Typeframe PS-85 cyberdeck

The latest issue of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine has landed. Since our socials are still alight with Raspberry Pi–powered cyberdeck builds, we thought you’d enjoy this article by David Crookes, who seems to have a prophetic sense for what readers want. Please share links to some of the new cyberdecks you’ve seen online in the comments section. We love that this retro tech is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to the cool kids on TikTok.

Maker Jeff Merrick didn’t originally set out to create a cyberdeck inspired by the Alien movie universe. Instead, he sought to modify Penk Chen’s Penkesu retro-style handheld PC by fitting a hot-swap keyboard PCB, but his attempts to produce a writerdeck hit a wall. “I quickly discovered that a 40 percent keyboard isn’t ideal for typing, and a Raspberry Pi Zero isn’t ideal for browser-based text editors,” he says.

The 40 percent mechanical keyboard is fitted with Alien-inspired keycaps

Scrapping the idea, he turned his attention to a new build, which he named the Typeframe PX-88. Inspired by the Epson PX-4 computer from 1985 and built around a Raspberry Pi 4, it featured a 65 percent mechanical keyboard and a touchscreen. It worked so well that Jeff decided he wanted to develop more projects with Raspberry Pi. “I had not worked with any single-board computers before (or Linux in years), but found Raspberry Pi’s large and established ecosystem made figuring things out easier,” he tells us.

System ready

Jeff had purchased a set of keycaps imprinted with the Semiotic Standard — futuristic symbols created by Ron Cobb for the Alien films. “I didn’t have a clear plan for how I was going to use them, but my wife and I are Alien fans,” he says. “We’ve built some cosplay and props, including the Incinerator Unit from Alien, the pulse rifle from Alien: Romulus, and a Facehugger mask.”

Since he still had his Penkesu build, Jeff decided to resurrect the project using the new keycaps. “I had most of the internals already working from my Penkesu build, and I just wanted to use them in some way,” he explains. “I also knew I wanted to keep it simple after designing my larger writerdeck, so I went with a slate form factor because hinges complicate everything.” 

A removable LED panel is fitted to the exposed GPIO header in the corner, representing the AI Mother System MU/TH/UR

As such, his Penkesu evolved into the PS-85, with a new 3D-printed case and a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W inside.

The parts and wiring are similar to the Penkesu, but the keycaps set the theme, leading to some fresh ideas. “There’s an exposed GPIO, so I knew I wanted some sort of peripheral that could slot in,” he says. “I found the Adafruit CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet, and this led to the addition of a light attachment.”

Creating the look

The build, which includes a Waveshare 7.9-inch touchscreen, wasn’t entirely smooth. “It was a challenge to learn everything on the electronics and hardware side — CAD and soldering,” Jeff says. “But since this was my second project, it went a little smoother than the first.” The results exceeded his expectations. “It’s actually much sturdier than I expected, and it boots up pretty fast,” he adds.

The innards fit neatly within the slate case, and the connections are wired for easy external access

Even so, this build isn’t purely about the internals — a lot of time was spent on the overall look. “The idea of adding a handle came after an initial iteration,” Jeff says. “I also used the same weathering techniques that I had used on some other Alien props: essentially, I painted everything silver, then painted the areas I wanted to look chipped with a liquid mask (I used toothpaste), painted everything white, and finally removed the liquid mask to reveal the silver underneath. Then I added some scratches and an acrylic wash to finish it off.”

The PS-85 looks so good that Jeff hasn’t yet used it for its intended purpose. “My plan was to use it for journalling, and there is a nice command-line application, jrnl (jrnl.sh), that I installed,” he says. “But it’s mostly a display piece right now.”

Issue 165 of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine is out now!

If you liked this article, there are many more like it in the latest issue of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine. You can purchase a copy from the Raspberry Pi Store in Cambridge. It’s also available from our online store, which ships around the world. And you can get a digital version via our app on Android or iOS.

You can also subscribe to the print version of our magazine. Not only do we deliver worldwide, but those who sign up for a six- or twelve-month print subscription will receive a FREE Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W!

The post Typeframe PS-85 cyberdeck appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

from News - Raspberry Pi https://ift.tt/lDw1sMC