Turning a thrift-store planner into a focused writing machine with a HiSense A5 and a Bluetooth keyboard.
Lisandro Pardo|
Advertisement
Ads keep NeoTeo free
Advertisement
Ads keep NeoTeo free
Advertisement
Ads keep NeoTeo free
Building a cyberdeck can take you into the familiar territory of a Raspberry Pi, or toward more exotic designs, but there are also intermediate points worth looking at. One of them is the Foliodeck, published by "vagabondvivant" on Imgur. At first glance, you might think it's just a smartphone and a wireless keyboard inside a small planner, but there are several modifications and a very particular hardware selection in this "writedeck". You can see the initial concept in the image below.
Foliodeck: A 'writedeck' anyone can build
Almost ten years ago we talked about Hemingwrite, the "typewriter of the 21st century". Due to legal issues it had to change its name to Freewrite, but an official version authorized by Ernest Hemingway's family still exists. The idea of a portable device focused only on writing (no apps, no notifications) is certainly interesting, but with a base price of $649, I think the best route is DIY. That brings us to the Foliodeck by 'vagabondvivant' on Imgur.
My latest writerdeck, the Foliodeck. This thing was a long time coming, mostly because of the specificity of needs.
I found the case at a thrift store warehouse. Knew immediately I wanted to turn it into a deck, but had no immediate plans. Sat on it for a while.
This was the original interior. Basic 90s organizer.
Which I immediately gutted.
The display / computer is a HiSense A5, purchased for under $200 on eBay. I love this thing. It lets me use Google Docs, for instant cloud syncs, and the eink display means I can take this on hikes and do some writing out in the bright sun without issue. It'll actually look better for it.
The phone is held in place with a magnet and a metal plate taped to its back.
The keyboard took me a WHILE to find. For the longest time I wanted to build a mechanical keyboard for it (still do), but it'll be a while before I have the time / money / wherewithal to build a custom keyboard, so this find was a godsend. Not only is it the perfect dimension to the fit the folio exactly,
it's also thin enough that I can fit a ½" MDF underneath.
The keyboard already has a metal back, so the four magnets hold it perfectly in place.
Meanwhile this 13/32" Nitecore 10Ah power bank is JUST thin enough to fit inside the ½" MDF and leave a little material left. This also took a while to find. Most "slim" power banks were still too thick to use, or were vastly underpowered. This Nitecore is perfect for the job.
Another angle of the battery in action
When not in use, the charging cable tucks into the pen holder.
My latest writerdeck, the Foliodeck. This thing was a long time coming, mostly because of the specificity of needs.
I found the case at a thrift store warehouse. Knew immediately I wanted to turn it into a deck, but had no immediate plans. Sat on it for a while.
This was the original interior. Basic 90s organizer.
Which I immediately gutted.
The display / computer is a HiSense A5, purchased for under $200 on eBay. I love this thing. It lets me use Google Docs, for instant cloud syncs, and the eink display means I can take this on hikes and do some writing out in the bright sun without issue. It'll actually look better for it.
The phone is held in place with a magnet and a metal plate taped to its back.
The keyboard took me a WHILE to find. For the longest time I wanted to build a mechanical keyboard for it (still do), but it'll be a while before I have the time / money / wherewithal to build a custom keyboard, so this find was a godsend. Not only is it the perfect dimension to the fit the folio exactly,
it's also thin enough that I can fit a ½" MDF underneath.
The keyboard already has a metal back, so the four magnets hold it perfectly in place.
Meanwhile this 13/32" Nitecore 10Ah power bank is JUST thin enough to fit inside the ½" MDF and leave a little material left. This also took a while to find. Most "slim" power banks were still too thick to use, or were vastly underpowered. This Nitecore is perfect for the job.
Another angle of the battery in action
When not in use, the charging cable tucks into the pen holder.
Foliodeck: A 'writedeck' with an e-ink screen
An image of the Foliodeck project, showing the HiSense A5 smartphone inside a wooden frame. The smartphone uses an e-ink screen.
It all starts with a small Franklin Quest planner (I understand the company changed its name) purchased at a thrift store. After gutting it, 'vagabondvivant' made enough space for a wooden frame and a HiSense A5. This smartphone dates back to 2020 and uses an e-ink display. Its specs aren't necessarily terrible (octa-core, 4GB RAM), and 'vagabondvivant' had to pay around $200 for it on eBay, but the absence of Google Play Store by default and the black-and-white screen limit its general adoption.
A generic low-profile Bluetooth keyboard. Its back is metal, and it can be held with magnets.
A Nitecore 10Ah power bank, hidden under the Foliodeck's Bluetooth keyboard.
'vagabondvivant' admits the keyboard was hard to find. His original plan was to build a low-profile mechanical keyboard, but this generic model has the perfect size, and a metal plate on the back, so he can hold it in place with magnets. The power bank is a Nitecore 10Ah, chosen mainly for its dimensions. And the best part? Everything is reversible (except for the mod to the planner), with plenty of room for optimization. You can use larger or smaller planners, replace the smartphone with a tablet, create 3D printed supports (making the set lighter), and of course, find a solution so you don't have to lean the cover against a wall.
