I just posted this question on Absinthe, but I'll drop the same question here.

I stumbled across cyberdeck computers the other day, and realized years ago a contractor I used to work with built one. I never really
understood the need for these.

As I (I think) responded more timely on this, as catching up with msgs here let me rephrase:

- I love the idea of custom made/self-made cyberdeck with own OS and lot of custom stuff...

just for the sake of having it and running it independently and with a style.


only if I had time to tinker this idea anyhow outside a concept in my mind...

until that is done, I play with retro and rPi a lot :) as alternative.

-h1

... Xerox Alto was the thing. Anything after we use is just a mere copy.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
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I think the primary reason for cyberdecks nowadays is to get weird
looks from the other people at the coffee shop. I could imagine walking
in dressed like a futuristic Doc Brown, order a Raktajino, and sit down
with a computer looking like it's part keytar and part hax0r node, and
see what kind of looks you get from the influencers with their
MacBooks.

exactly that! :)

-h1

... Xerox Alto was the thing. Anything after we use is just a mere copy.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

That was the original idea behind the NUC - have a computer you could throw in a bag and bring with you - plug into someone else's kvm and you're up and running.

Have you seen Mind 2 computers made by Khadas?

-h1

... Xerox Alto was the thing. Anything after we use is just a mere copy.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

hollowone wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

I think the primary reason for cyberdecks nowadays is to get weird
looks from the other people at the coffee shop. I could imagine walking
in dressed like a futuristic Doc Brown, order a Raktajino, and sit down
with a computer looking like it's part keytar and part hax0r node, and
see what kind of looks you get from the influencers with their
MacBooks.

exactly that! :)

I got the exact same looks when I brought my haX0e sticker-bombed
Thinkpad T43 with an external wifi antenna to a hipster coffee shop.

I should resurrect my old BBS node, a Thinkpad T60 - the last of the 4:3 Thinkpads and sticker it up. I'm looking for a writing laptop, and a 4:3
screen would lend itself to distraction free, full-screen writing.



--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
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hollowone wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

That was the original idea behind the NUC - have a computer you could throw in a bag and bring with you - plug into someone else's kvm and you're up and running.

Have you seen Mind 2 computers made by Khadas?

No, not until you mentioned them - looks like a Mac mini-er, but
modular. Nice!

I have a homelab made from mostly free cast off crap. I'd love to make a
new homelab, but make it tiny - the Beelink ME Mini looks interesting,
it's about the size of a mesh wireless AP, but with lots of NVME storage possibilities. A tiny desktop would go well with it.




--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
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I got the exact same looks when I brought my haX0e sticker-bombed
Thinkpad T43 with an external wifi antenna to a hipster coffee shop.

I remember times when stickers on your laptop was a thing. but that was 20 years ago.. do people still mess up with that often these days?

-h1

... Xerox Alto was the thing. Anything after we use is just a mere copy.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

Have you seen Mind 2 computers made by Khadas?

No, not until you mentioned them - looks like a Mac mini-er, but
modular. Nice!

Yep, you can kind of describe them this way. I'm still considering to buy one this year and just have the KVM/screen+ keyboard setup at office and same at home + e-gpu they also sell.

-h1

... Xerox Alto was the thing. Anything after we use is just a mere copy.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

On 06 May 2025, poindexter FORTRAN said the following...

It's a shame you need to "root" it to get that in the first place, but I like the idea too. I used to carry a USB stuck with Puppy Linux, which was my "mobile system",but really, the phone should be able to do it. It technically is a general purpose computer, or could be one.

I guess you can get somewhat close using Termux and SSH. Just start Termux, launch SSHD and then SSH into your phone. You'll have a terminal based system which is mostly good enough for me.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
* Origin: thE qUAntUm wOrmhOlE, rAmsgAtE, uK. bbs.erb.pw (21:1/158)

I am going to have to look to see whatTermux and SSH SSHS is all about.

Til now all I've thought of is getting a Bluetooth Radio Adapter that will accept a CAT-5 plug inserted in it , so to be able to use my desktop connected to a phone.
Ed
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