Computers were supposed to be personal, customizable, and cool. At times, in this cold modern world, we forget that. However, the cyberdeck scene is chock full of people building creative, original computers that suit their own tastes, aesthetics, and needs. [DIY Tinkerer] is one such individual, and he made the most of his woodworking skills when it came time to build his own cyberdeck!
The technological basics are along the lines of what we’re used to in this field. The build is based around a Raspberry Pi 4, with [DIY Tinkerer] selecting an 8 GB model for his needs. It’s paired with a 9000 mAh onboard battery, and there’s a power jack on the front to let the thing run on anything from 5 to 20 volts DC. For ease of use, there’s a multi-memory card reader and several USB 3 ports available.
The rest of the video focuses on the woodworking side of things. [DIY Tinkerer] shows us how he managed to build a new housing out of a rugged plastic case that would also be practical to use. The final product is both functional and attractive, and comes with an oscilloscope built in to boot! It came a long way from his earlier build, too.
We’ve seen a great load of cyberdeck builds over the years.
This is quite a nice build.
But it’s not a cyberdeck.
Please stop normalizing the misuse of the term.
A cyberdeck isn’t just any cool/custom computer.
A cyberdeck is a portable general use computer that is:
– made of multiple independent parts that require connecting/attachment to be useful.
– assembled at the location of use, somewhere not specifically intended for it.
– then disassembled after use and removed.
Examples:
A smartphone is not a cyberdeck. (Self contained)
A smartphone with an external screen and keyboard, assembled at a classroom desk and used to take notes, then taken with you, is a cyberdeck.
A laptop is not a cyberdeck.(Self contained)
A slabtop (laptop with no screen) used with a VR/AR headset, in a coffee shop, then taken with you, is a cyberdeck.
A game console is not a cyberdeck. (Not a general purpose computer)
A mini-pc with a portable projector, power bank, and controllers, used to host a game party in a warehouse then taken with you, is a cyberdeck.
See the pattern?
A LAN party mini-pc is not a cyberdeck, because it gets set up in a space intended for a PC.
All of this is how cyberdecks were portrayed.
Gibson’s works.
Shadowrun.
Cyberpunk 20xx.
Netrunner.
That’s where the term comes from.
I do like this build though even if it isn’t a cyberdeck.
A cyberdeck is a portable computer that you put stickers on.
I call it BS – just because you have a concept of what is a cyberdeck doesn’t mean other people’s different concepts are not equally valid. Open your mind, check the cyberdeck subreddit for gazillion other examples.
This is a great cyberdeck.
Far as I can tell your thoughts are at odds to almost everyone else. And the origin of the term as far as I can tell is Gibson, and his rather limited descriptions of such things could really apply to almost anything including something that looks exactly like a normal phone/laptop all the way through to a giant server rack – the key element to it in the books is more how its used than what it looks like.
So though a little bit more future technology to be invented to 100% match the books in function a smartphone with some future tech accessory HID device could be a perfect match to the description…
I don’t care if this is technically a cyberdeck or not, I like it!