One of the things that we love about the modern era of computing is the increasing ease by which you can roll your own custom computer, as seen with the cyberdeck phenomenon. The Flying Lotus is another awesome build in this vein.
Built around the Framework ecosystem, this device was built to suit the very specific use case of its designer, [Carlos Aldana]. He found himself traveling a lot and that the ergonomics of a laptop left a lot to be desired, especially when in the air. Add to it the fact that he has trouble typing on typical laptop keyboards for any length of time, and you can see how an ergonomic keyboard plus a laptop just doesn’t really work on a tray table.
The Flying Lotus takes the screen, modular ports, and mainboard of a Framework laptop and puts them into a single computing block that can be hung from the clever tabs at the top or mounted on a stand that puts the screen at a more ergonomically ideal height from the work surface. [Aldana] describes it as an “iMac that’s portable.” Since it doesn’t have an integrated keyboard, you can run it with whatever keyboard you like from super duper ergo to a teeny game controller sized unit.
We’ve talked about why we like Framework so much before, and if you’d like another take on a modern portable computer, how about this portable Mac mini?
Is it just me or the kits the guy is selling (see the link in the video description) are unavailable in Europe?
This is an exceptionally cool build because of how functional it is for fulfilling its user’s specific needs, a lot of cyberdecks and homemade computers are homemade just for the sake of being homemade with no practical advantage over an ordinary laptop you could buy off the shelf, but this is a DIY PC with a purpose!
A telescoping stand (maybe made from tripod legs?) to replace the detachable one, and/or folding kickstand could be good improvements.
So, what does the FCC have to say about RF-transparent backshells?
Nothing much for home-made gear unless there is a substantiated complaint filed:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-15
The framework $tuff is cool, but that stand needs a broader base. Bugs me for what a gust of wind a table bump or CAT whilst airborne hanging on hooks could do. Perhaps a fold up table tripod for a camera could hold it. Better at security. What are big blocks of printed plastic for, specially if weighted?
Anyone else do a double take when they saw “Flying Lotus is a computer”?
Steven is so much more than this cyberdeck lol
candy + stick = lollipops
rag + stick = mop
…
Why is eddie brock on the computer in the park?