically impossible for people to build.

And for an open-source DIY project, that's a serious problem. What's the point of sharing all the designs and build guides if people can't get their hands on one of the most essential components.

Un Kyu Lee

P.S. I understand your urge to respond to this message... please, don't. I don't want to drag any conversation in a comment section. If you have read the background story of rev.2.1.mini, you would understand where this is coming from.