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This is really cool. I've wanted to do something similar for a while now. I've lately just taken to buying stupid cheap laptops from chinese manufacturers. T

This is really cool. I've wanted to do something similar for a while now. I've lately just taken to buying stupid cheap laptops from chinese manufacturers. That way if they go belly-up I'm not out more than a few hundred dollars. I may have to try building one of these sometime though.

zipwitch 9y ago
I keep having similar thoughts as well. Something based around a raspberry pi, with a thinkpad style keyboard, including the pointer stick. Then have a small (~7inch) touchscreen and you're good to go. I've been inspired by this:https://gizmodo.com/heres-a-pretty-legit-gibsonian-cyberdeck-1787039243 https://gizmodo.com/heres-a-pretty-legit-gibsonian-cyberdeck...
- jncraton 9y ago
  Interesting. I've found that used business-class laptops from several years ago do nicely. I use a ThinkPad L420 and EliteBook 8460p daily, and they both work well for me. They are reliable and robust.
  - mkesper 9y ago
    My old employer once had a batch of L512, they did not feel great. X or T series got much more love from Lenovo and should be easy to get pre-used.
    - jncraton 9y ago
      Agreed. I wouldn't buy an L series myself. The EliteBook is mine and the ThinkPad belongs to my employer.
- fhood 9y ago
  I need more RAM (for chrome's greedy self) than a pi can offer. But that is the only area where that sort of project falls short. Other than Chrome all I need is VPN capability and a terminal.
  - holtalanm 9y ago
    agreed. I use the cheap machines I mentioned as a cheap light-weight development machine. I required probably at least 6GB of RAM for the machine to run smoothly, which is still pretty low for a dev machine.
- borgel 9y ago
  Me too! I put together something similar a while ago [1]. It was great fun to build, but doesn't make a very ergonomic computer :) [1] http://makezine.com/2017/06/15/commute-deck-keyboard-device/ http://makezine.com/2017/06/15/commute-deck-keyboard-device/
- bovine3dom 9y ago
  Have you heard of the GPD pocket [1]? It's not so far from what you describe, although I often find myself wishing it had an extra inch or so: the keyboard is pretty cramped. [1] https://www.windowscentral.com/gpd-pocket-review https://www.windowscentral.com/gpd-pocket-review
  - zipwitch 9y ago
    I hadn't heard of the GPD (thanks for sharing). I have been keeping an eye on the Gemini: http://www.zdnet.com/article/a-retro-computer-brings-touch-typing-to-a-smartphone/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/a-retro-computer-brings-touch-t...
- j_s 9y ago
  Raspberry Pi laptop: https://pi-top.com/ https://pi-top.com/
yoodenvranx 9y ago
> I've lately just taken to buying stupid cheap laptops from chinese manufacturers. That way if they go belly-up I'm not out more than a few hundred dollars. If size and weight is not a big problem you can just buy a bunch of old Lenovo T410/T420/T510/T520 from Craigslist/ebay. They are fully serviceable and you can replace all the parts on your own
- holtalanm 9y ago
  My most recent purchase was the ChuWi Lapbook 12.3 which is about as light as a Macbook Air. I'm not concerned with weight so much as having at least a 1080p screen. I find anything smaller makes it harder to actually get much done without a second monitor. I guess I'm spoiled a little since I have a triple-monitor setup for work most of the time.

zipwitch 9y ago

I keep having similar thoughts as well. Something based around a raspberry pi, with a thinkpad style keyboard, including the pointer stick. Then have a small (~7inch) touchscreen and you're good to go. I've been inspired by this:https://gizmodo.com/heres-a-pretty-legit-gibsonian-cyberdeck-1787039243 https://gizmodo.com/heres-a-pretty-legit-gibsonian-cyberdeck...

jncraton 9y ago
Interesting. I've found that used business-class laptops from several years ago do nicely. I use a ThinkPad L420 and EliteBook 8460p daily, and they both work well for me. They are reliable and robust.
- mkesper 9y ago
  My old employer once had a batch of L512, they did not feel great. X or T series got much more love from Lenovo and should be easy to get pre-used.
  - jncraton 9y ago
    Agreed. I wouldn't buy an L series myself. The EliteBook is mine and the ThinkPad belongs to my employer.
fhood 9y ago
I need more RAM (for chrome's greedy self) than a pi can offer. But that is the only area where that sort of project falls short. Other than Chrome all I need is VPN capability and a terminal.
- holtalanm 9y ago
  agreed. I use the cheap machines I mentioned as a cheap light-weight development machine. I required probably at least 6GB of RAM for the machine to run smoothly, which is still pretty low for a dev machine.
borgel 9y ago
Me too! I put together something similar a while ago [1]. It was great fun to build, but doesn't make a very ergonomic computer :) [1] http://makezine.com/2017/06/15/commute-deck-keyboard-device/ http://makezine.com/2017/06/15/commute-deck-keyboard-device/
bovine3dom 9y ago
Have you heard of the GPD pocket [1]? It's not so far from what you describe, although I often find myself wishing it had an extra inch or so: the keyboard is pretty cramped. [1] https://www.windowscentral.com/gpd-pocket-review https://www.windowscentral.com/gpd-pocket-review
- zipwitch 9y ago
  I hadn't heard of the GPD (thanks for sharing). I have been keeping an eye on the Gemini: http://www.zdnet.com/article/a-retro-computer-brings-touch-typing-to-a-smartphone/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/a-retro-computer-brings-touch-t...
j_s 9y ago
Raspberry Pi laptop: https://pi-top.com/ https://pi-top.com/

yoodenvranx 9y ago

> I've lately just taken to buying stupid cheap laptops from chinese manufacturers. That way if they go belly-up I'm not out more than a few hundred dollars. If size and weight is not a big problem you can just buy a bunch of old Lenovo T410/T420/T510/T520 from Craigslist/ebay. They are fully serviceable and you can replace all the parts on your own

holtalanm 9y ago
My most recent purchase was the ChuWi Lapbook 12.3 which is about as light as a Macbook Air. I'm not concerned with weight so much as having at least a 1080p screen. I find anything smaller makes it harder to actually get much done without a second monitor. I guess I'm spoiled a little since I have a triple-monitor setup for work most of the time.