The Penkesu is a Diy retro handheld Personal computer with a mechanical keyboard

There are not a whole lot of extremely-transportable handheld PCs anymore, outside the house of the GDP pocket and its gaming-focused successors. With tablets, smartphones, and even handhelds like the Steam Deck diluting the marketable demands of proudly owning a notebook, there is not significantly house for mini laptops outside of the simple joy of owning a enjoyable-sized version of a standard computer system.

But that is not halting Do it yourself-er Penk Chen from constructing their personal handheld Computer system identified as the Penkesu — a retro-futuristic ultraportable notebook with a mechanical keyboard. It could extremely nicely have existed as a working sci-fi motion picture prop in the ’90s or an R&B movie plot product in 2002.

The situation for the Penkesu is constructed employing 3D printed parts paired with hinges designed for the Sport Boy Advance SP. The clamshell lid is fitted with a wide 400 x 1,280 7.9-inch capacitive contact display, wired as a result of the hinge with a ribbon cable carrying the HDMI sign to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W at the foundation.

Then a USB interface with charging, in addition a Li-ion battery round off the main computer system factors, subsequent Chen’s objective to use a minimum quantity of electronics. All that is still left for the Penkesu is the keyboard, which consists of an Arduino controller with reduced-profile Kailh Choc V1 switches, minimal profiles keycaps, and the relaxation of the electronics.

Impression: Penk Chen through GitHub

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

This is not the to start with retro-tastic Raspberry Pi laptop computer we’ve viewed, as there was also the apocalypse surviving Raspberry Pi cyberdeck laptop. Like the Penkesu, it also has a mechanical keyboard. But in its place of a compact design, the cyberdeck’s elements are wrapped in a rugged h2o-evidence pelican digital camera circumstance.

Small notebook models have long gone through phases at various factors, manufacturers raced to develop compact and reasonably priced net-concentrated netbooks or joined Intel’s war on the MacBook Air with Ultrabooks. But handheld PCs like the super attractive clutch-model Sony VAIO P could hardly ever really capture on. In the scenario of the VAIO P, this was because it was not quite usable due to the gradual Intel Atom processor, odd 8-inch 1600 x 786 resolution screen, and a practically $900 rate tag.

But if you liked the form component of the VAIO P and have a use circumstance for a Raspberry Pi, then probably this cool retro handheld is anything for you. If you can not assume of a cause to construct a person, just try to remember it could be the ideal laptop for hackers.

If you’re considering of having on the undertaking, Penk Chen has posted all the details you need to have on GitHub, like the 3D printable STL information. And indeed, putting in a Matrix wallpaper will actually be tasteful on this machine.