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The idea of a low-distraction laptop OS is a good one, but I'm not sure that this is necessarily the best approach. If I mentally model such a thing myself, I

The idea of a low-distraction laptop OS is a good one, but I'm not sure that this is necessarily the best approach. If I mentally model such a thing myself, I end up with something that looks a lot like Classic (pre-OS-X) Mac OS. It's simplified and has just enough presence to properly host graphical applications. No taskbar, no notifications (or associated drawer), no self-populated launcher menu. File manager is spatial so it doesn't need a sidebar or navigation chrome. Multitasking is technically possible, but high-friction since the only way to switch between running apps is the little app switcher menu in the top right corner and becomes more cumbersome the more apps/windows you open. Included browser does not support tabs, only windows. Shortcuts to frequently used apps must be added intentionally (to your desktop as aliases/shortcuts or to the launcher menu). This design strongly encourages singular focus without forcing it. If you want to have music playing in the background or need to open a browser window for research you can, but gravity is constantly pulling you back towards your task since the machine isn't pleasant to use for goofing off.

tobyjsullivan 1y ago
Not exactly this but found a similar experience recently by throwing Linux lite on an 15-year-old thinkpad with a physical wifi switch. Was for my kid in this case. Loaded a few education-friendly games and then disabled the wifi. Now it’s a simple, focused, and relatively safe box. Could easily do the same for writing or any other activity.
CTDOCodebases 1y ago
This is intended for people who want to use a laptop as a single use device for the purpose of writing. So basic file management and a word processor is all that is needed. WriterdeckOS is not meant to be an OS for general computing. Purppose built writerdecks are quite expensive. WriterdeckOS is a practical, inexpensive and resourceful alternative to a purpose build device. For more information on writerdecks check out: https://www.reddit.com/r/writerDeck/ https://www.reddit.com/r/writerDeck/
- cout 1y ago
  This is the main reason I keep my PS/2 around with WordPerfect 5.1. Sure I can go browse the web with Minuet, or I used to before https everywhere, but that means saving and exiting WP. And 30+ years later I'm still waiting for a word processor with a decent Reveal Codes.
  - tonyarkles 1y ago
    > decent Reveal Codes. You and me both, friend.
  - fouc 1y ago
    I knew about IBM PS/2, but I temporarily forgot for a moment and was feeling confused about using WordPerfect 5.1 with PlayStation 2 haha.
    - swores 1y ago
      Meanwhile my mind first jumped to the old, pre-USB connector used for things like keyboards and mice, and was wondering what wizardry they had built to turn a PS2 keyboard into a complete text processor!
      - pigeons 1y ago
        I always thought they were related because my PS/2's did use PS2 connectors.
        mkl 1y ago
        Yes, the PS/2 connector came from the PS/2 computer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_port https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_port
  - chipotle_coyote 1y ago
    AFAIK, the current version of Nota Bene -- a direct descendent of XyWrite -- still has this; the current feature list explicitly mentions "Editable Show Codes view so you can see exactly where commands take effect, and edit them as desired". Nota Bene has survived into the present day by moving pretty firmly into a niche academia market, though, and carries a pretty stiff price ($349).
