Maker J. Chitpin has constructed a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W-powered pocket-friendly moveable laptop, taking inspiration from the Penkēsu and IBM ThinkPad laptops — and that includes full-size keycaps on an ortholinear mechanical keyboard.
“[The ThinkDeck is] a Penkēsu-inspired moveable PC that includes my favorite design components of outdated ThinkPads,” Chitpin explains of the 3D-printed cyberdeck. “Why would you need one? It appears cool and also you just like the (barely chunky) kind issue. You want a small(-ish) Linux field, probably for connecting with different IoT [Internet of Things] units. [Or] you desire a moveable computing/notice taking system with help for full-sized key switches/keycaps.”
This chunky moveable is powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, utilizing a tweaked Penkēsu chassis design. (📷: J. Chitpin)
As Chitpin says, the undertaking was impressed by Penkēsu (ペンケース), an open-source Raspberry Pi-powered pocketable laptop designed by self-styled “digital nomad” and CutiePi pill designer Penk Chen. Just like the Penkēsu, the ThinkDeck gives an ortholinear 40 per cent keyboard structure, utilizing full-size keycaps and switches this time, with out an built-in pointing system — although the ultrawide show has gone, changed by a significantly extra compact Pimoroni HyperPixel 4.0 show.
There is a motive for the small show: to be able to make room for the keyboard within the backside half of the 3D-printed clamshell case, many of the electronics — together with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and the Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C battery pack — are situated within the prime. In consequence, the smaller display was a crucial trade-off — as was the introduction of a kickstand into the design, so the top-heavy chassis does not tip over when opened to a typical viewing angle.
The design incorporates a kickstand on the rear, to stability the top-heavy electronics structure. (📷: J. Chitpin)
Elsewhere within the construct are panel-mount enter/output (IO) ports for an exterior HDMI show, any USB 2.0 peripheral, and charging by way of a micro-USB port. Missing a touchpad or IBM ThinkPad-style pointing stick, the show gives touchscreen capabilities for mouse work — and there is an inner energy change, designed to forestall unintended toggling throughout transit.
Chitpin has launched design information, keyboard firmware, and 3D-printable STLs, together with a full invoice of supplies, on GitHub below the permissive MIT license. “I would like to offer a shout out to Penk,” the maker writes, “for uplifting me to construct my very own cyberdeck.”
