While traveling recently, I became frustrated with my aging 11" Thinkpad and the limitations of iPhones or tablets, so I have started looking into sourcing a customized computer for use on the go.
I’d like it to have the following items for practicality:
- Full GNU/Linux OS
- USB chargeable with battery
- Medium book sized (like iPad Mini or A5 Paper) dimensions assuming a couple inches thick
- Large internal storage
- Full keyboard (especially things like system key, tab, delete, home/end, etc.)–size is negotiable though
- Mouse or touchscreen
- Yoga-style hinges for laptop, lay-flat, and tablet form factors
Most off-the-shelf options are too expensive for what they offered (GPD), out-of-date (original netbooks), or poorly reviewed. Modifying a second-hand tablet or netbook, or building something from scratch seems like a reasonable option to get everything I want.
Framework modular laptops mainboard install
I really like the idea of the Framework notebooks, but I wish there was more of an ecosystem and different form factors available.
Since I am not concerned with ruining the aesthetics of an existing industrial design, I can also try to incorporate some nice-to-have/optional elements to add a bit of fun.
These would be:
- Solar power
- Cyber-punk or cyber-deck styling
- Modular and easily repairable
- Wired ethernet
- Act as USB hub?
- Inputs to optionally use as screen-only
- Output to an external display/projector
- QMK keyboard for customization and layers?
- Split keyboard?
- M.2 Interface
- Windshield heads-up display?
It seems like there is a large community and support for making custom RaspberryPi-based pocket computers, so that is where I am starting for inspriation and guidance.
The Raspberry Pi based Penkesu Computer by Penk Chen
Hyper Keyboard Pi by https://twitter.com/chinjinson