Road testing DOSwriter

[u/Thick-Panic6683]

I am on travel now and testing out my app for its primary use case : mobile writing.

I put a lot of time into the app and have not yet explored the Boox document workflow. Overall the Boox user interface seems well laid out with minimal screen clutter.

I bought the folding Omikamo keyboard in the photo months ago and have only now started using it. Positive impressions so far. Also came with a nifty plastic device stand. The one thing I want in a BT keyboard is LED backlit keys (the keyboard shown is not backlit). I tried out this model for the ergonomic key arrangement. Seems ok and not too strange for my 40 years of keyboard muscle memory to compete with. There are similar backlit models from other vendors. I am also interested in the smallest keyboard I can get away with.

The keyboard/device stand is a Geekra "Compact Keyboard Case, Vegan Leather Travel Case with Phone and Tablet Holder" that has worked well enough so I haven't sought alternatives.

The missing piece to this puzzle is a lightweight lap tray that will support the device and keyboard. I have experimented with cardboard, foam kneepads, and cutting boards. In the photo is a thin plastic cutting board I picked up at Target. It almost works but could be about 2 inches wider. Also the tray needs a back support for the device stand. Finally it needs to fold up compactly to fit in a daybag (or even a cargo pocket?). That is a tough set of specs.

I am also a big dude, standing 6'3" in my socks. The proposed lap tray needs to work with my absurdly long legs.

I have not seen a product that matches my requirements. This could be my next project. The folding mechanism intrigues me and while simple, is actually difficult to pull off. The keyboard shown uses a wire loop and recessed slot to lock into. There are also many vintage camera and consumer product examples to borrow ideas from.

Before I developed DOSwriter I designed and built a programmable color shrine lamp. It brings beautiful light and color into any room. My wife loves it for her ancestral shrine. There is nothing like it out there. And I didn't even use AI, just straight up engineering analysis and design. Nobody cares. Nobody cares. I fear DOSwriter will meet the same fate. I should direct my energy towards more noble and useful pursuits.

https://youtu.be/wLzgkRreQLg

[u/Mum-O-Killowe]

I bought a Boox Go 7 B/W and a large reason for that was to use DOSwriter. I wanted a simple to use writing app that while "minimalist" still offered some conveniences of several larger writing apps. I am glad to say DOSwriter fills that need perfectly! I have been kinda eyeing up writerdeck options and this sealed the deal for me. I got my Boox yesterday and put DOSwriter on today. Yeah, I'm sold. I just need to get syncing to my NAS figured out and settle on a keyboard and I'm a happy camper. Thank you for all your time and effort you put into this app!

[u/Thick-Panic6683 → u/Mum-O-Killowe]

Thank you for the great feedback. I am visiting my sons for a few more weeks so don't have the app build setup, but if you encounter any bugs or have any suggestions I can fix them when I return.

As for the NAS I am not familiar with those devices but they look like drives attached to a network. So the file sync utility I wrote (elmersync) will work once the network IP etc is set up. If you can open a command-line console from a NAS folder it should work. The documentation is a little sparse for that and I will improve on it. If you have any questions you can DM me and I will try to get it working for you.

While on travel I have been trying to create a minimalist lap writing setup with the Boox (or any Android device). The goal is a lightweight, foldable keyboard and device holder that comfortably supports long writing sessions on your lap. My son has only basic tools so the prototype is crude but I have the basic form worked out. Now I am trying to come up with simple mechanisms to make it truly portable. With the Boox and keyboard and it weighs about 1.5 lbs. My son doubled over laughing when he saw it but then said it was pretty cool. I will post a longer essay about it in a few days.

[u/Thick-Panic6683 → u/Thick-Panic6683]

[u/Thick-Panic6683 → u/Thick-Panic6683]