BYOK is a simple new writing tool designed to help chronic procrastinators

This is the BYOK, touted as a “distraction-free” writing device for those who need to fully concentrate in order to channel their productivity as effectively as possible. The procrastinating writer often struggles with the idea that there is a simple and effective solution to their problems. Usually, this involves buying something – the perfect notebook or pen – or some diligent or trivial ritual that helps the words flow. It’s an approach that only reinforces procrastination and further delays the idea of ​​getting anything done.

BYOK stands for Bring Your Own Keyboard. Critics and pessimistic writers will point out that the need to find a keyboard is a hindrance in itself, but there’s no doubting the good intentions of this device. BYOK consists of a simple screen that can display up to six lines of text. To use it, plug in your favorite keyboard mentioned above, whether full-size or foldable—there are hundreds to choose from—and get started.

Connectivity to the keyboard is via Bluetooth or USB-C, and the onboard batteries only need to power a simple LCD screen, giving a maximum usage time of 20 hours. This drops to 5 hours if you have the screen backlight set to maximum brightness (there are three settings). At just 16.5 x 8 cm and 1.4 cm thick, the BYOK fits easily in your pocket, making it a ready-to-use device that lets you jot down ideas without the need for a power source or internet access (and all the distractions that come with that).

However, all text can be backed up to popular cloud platforms like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox over Wi-Fi, or you can simply sync it over USB. Text is rendered in three different font sizes, and while the 16MB of onboard storage wouldn’t be enough for even a short social video, in the efficient world of text-only operation it’s more than enough for several epic novels – around 1 million words. These precious pearls of wisdom will survive even the case of a completely dead battery.

BYOK comes in black or white, and the sleek, rectangular body features a magnet for attaching to traditional phone stands. The operating system is controlled by three simple buttons on the back of the case. It’s not all perfect – editors might chafe at the lack of simple cut-and-paste functionality – but as a way to hit a specific word count without falling victim to online distractions, nothing beats it.

BYOK can be ordered from Prelaunch.com