AUTEUR is an E Ink typewriter with a mechanical keyboard (crowdfunding)

The AUTEUR is portable typewriter that combines a 6 inch E Ink display with a mechanical keyboard, a battery, and… not much more. It boots in 10 seconds and dumps you directly into a simple word processor. There’s no WiFi or internet connection, and no other apps… at least none that are pre-installed.

While the developer of the AUTEUR is still finalizing some hardware details in preparation of launching a Crowd Supply crowdfunding campaign, the goal is to use open hardware which means you could theoretically install your own software and turn this typewriter into a weird little computer. But it’s clearly intended first and foremost to offer a distraction-free writing experience.

The current hardware is based on an InkPlate 6Motion, which combines a 6 inch, 1024 x 758 pixel E Ink display with a custom circuit board featuring an STM32H743 microcontroller and ESP32-C3 co-processor, although it’s possible that this could change before launch. It also has a Raspberry Pi Zero for brains, but the developer is looking at other options.

For the keyboard, the AUTUER uses a 60% sized mechanical keyboard with Kailh switches and Double Dhot PBT keycaps. It has a rechargeable battery good for more than 6 hours of use, a USB Type-C port for charging, and the whole system measures 290 x 270mm (11.4″ x 10.6″) and wei ghs 1.36 kg (3 pounds).

Documents composed on the device are saved as .txt files which can be copied to a USB flash drive for transfer to other devices.

Pricing and availability details haven’t been announced yet, but given that the InkPlate 6Motion sells for around $200, it’s likely that the AUTEUR won’t be dirt cheap. After adding the keyboard, battery, PCB, and case, the total price could easily be close to $400 or $500 unless the developer finds ways to reduce the bill of materials.

You can keep up on the latest developments by following the project on /r/writerDeck or discord.