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As a writer, I take the tools of my trade relatively seriously. I’m not crazy enough to drop $3600 on the keyboard, but I also find typing on a MacBook for long periods of time very unsatisfying — and distracting. So this spring I started researching Distraction-free Writing settings, which included an e-reader/writer and Mechanical keyboard.
I started with Palma box 2 Because its E Ink display and limited connectivity can make it a solid, distraction-free solution if paired with a good keyboard. After a lot of searching, this was the keyboard I settled on NuPhy Air60 V2with the company’s heaviest Moss tactile switches and a gorgeous NuFolio case in “Nostalgic Tan,” which is really more of a bold yellow.
Now, I’m no expert on mechanical keyboards, but I find the Air60 V2 a pleasure to type on. Its low-profile keys don’t have the same travel and feedback as a regular keyboard or the old IBM Model M, but they’re still a huge improvement over the MacBook’s scissor keyboard. Moss switches provide decent enough volume thokbut it’s not so loud that I avoid using the keyboard in public places. It might be a bit much for a quiet café, but I sat down and worked on articles and short stories while sitting at the bar and certainly didn’t feel self-conscious about it.
Being able to pair it with three devices means I can move the NuPhy between my personal laptop, work laptop, and Book with ease. It also comes with a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, but I didn’t need it much.
I often carry my Air60 with me to get some writing done on quiet nights when I’m a bartender. (Come see me in Leading brewery Tuesdays and Thursdays.) If I need to use my laptop, the Air60 is designed to fit perfectly over my MacBook’s keyboard with easy access to the trackpad. But more often than not I’ll bring the Palma 2. The NuFolio acts as a stand as well as a keyboard cover, and the Palma case hangs perfectly over the top, creating a nice little self-contained typing setup that’s perfect for when I don’t want (or need) Internet access.
I even turn to him at home sometimes. When I decided to start writing novels again for the first time in nearly 20 years, I decided Obsidian On Palma, paired with the Air60, this has become my favorite. As someone who often relies on timers to stay on task, I’ve found NuPhy and Palma to be the silver bullet for my attention problems. Part of that is because I actually look forward to writing on the Air60. The feel, sound, and even the color scheme are all very satisfying in a way that a laptop keyboard could never be.
It’s not the perfect solution. The 64-key layout is great for portability, but it can be a little cramped—I make more typing mistakes on the Air60 than I do on a more generous keyboard. Its shallow angle can be a bit uncomfortable for long periods of sitting at a desk. But it’s actually perfect with a standing desk (or bar) or even while resting on your lap.
I wasn’t sure NuPhy would be a wise use of my limited funds when I bought it earlier this year (I’d been on unemployment for a little over a year and relying on diminishing freelance tasks). But after nine months, it has become an indispensable part of my writing routine.