I have been posting results of my attempts to make ergonomic mobile lap writing workflows using small display devices and Bluetooth keyboards.
A common hardware store finished plank size is 5.5 inches wide. This supports standard small width (some call it 75%) keyboards. For serious writing production one would want at least that much finger typing space. My last post shows this with an Omikamo folding keyboard and folding lap tray that could fit in a daypack.
If you are really "serious" about writing then a better quality keyboard ($100) would be a worthwhile investment. For general mobile app use a cheap keyboard is fine.
My fantasy is an almost pocketable writing setup that I could whip out while traveling and do some productive wordplay. You never know when genius might strike and you gotta share it with the world.
A smaller common slat size is 3.5". With a piano hinge a 16 inch length can be turned into an 8" folding keyboard support. For this example I used oak 1/4" thick so it is thin but stiff. Using the magnetic ring holders described in my last post this is a sturdy platform for holding a device and keyboard. I tricked it out with cork sheet which dampens keyboard mounting nicely. A decent trackball completes the ensemble.
Photo 2 shows the keyboard tray opened up with the magnetic ring holder mounted. Photo 3 shows the folded units.
For stability the keyboard should not be wider than the keyboard tray. I searched for a folding keyboard that would fit the 3.5" slat. I bought the one in the photos for $14. There are a half dozen Amazon vendors selling the same unit. It measures 3.4 inches wide and fits on the slat nicely. With a small device like a phone or e-ink it's a very comfortable writing setup. The first photo shows the setup with a Moto G phone. Photo 4 shows it with a Boox 7. The magnetic ring stand allows center of gravity adjustment so the tray doesn't rock or tip.
About the keyboard : it folds nice and is very compact. Typing is not bad for a $14 device. If you are just in need of a hardware keyboard for your Android device then it is adequate.
Unfortunately on this particular version some non-standard key assignments make it less useful for DOSwriter, my minimalist writing app. See photo 5.
My app uses standard terminal and desktop keyboard assignments. The Escape key is important to my app. On this keyboard (and several other compact keyboards in this price range) the Escape key requires an additional Function key to perform the escape key command.
On the top row the keyboard has a useless ".com" key and the Backspace is too small. A better design would be a dedicated Esc key and wider Backspace. Also there is no Delete key, which could fit in a better layout.
The Arrow keys are too small and cramped to the left. There is also a useless "Win" key taking up space in the bottom row.
I don't mean to be overly critical. This may be an older version. It just happens to fit the form factor perfectly.
Photo 6 shows another folding keyboard layout in the same price range. It's an improvement but also suffers from the Function-Escape annoyance. At around 4 inches wide it is just slightly wide than the 3.5" slat. I might try one out.
Lastly, some readers have asked about using a trackball on Boox e-inks. I have used trackballs for years and find them superior to mice or keyboard trackpads. The last photo shows me using the Boox setup with a Nulea trackball to view a map of Davenport, Iowa, the birthplace of Bix Beiderbecke.
There is some lag on the Boox but it's still useable. A backlit tablet is superior for navigating the web but the Boox is adequate if that is all you want to carry.
I also improved trackball integration with my app for better text document scrolling and selection. If minimalist yet powerful text writing on Android devices and e-inks is your thing you might want to check it out : doswriter.com
