The Penkesu is a Diy retro handheld Pc with a mechanical keyboard

There are not a great deal of ultra-transportable handheld PCs any more, outside of the GDP pocket and its gaming-centered successors. With tablets, smartphones, and even handhelds like the Steam Deck diluting the marketable requirements of proudly owning a laptop, there isn’t significantly room for mini laptops past the uncomplicated pleasure of proudly owning a fun-sized edition of a common pc.

But which is not halting Do it yourself-er Penk Chen from developing their have handheld Computer identified as the Penkesu — a retro-futuristic ultraportable notebook with a mechanical keyboard. It could pretty properly have existed as a doing the job sci-fi film prop in the ’90s or an R&B video clip plot device in 2002.

The case for the Penkesu is developed employing 3D printed pieces paired with hinges built for the Game Boy Advance SP. The clamshell lid is equipped with a extensive 400 x 1,280 7.9-inch capacitive contact monitor, wired by way of the hinge with a ribbon cable carrying the HDMI signal to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W at the base.

Then a USB interface with charging, moreover a Li-ion battery spherical off the most important computer parts, following Chen’s target to use a nominal volume of electronics. All that’s left for the Penkesu is the keyboard, which is made up of an Arduino controller with minimal-profile Kailh Choc V1 switches, reduced profiles keycaps, and the rest of the electronics.

Image: Penk Chen via GitHub

The result is a swanky handheld computer that sort of reminds me of the Raspberry Pi 400 compact keyboard that homes an ARM-powered laptop or computer — but with a screen.

This is not the to start with retro-tastic Raspberry Pi laptop we have witnessed, as there was also the apocalypse surviving Raspberry Pi cyberdeck computer. Like the Penkesu, it also has a mechanical keyboard. But as an alternative of a compact design and style, the cyberdeck’s components are wrapped in a rugged water-evidence pelican digicam scenario.

Smaller notebook styles have absent through phases at different factors, producers raced to construct compact and reasonably priced web-concentrated netbooks or joined Intel’s war on the MacBook Air with Ultrabooks. But handheld PCs like the tremendous attractive clutch-fashion Sony VAIO P could in no way really catch on. In the situation of the VAIO P, this was mainly because it was not very usable thanks to the slow Intel Atom processor, odd 8-inch 1600 x 786 resolution monitor, and a nearly $900 selling price tag.

But if you beloved the variety factor of the VAIO P and have a use situation for a Raspberry Pi, then perhaps this neat retro handheld is one thing for you. If you can not imagine of a purpose to build 1, just recall it could be the great computer for hackers.

If you are imagining of using on the task, Penk Chen has posted all the data you need to have on GitHub, including the 3D printable STL information. And indeed, putting in a Matrix wallpaper will basically be tasteful on this device.