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HomeIoTPenk Chen's Penkesu Is a Widescreen, Retro-Type Ortholinear Pocket PC Powered by...

Penk Chen’s Penkesu Is a Widescreen, Retro-Type Ortholinear Pocket PC Powered by a Raspberry Pi

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Self-described “digital nomad” Penk Chen has put collectively a pocket-friendly private pc designed with a retro aesthetic, and utilizing a spread of off-the-shelf and upcycled components mixed inside a 3D-printed clamshell chassis.

“Penkēsu (Japanese: ペンケース) is a retro-style handheld gadget powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, a 7.9-inch widescreen show (400×1280 decision), and a 48-keys ortholinear mechanical keyboard,” Chen explains. “The case of Penkesu Laptop is designed across the show and keyboard to attain a (comparatively) compact bodily dimensions.”

As with most transportable computer systems, the Penkesu is designed to fold in half — defending the ultra-wide show when it is in transit. The hinges are salvaged from defunct Nintendo Sport Boy Advance SP consoles, or appropriate fashionable recreations, whereas a versatile ribbon cable connects the HDMI show to the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W single-board pc in the principle physique.

The physique itself is 3D-printed, and its measurement is set by the keyboard — a customized design created by pseudonymous maker “larrbo” and that includes 48 low-profile mechanical switches in a 4×12 matrix utilizing an ortholinear format with out the staggered columns of a conventional keyboard. An Arduino Professional Micro drives the board, operating the QMK open supply keyboard firmware.

It is not Chen’s first shot at a Raspberry Pi-powered transportable: He is additionally the designer of the CutiePi, a tablet-style business providing. “Ever for the reason that CutiePi pill has been efficiently funded and began delivery, I really feel the necessity to work on a brand new venture, one thing I need not fear an excessive amount of about business viability, and to remind myself why I began tinkering,” he writes. “A ‘rebound’ venture, so to talk.”

“And since there aren’t any rapid plans on promoting kits or making Penkesu Laptop mass producible, I would wish to publish all of the designs and plans so there’s sufficient info for anybody fascinated by making one.”

3D-printable recordsdata, a invoice of supplies, and meeting directions can be found on Chen’s GitHub repository below the permissive MIT license; extra info may be discovered on the venture’s web site.

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