codazoda 1y ago
Uxn from hundred rabbits comes to mind. https://100r.ca https://100r.ca
- rcarmo 1y ago
  Uxn lacks an easy setup guide and a browser for research, though.
ndiddy 1y ago
You can buy an iBook G3 for ~$50 if by "something a lot like Classic Mac OS" you'd be fine with running actual Classic Mac OS. I agree with you that it seems like AppleWorks or Word 5.1 or something in OS 9 would be a nicer writing environment than the TUI word processor offered here.
- coffeebeqn 1y ago
  Depends what you’re writing I guess. I experimented with a TUI word processor before on a very low powered machine and it was quite an experience to not be able to multitask. I just used it for personal notes / diary but it was really a revelation how often my attention slips in a modern OS. Oh let me do some searches on this topic I mentioned, let’s check mail and messages and refresh this page I had open.. and the writing mode is gone. I still prefer a notebook and a pen though and sitting outside
wltr 1y ago
Basically, that’s what sway does for me for many years now. In a way, of course.
sturza 1y ago
I use a regular 3kg 17” macbook pro from ~2007. Beautiful keyboard, good enough resolution, wifi off(not much use on the internet anyway). Still modern ux and good trackpad.
heresie-dabord 1y ago
> idea of a low-distraction laptop OS is a good one [...] something that looks a lot like Classic (pre-OS-X) Mac OS. It's simplified and has just enough presence to properly host graphical applications [...] This design strongly encourages singular focus Counterpoints: 1) You will be blocked if/when the ancient/EOL electronics fail. 2) You want USB and a modern display. 3) If there is any network connexion, you need modern security features. Software solution: minimal Debian running Sway or labwc. Pick favourite minimal writing tools. The labwc GUI can be very minimal. One possible hardware solution: Raspberry Pi 400 or 500. Simple, reliable, easy to replace. Use with any external and/or portable display.
- cosmic_cheese 1y ago
  Right, I’m not proposing using Classic Mac OS on original hardware (though one can, as other comments have noted), but rather a new OS (probably Linux or a BSD under the hood) with an environment that is as described. A tiling WM setup might work for some but my preference leans towards a traditional floating WM with window chrome and all, and for such a thing to become popular it should come as a pre-configured distro.
  - heresie-dabord 1y ago
    > I’m not proposing using Classic Mac OS on original hardware (though one can, as other comments have noted) Noted, the other commenters (nevermind old Macs... TRS-80?!) are letting nostalgia override a writer's practical need for either a) a system that will never die (i.e. a unicorn), or b) a set of software tools that will make the writer's life easier and provide resilience. Impossible to beat Linux for (b). > A tiling WM setup might work for some but my preference leans towards a traditional floating WM Just to clarify, Sway is a tiling WM, labwc is a floating WM. In my experience, either one works brilliantly for writing. Sway enforces a WM pattern; labwc affords the flexibility to define decorations as Openbox themes.
rcarmo 1y ago
This is kind of why I keep an XFCE desktop with a Classic-like theme around. I actually tried using BasiliskII over RDP but it was too limited, and I need to have at least 2 things: a modern browser and a good Markdown editor. I can sort of use Obsidian for both with enough plugins (and if I squint at it), but multiple windows are also a must.

