de-link pre
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pre
prototype 0 — not the end goal
the de-link pre is prototype 0 of the de-link platform. not a product. not the goal. it proved that an open, hand-solderable, 3D-printable e-paper reader could actually work. now development moves toward v1.0: pip.
0805 and SOT-23 components throughout. hand-solderable with basic equipment. the enclosure is fully 3D-printable. when something breaks, you replace the part. want a different screen? get a new panel and print a new case.
flash crosspoint reader over USB-C and you have a working e-reader in minutes. no locked bootloader. no bricks. write your own firmware if you want.
this is a first prototype. it does everything it is supposed to do and i use mine every day. but the shape is a compromise, the enclosure is bulkier than it needs to be, and the per-unit build cost is higher than i want it to be long-term.
the PCB layout has room to shrink. the case has room to get thinner. the BOM has room to get cheaper. the pre proves the idea works. pip is where it becomes something worth recommending to someone else.
pip is v1.0. PCB design is nearly final. build guides, sourcing tutorials, and community software are coming. learn more about where the platform is headed.