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Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

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Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#31

Post by ryukafalz »

hammyhavoc wrote: post #13
criddell wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some others?

The classic TRS-80 Model 100, Cambridge Z88, QuickPad Pro, AlphaSmart Dana. There's a bunch more too. I'm somewhat of an enthusiast for this form-factor, this and typewriters are a hobby for the missus and I. Douglas Adams used a Cambridge Z88 for writing! Prior to laptop batteries becoming decent once swappable batteries became less common, serious journos frequently used to turn to the slabtop even a decade ago. Th…

> There's something very human and intimate in the usage of it, despite modern clamshells obviously having better viewing angles and giving you a better posture. They feel very natural and intuitive, in the same way a pen and paper does.

There's also something more social about it, if you're using it to take notes while around other people. A screen pointed towards you is a private space; a screen visible to the room is more public (and less prone to distraction as a result because it's obvious to those around you if you're fooling around).

I use a TRS-80 Model 100 as a notetaking device for that reason. (Well, also because it's nearly incapable of doing anything that could distract me on the go!)

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#32

Post by jdkee »

criddell wrote: post #12
hammyhavoc wrote: post #11

The world needs more slabtops. They're my favourite form-factor of all time for writing anything creative. Feels like a typewriter.

What are some others?

Epson HX-20. Always wanted one as a kid when I saw the ad in Byte magazine. So cool, with the integrated paper-tape printer.

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#34

Post by hammyhavoc »

jdkee wrote: post #32
criddell wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some others?

Epson HX-20. Always wanted one as a kid when I saw the ad in Byte magazine. So cool, with the integrated paper-tape printer.

HX-20 is still appealing! Never seen one in the flesh though.

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#35

Post by back7co »

marklar423 wrote: post #18

I love the look, but can someone explain to me what sort of things you would do with a computer of this form factor? Why do people keep building them? Is is just looks? Or is there something they're good at. To be clear, I'm not looking for something you can't do already (your phone does everything), but something that a cyberdeck computer would _excel_ at.

This comes up in response to this hobby frequently, and the answer is pretty simple- it does whatever you want. There are pretty much an endless variety of cyberdecks, and some are more useful that others. Even the ones that are for different aesthetics go on to inspire specific builds.

I think you're asking the question in good faith, but it's a bit like looking at an Arduino, Raspberry Pi 2040, or Raspberry Pi 4B and asking, "what can these do that an Intel laptop can't do better?"

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#36

Post by back7co »

antigravity42 wrote: post #21

i want not this but a device between scientific calculator and smartphone with 720/480 display one framework like expendable port, qwerty keyboard may be some functions of flipper zero

I would encourage you to either take a look at the cyberdeck.cafe website or drop into the Discord server- you may be surprised how many different builds there are, and you probably would find the original designer pretty happy to share design files or suggestions.

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#37

Post by lagniappe »

ocrow wrote: post #29
marklar423 wrote: post #18

I love the look, but can someone explain to me what sort of things you would do with a computer of this form factor? Why do people keep building them? Is is just looks? Or is there something they're good at. To be clear, I'm not looking for something you can't do already (your phone does everything), but something that a cyberdeck computer would _excel_ at.

Seems like it could work well to run a music tracker.

renoise would run like a wild mustang on this thing

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#38

Post by hammyhavoc »

ryukafalz wrote: post #31
hammyhavoc wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The classic TRS-80 Model 100, Cambridge Z88, QuickPad Pro, AlphaSmart Dana. There's a bunch more too. I'm somewhat of an enthusiast for this form-factor, this and typewriters are a hobby for the missus and I. Douglas Adams used a Cambridge Z88 for writing! Prior to laptop batteries becoming decent once swappable batteries became less common, serious journos frequently used to turn to the slabtop even a decade ago. Th…

> There's something very human and intimate in the usage of it, despite modern clamshells obviously having better viewing angles and giving you a better posture. They feel very natural and intuitive, in the same way a pen and paper does. There's also something more social about it, if you're using it to take notes while around other people. A screen pointed towards you is a private space; a screen visible to the room…

Eloquent! Had never thought about that before, but yes, you're absolutely right.

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#39

Post by viraptor »

marklar423 wrote: post #18

I love the look, but can someone explain to me what sort of things you would do with a computer of this form factor? Why do people keep building them? Is is just looks? Or is there something they're good at. To be clear, I'm not looking for something you can't do already (your phone does everything), but something that a cyberdeck computer would _excel_ at.

It's a cheap small device that's extremely portable. When I was doing more random tech support things, I'd probably try to keep one in the backpack because it's relatively tiny. It can handle boot media, pxe, testing random hardware, connecting to networks you need, etc. It would come useful when I don't have a laptop / didn't expect to need to do work, but it turns out I'd really like my laptop right now. At that size, I'd just never take it out / leave behind.

Although with the new, more powerful phones I could also carry a small USB dock instead. I've done random emergency work on N900 before.

Re: Show HN: I built my first Cyberdeck

#40

Post by wlesieutre »

criddell wrote: post #14
hammyhavoc wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The classic TRS-80 Model 100, Cambridge Z88, QuickPad Pro, AlphaSmart Dana. There's a bunch more too. I'm somewhat of an enthusiast for this form-factor, this and typewriters are a hobby for the missus and I. Douglas Adams used a Cambridge Z88 for writing! Prior to laptop batteries becoming decent once swappable batteries became less common, serious journos frequently used to turn to the slabtop even a decade ago. Th…

Are there any slabtop’s still being made? All of those that you listed are discontinued. I do like the idea of having a very small, limited OS. I’ve often thought I’d love an updated Psion 5. With modern batteries and displays, you should be able to get months out of a set of batteries or battery charge.

Clockwork makes several

https://www.clockworkpi.com/shop

https://www.abortretry.fail/p/review-of-the-clockwork-pi-dev...

R-01 is particular interesting for having a RISC-V processor

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