This new mechanical keyboard for writers could be your productivity secret weapon

Mechanical keyboards are largely associated with gaming, but a new one from Astrohaus has another demographic in mind.

The Astrohaus company, which has refused to let the typewriter die, has gained a reputation in the world of writing for its distraction-free devices -- small keyboards with displays that let you write without apps, notifications, or browsers asking for your attention.

Freewrite Wordrunner

For the first time, the company is introducing a mechanical keyboard designed for use with computers -- but still with writing in mind.

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Called the Freewrite Wordrunner, the device is a normal mechanical keyboard but with some writer-specific tweaks.

Instead of the usual function keys across the top, the Wordrunner has keys for navigating and editing documents -- commands like find, replace, paragraph up, paragraph down, and undo. Three customizable buttons labeled "zap," "pow," and "bam" sit on the right side (useful for things like inserting a certain line of text you use often, launching writing apps, or changing text case). A small media control joystick sits on the top left.

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The biggest difference with the Wordrunner lies at the top -- a pair of electromagnetic counters with rolling displays. One is for counting words until you press reset, and the other serves as a timer for "quick sprints" or productivity tracking. The word counter has eight spaces, presumably letting you tally up to 99,999,999 words.

While other Freewrite devices are dedicated solely to writing and aren't even connected to a computer, the Wordrunner is connected to a computer and all the distractions that potentially come with that. Hopefully, the built-in tools keep you writing away (I must admit it would be fun to see the counter go up).

The Wordrunner uses Bluetooth or USB-C to connect, and you can pair it with three different devices.

Availability

The company hasn't announced exact pricing, but is offering "exclusive early-bird" pricing at its Kickstarter launch in February. Similar Freewrite products range from $349 to $999. If you're interested, you can place a reservation now for $1.