Old Meets New: "USB Typewriters"

Everything old is new again, and it seems like everyone is getting into the retro game. And typewriters, as we all know, are inherently cool, even when they're not mixing drinks. This leads us to the latest beautiful old-meets-new creation: USB typewriters. These super-stylish accessories are created by "reclusive genius" Jack Zylkin, who lives, according to his Etsy profile, in an island compound with 57 cats. (We suspect he's being facetious, but who knows?) Zylkin takes old fashioned typewriters, the kind with a ribbon and keys that you actually have to put some force behind, and attaches sensors and a USB cable which can be plugged into any USB-capable device, including iPads, Macs, and PCs. You can then type on the typewriter and watch your words appear on the screen of your device. It will even detect the alt, function, backspace, and shift keys, and to insert a carriage return, you actually… do a carriage return. That still a bit too modern? Just put a piece of paper in the typewriter and go REALLY old-school, and you'll have both hard copy and electronic for all your filing needs. There's something almost primal about typing on a real typewriter, which modern computer keyboards just can't replicate. Zylkin's USB typewriters give you the best of both worlds. Check out the USB Typewriters website for more information, or head to his Etsy shop to purchase one of these beauties. Not quite ready to fork over the $599-$799? Handy with a soldering gun? Zylkin also sells DIY kits to use with your own typewriter.