Tapico Typer Is a Minimalist Writer’s Dream Machine

I’m a writer, which you were probably able to deduce based on the fact that you’re currently reading words that I wrote. And while the tools of this trade are simpler than those used in most other professions, they do still matter. In the same way that a carpenter wants a sharp plane, a writer wants a device that prioritizes the typing experience. For the more minimalist among us, a desktop PC or laptop might be an unnecessary burden. That’s why Redditor v1c3ntecruz developed the Tapico Typer as a final-year university project.

The Tapico Typer belongs to a growing category of technology: minimalist devices dedicated to a single task. Point-and-shoot cameras, for example, were thought to be a dying breed, but they’ve experienced a sudden resurgence in popularity as people seek to disconnect from their smartphones. Astrohaus sells a couple of “digital typewriters” that give writers a similar purpose-built alternative to distracting “do-everything” computers. The Tapico Typer achieves the same goal, but in a much more affordable DIY package.

Based on the popular Zerowriter, the Tapico Typer is a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W-based writing device. Its only visible components are a sturdy Kemove DK61 60% mechanical keyboard and a 4.2” Waveshare ePaper display that’s very friendly to the eyes. ePaper displays also consume very little power, so the Tapico Typer has fantastic battery life. It is only an estimate, but v1c3ntecruz gives a ballpark of 10-15 hours of use on a single charge of the 10,000mAh battery bank.

The enclosure is 3D-printable and v1c3ntecruz seems to have put a lot of effort into optimizing the structural rigidity. The interior is very tidy, with each component mounted securely and the cables routed neatly.

When powered on, the Tapico Typer automatically boots into the word processing interface, which v1c3ntecruz forked from Zerowriter. ePaper displays are slow, but this has a half-second partial refresh while typing and a full refresh only takes an additional second. An SD card slot accessible on the exterior of the device lets users swap between images or back up copies of files.

In their post about this project, v1c3ntecruz describes the Tapico Typer as “like a calculator, but for words.” I like that analogy, because it cuts to the core of the device’s purpose. You don’t want your calculator to check your email or post to Instagram — you just want it to help you do math. In the same way, the Tapico Typer doesn’t distract you with superfluous functions. Its only job is to help you write.