tobyjsullivan 1y ago

Not exactly this but found a similar experience recently by throwing Linux lite on an 15-year-old thinkpad with a physical wifi switch. Was for my kid in this case. Loaded a few education-friendly games and then disabled the wifi. Now it’s a simple, focused, and relatively safe box. Could easily do the same for writing or any other activity.

CTDOCodebases 1y ago

This is intended for people who want to use a laptop as a single use device for the purpose of writing. So basic file management and a word processor is all that is needed. WriterdeckOS is not meant to be an OS for general computing. Purppose built writerdecks are quite expensive. WriterdeckOS is a practical, inexpensive and resourceful alternative to a purpose build device. For more information on writerdecks check out: https://www.reddit.com/r/writerDeck/ https://www.reddit.com/r/writerDeck/

cout 1y ago
This is the main reason I keep my PS/2 around with WordPerfect 5.1. Sure I can go browse the web with Minuet, or I used to before https everywhere, but that means saving and exiting WP. And 30+ years later I'm still waiting for a word processor with a decent Reveal Codes.
- tonyarkles 1y ago
  > decent Reveal Codes. You and me both, friend.
- fouc 1y ago
  I knew about IBM PS/2, but I temporarily forgot for a moment and was feeling confused about using WordPerfect 5.1 with PlayStation 2 haha.
  - swores 1y ago
    Meanwhile my mind first jumped to the old, pre-USB connector used for things like keyboards and mice, and was wondering what wizardry they had built to turn a PS2 keyboard into a complete text processor!
    - pigeons 1y ago
      I always thought they were related because my PS/2's did use PS2 connectors.
      - mkl 1y ago
        Yes, the PS/2 connector came from the PS/2 computer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_port https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_port
- chipotle_coyote 1y ago
  AFAIK, the current version of Nota Bene -- a direct descendent of XyWrite -- still has this; the current feature list explicitly mentions "Editable Show Codes view so you can see exactly where commands take effect, and edit them as desired". Nota Bene has survived into the present day by moving pretty firmly into a niche academia market, though, and carries a pretty stiff price ($349).

codazoda 1y ago

Uxn from hundred rabbits comes to mind. https://100r.ca https://100r.ca

rcarmo 1y ago
Uxn lacks an easy setup guide and a browser for research, though.

ndiddy 1y ago

You can buy an iBook G3 for ~$50 if by "something a lot like Classic Mac OS" you'd be fine with running actual Classic Mac OS. I agree with you that it seems like AppleWorks or Word 5.1 or something in OS 9 would be a nicer writing environment than the TUI word processor offered here.

coffeebeqn 1y ago
Depends what you’re writing I guess. I experimented with a TUI word processor before on a very low powered machine and it was quite an experience to not be able to multitask. I just used it for personal notes / diary but it was really a revelation how often my attention slips in a modern OS. Oh let me do some searches on this topic I mentioned, let’s check mail and messages and refresh this page I had open.. and the writing mode is gone. I still prefer a notebook and a pen though and sitting outside

wltr 1y ago

Basically, that’s what sway does for me for many years now. In a way, of course.

sturza 1y ago

I use a regular 3kg 17” macbook pro from ~2007. Beautiful keyboard, good enough resolution, wifi off(not much use on the internet anyway). Still modern ux and good trackpad.

heresie-dabord 1y ago

> idea of a low-distraction laptop OS is a good one [...] something that looks a lot like Classic (pre-OS-X) Mac OS. It's simplified and has just enough presence to properly host graphical applications [...] This design strongly encourages singular focus Counterpoints: 1) You will be blocked if/when the ancient/EOL electronics fail. 2) You want USB and a modern display. 3) If there is any network connexion, you need modern security features. Software solution: minimal Debian running Sway or labwc. Pick favourite minimal writing tools. The labwc GUI can be very minimal. One possible hardware solution: Raspberry Pi 400 or 500. Simple, reliable, easy to replace. Use with any external and/or portable display.

cosmic_cheese 1y ago
Right, I’m not proposing using Classic Mac OS on original hardware (though one can, as other comments have noted), but rather a new OS (probably Linux or a BSD under the hood) with an environment that is as described. A tiling WM setup might work for some but my preference leans towards a traditional floating WM with window chrome and all, and for such a thing to become popular it should come as a pre-configured distro.
- heresie-dabord 1y ago
  > I’m not proposing using Classic Mac OS on original hardware (though one can, as other comments have noted) Noted, the other commenters (nevermind old Macs... TRS-80?!) are letting nostalgia override a writer's practical need for either a) a system that will never die (i.e. a unicorn), or b) a set of software tools that will make the writer's life easier and provide resilience. Impossible to beat Linux for (b). > A tiling WM setup might work for some but my preference leans towards a traditional floating WM Just to clarify, Sway is a tiling WM, labwc is a floating WM. In my experience, either one works brilliantly for writing. Sway enforces a WM pattern; labwc affords the flexibility to define decorations as Openbox themes.

rcarmo 1y ago

This is kind of why I keep an XFCE desktop with a Classic-like theme around. I actually tried using BasiliskII over RDP but it was too limited, and I need to have at least 2 things: a modern browser and a good Markdown editor. I can sort of use Obsidian for both with enough plugins (and if I squint at it), but multiple windows are also a must.