[Salim Benbouziyane] shows off his TN Deck, a tiny custom cyberdeck built into an Altoids tin. It’s a skillful build that really makes the most of the available space, and includes not only screen and keyboard but also rechargeable power supply and speaker.
The TN Deck is built around the Raspberry Pi Compute Module Zero, which is essentially the same as a Pi Zero W but in a more compact, castellated PCB form factor intended to be integrated into other designs. [Salim]’s custom PCB also handles power, sound, and puts a custom keyboard at the front running QMK, which is pretty much the best choice for custom keyboards and macropads of all kinds.
The keyboard itself is mostly 3D printed. Each button consists of a dome tactile switch on the PCB, covered with a thin and flexible membrane printed in TPU and topped with 3D-printed keycaps. The markings are courtesy of [Salim]’s desktop IR laser marking machine, because a little trial-and-error with lasers can yield good marks on 3D prints. [Salim] says the keys don’t have much travel and the ergonomics aren’t the best, but what it lacks in comfort it makes up for in small size and economical design.
We also really liked [Salim]’s use of a printed drill guide for putting precise holes in the Altoid tin for things like an audio jack, taking the guesswork out of tool positioning.
Some cyberdecks are made to suit specific needs, and others are made for the love of the game. The TN Deck is one of the latter and [Salim]’s previous CM Deck was a bit of both. We can’t wait to see what he makes next.
A cyberdeck! Wow this looks very cool! Such a slick case
look inside
Raspi board/Raspi compute module yet again
Sigh.
I sighed, too, but because of Linux.
Zero W should be able to boot RISC OS.
I’m working on a Xv6 and FUZIX-inspired OS for older Pis (1/2/3) and RP2350 (Pico 2). No networking yet, so not very cyberpunk. Main goal right now is enough meat to run a compiler, even if there isn’t enough RAM on the Pico to compile the entire OS. (I assume)
I sighed too, but because of your weird problem with Linux.
I think Linux is a tad bit overrated and get’s annoying after a while.
It’s been hyped and pushed into people’s face for over 25 years by now.
While the alternatives do remain mostly silent in the background.
If Linux was a person I’d be the one with the main character syndrome.
It would be the person who’s most vocal in a room,
it would be the person who pushes his way to the front of the checkout..
I sighed, too, but because of you two’s comments. Make the thing you want to see instead.
Personally I found it really great, both the result and the video. Lots of clever ideas and tips packed into that video.
Sigh…
Hi, I think the project/hardware is fine.
It could boot other OSes such as RiscOS, for example.
Maybe FreeBSD or AROS, too, not sure.
I don’t have an issue with this project, its beautiful.
I just have the issue that every cyberdeck uses a raspi. Either a board or the compute module.
If you’re using the compute module anyway, why use a piddly RPi 5? Why not a Rockchip beast with octa core and enough RAM to put your desktop to shame? There are tons of compute modules and SBCs with wildly better specs than RPi, some are usage specific, some have insane I/O options.
According to the article, it doesn’t. It uses a CM0. This is much more “piddly” but also a lot cheaper and has lower power consumption. Given that a computer this tiny probably won’t be running LLMs or dual 4k monitors, the CM0 is probably the right tool for the job.
The build looks nicely executed abut still tries out some unusual techniques. For example, printing TPU membranes for the switches sounds optimistic to me, but hell I like that some other person put in the effort so I can save time by just reading about it.
Absolutely beautiful work.
It looks very cleanly made, indeed.
Looks cool!!
Nice but I would have stuffed the battery under the keyboard, to avoid this recess and improve the ergonomy.
Curiously strong….
I’d buy one.
Little devices like this is why I backed the m5stack Cardputer Zero, certainly not a perfect device but enough to pull SSH duties and have a bit of fun with.
I love it.
But it’s not a cyberdeck. Stop corrupting the word by applying it to every portable computer people build…
A cyberdeck is a portable computer that:
– is made of multiple discreet parts with individual functions. Like displays, keyboards, vr controllers, buzzers, radio tx/rx, compute, storage, and many more.
– is assembled at the site of use. In a place not specifically designated for it.
– is disassembled after use and removed.
The methods of use are just as important as the physical form.
A phone is not a cyberdeck. It is self contained.
A phone + external display + keyboard, used in a classroom to take notes and look up references, is a cyberdeck.
A laptop is not a cyberdeck. It is self contained.
A slabtop(laptop with no screen) + VR/AR glasses, used to type stuff in a coffee shop is a cyberdeck.
A portable gaming pc at a LAN party is not a cyberdeck. It is just a computer being set up in a spot meant for a computer to be set up.
A gaming pc + projector + speaker system + portable power bank, used to host a fighting game tournament in a warehouse parking lot, is a cyberdeck.
These words have meaning.
What a cyberdeck is can be seen in the descriptions of Gibson novels, Cyberpunk literature, Shadowrun books and games, and seen in movies like Johnny Mnemonic (where we literally see Johnny build up a deck to connect to cyberspace)