updated 3/04/2025
Proudly WEB 1.0 (with CSS)
All Micro Journal models are designed and hand crafted by Un Kyu Lee. This site represents my own views and I in no official way represent Un Kyu Lee. So, opinions and mistakes here are mine and mine alone. I just truly appreciate these great machines.
This is both my description and review of the Micro Journal Rev 6. Official links to where you can buy it and Un Kyu's own setup pages are linked below. The Micro Journal Rev 6 is a very simple and easy distraction free draft writing machine along the lines of an Alphasmart Neo. It has a 48 key ortholinear keyboard with mechanical switches and a small but sufficient LCD screen. You only see a little of your text as you type, as with the Neo, but you have full navigational capability to scroll back through your text if you need to.
The Rev 6 is very easy to use. It's OS is very basic, whatever runs off the ESP32 SOC, so very focused functions and capabilities. Exactly what you want in a pure drafting keyboard. The setup page is linked below. This is exactly the same 48 key ortholinear keyboard the Rev 2 has and it is a joy to use. Key assignments are made via a text file called a json file. Information is listed below. The file can make key assignments on four layers for each key using keypress, shift keypress. Alt keypress and shift Alt keypress. In addition, you have cursor movement key assignments for easy navigation and review of your text. There is a limitation here. The Rev 6 has a limited text buffer so it is possible to not be able to scroll all the way back if you are typing a longer piece. However, that is just the buffer—you are not losing any text. It is all safely in the file.
When you turn the Rev 6 on, you are immediately taken to the text editor, either a blank new file the first time you start it up or to whatever was the last file you were working in. You can just start typing. The ESC key will take you out to a menu. The menu has all the "file spaces" which you select by typing a number.
Writing can be easily transferred to the computer, though nothing as much fun as SEND on the Neo. You can use a script to set up sync with Google Drive. It really is easy, quick and reliable. You then find your text file on Google Drive and do a copy and paste into whatever editor you want, or just use Google Docs on Drive. If you don't like using the cloud, you can just pull the SD card. Admittedly, the SD card slot doesn't make it easy to pull the card, but it's not too difficult. I do. however, recommend using the Google Drive sync.
The Rev 6 does not have all of the features of the Neo 2 such as copy and paste and spell checking. If those are important , you should look at the Rev 2. But if simply getting your draft out without a lot of distractions and not worrying too much about editing typos, this is an ideal successor to the Neo 2.
|
You need to understand that Un Kyu Lee not only designs all his Writer Decks, he also builds them by hand. Because both things take time and care, ordering is tricky. Watch the date for the next restock, but you have to act quickly as he will only put up as many as he thinks he can build in the next reasonable period of time. Be patient. It's worth it. There is also a lot of other good information on this page. |
|
|
A fantastic and detailed documentation of how to get going with your new Rev 6 |
|
|
Here is where you can watch for firmware updates for the Rev 5, 6 and 7 (Not the Rev 2, which runs on Linux). |
|
|
A uselful, little deeper dive into using the json text file to reassign keys on your key map for the Rev 6. |
|
|
Un Kyu Lee's YouTube page with informative and useful videos for all his different models, including the Rev 6. |
|
|
There are several people on this forum I frequent that have and discuss the Rev 6. I am H0ok there. Feel free to ask questions and we'll try to help. |