Cyberdeck? what? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 12:50:45 pm
content: Way back in 1981, William Gibson was already fantasizing about the devices that would define our digital reality.Among the most memorable is the "cyberdeck," the device for accessing the "matrix" network via direct neural connection, found in stories like "Johnny Mnemonic" and novels like Neuromancer. The most glorious of these was the Ono Sendai Cyberspace 7.There's never been a detailed description of what a Cyberdeck is like. Gibson has always limited himself to describing its use, never its shape or technology.And this characterizes it as a "prop" that makes sense only on the "narrative stage", in a reality very different from ours.We have laptops, desktops, and servers. We don't have any cyberdeck.But yet... ever since low-cost SBCs like the RPI appeared, many have been trying to give shape and purpose to "a piece of technology" that somehow makes a laptop to look Cyberpunk, almost as if they wanted to find an alternative to laptops.diff(laptop, cyberdeck)=Laptops are generally pre-assembled and not very modifiable, while cyberdecks are custom-built DIY and highly modifiableLaptops generally all have the same look - a clamshell design with a keyboard and monitor - while cyberdecks vary more widely and are often based primarily on aesthetic choicesLaptops typically use the most powerful and latest hardware available for their form factor, while cyberdecks are often based on older or smaller systems like Raspberry Pis, or similar GNU/Linux SBC (e.g. Odroid)Laptops try to look "professional," while cyberdecks try to look "cyberpunk"Laptops are often not waterproof/weatherproof and rarely have specialized features like RF modulators, RC controls, or custom buttons/sliders/knobs...while cyberdecks often do (even if it's not clear ... for what?!?)This one "looks" very nice, and it's one of the latest videos and uploaded on YouTube.Do you really need something like this?It makes sense to have two LCDs, the PDF on one side and the code on the other... but when it talks about watching a video while programming...... damn it just loses all meaning, because there are far too many people who complain that laptops are not distraction-free enough because they then keep social media and YouTube open while programming.makes no sense!

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 12:53:22 pm
content: my solution is: one laptop, one extra portable LCD. Stop.

author: abeyer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 06:25:50 pm
content: Quote from: DiTBho on July 27, 2025, 12:50:45 pmmost of these are effectively art/passion projects... not sure they're meant to "make sense"

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 06:30:56 pm
content: meh it all has uses people just lack imagination. Even putting a little table built into the computer (like a empty pad) can be useful for running experiments somewhere where you don't have any good flat available.It does not make sense for a very boring and stable office enviroment. As soon as you start dealing with irregular objects of random size (and distributed systems) its all fair game.I actually saw the thing in the picture and said perfect (for what I was doing past the lab bench 2 weeks ago)I don't think you will get much support for this because 95% of users think "well what do I need this for on my empty desk for?"Something I notice in general though, EE's seem to want to use the same tool for everything. Like after 3 hours of some struggle you see someone trying to strip wire by pressing a pair of pliers into it and pulling it on the table instead of trying to find a wire stripper. Like too angry.I have some rather delicate work that someone needed a part of, and I had meticulous procedures written down for the whole process. Its full of pit falls. When the new guy gets it they try to skip 90% of the work because the last step in the process looks familiar to what they might know how to do, so its deemed irrelevant. Then they don't get the results and its like 'lol wut?' and you have to go through every detail that was pointless written down and show them what happens if its avoided. FNGAnyway I think its a similar problem to making someone appreciate a odd computer system. No one believes you when you say that down the line there will be this problem as a result of not doing some thing. At least most dont. Weird systems are usually developed that way for a reason (someone tried to do it with the original first and started to get fed up with the avoidable nusences after a while). Way too desperate to show off how 'practical' they are...

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 06:56:42 pm
content: I don't know the motivation (have not watched the video) but some dress up as sci-fi characters for instance, and many of them like creating sci-fi-looking "gadgets". Many of them are not electrical engineers either, they have to make do with hacking together bits of hardware. It's easy to criticize.Or could be a dozen other reasons that make sense to individuals. Some people get motivated to write when sitting in front of fancy custom LED-glowing keyboards with no legends for instance, even though it's likely less rugged, and error-prone, and power-hungry.Not an identical scenario, but slightly related: I've told my two little nephews to each design in CAD one half of anything they wish, that can assemble together, and I'll pay to have them 3D-printed. I told them to "watch out for tolerances" and I got a blank look back "what's tolerance"? : )It will be a nice learning-curve for them. I really don't care what they design, the object isn't the goal, I just want them to learn a little about (say) geometry, measurements and communicating that detail to each other, materials and so on, in the process.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 08:53:47 pm
content: Quote from: abeyer on July 27, 2025, 06:25:50 pmIf it's a computer, I expect it to have real practical uses, and advantages, otherwise it's just a knick-knack.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 09:09:10 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on July 27, 2025, 06:30:56 pmI've actually designed and built some pretty wacky things, but not as a stylistic exercise, but rather to solve personal problems.For example, I needed a graphics terminal to experiment, and I hacked "a portable fridge for cola cans" to make it a desk computer chassis filled with four SBCs, two independent graphics nodes, a router, and a control board.I personally wrote everything, from the firmware up. Because, the thing that cares most, is the software! And those "cyberdesk" usually do nothing more than using GNU/Linux distros - like Ubuntu? - with very flashy solutions, but not at all innovative and rather inconvenient for the hardware they run on.If somehow made myown "weird computer", well, I was careful to use "LCDs" designed for programming, not small LCDs that look "wow" when you show them in a video, and then are uncomfortable in real life.The Cyberdecks I've seen are just like that: 5", 7", 9" LCDs, and they're passed off as "something for programming", and it's like pedaling a bicycle with square wheels, just because it's "artistic".

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 09:11:22 pm
content: Quote from: shabaz on July 27, 2025, 06:56:42 pmThis makes sense for me.Just given my personality, I wouldn't show it on YouTube, forums, Socials, etc.After all, it's just an exercise for me to learn CAD, modeling, 3D printing, etc.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 09:24:46 pm
content: I mean it could be made for documenting chemistry experiments or 5000 other things. That is what I thought of the one in the picture to put a test tube small reaction there on the little flat part and put some sensors in there.It would need to be a little different.Now having split screens does have merits if you want to look at something behind the monitor. Or if you put your equipment behind the computer as often happens. I noticed when I get challanging... lets call it science... you end up with more stuff on your bench then you thought you would have, there is always a shortage of interconnects, and room. Often there is unautomated equipment or equipment that seems to misbehave with automation you need to manually run.I think most people do not run into those complex R&D things though. Well they can, but it would be a 'side job'. Because usually when it gets like that corporate decides its too hard.I have had things happen where I need to sit at a single person at a bench with another person doing things that are electronics+other science. Then they have to do something and its kinda crammed and uncomfortable. All it takes is 1 job that your boss wants to keep on the back burner before its un-managable and just cluttered/crazy. And collabaration often means multiple equipment and custom stuff.In theory someone might say well why is it not automated to run from a single computer. In practice the armchair commander can go and shove itthe usual... addage where the highly organized neat looking people get very little done or only do very basic things..Usually its something like :well, our budget meeting is coming up in 3 weeks. I have no idea if this idea will work and it would cost 3 million dollars to setup a real work station. Can you evaluate if making this work station/science experiment/etc is viable or at least possible with what we have? (they would want a undetermined or positive result from this endeavor) . CYA is fufilled if you at least can't disprove something right off the bat on sup bar jurry rigged experiments that have a marginal or better quality rating.My favorite thing about that setup is that I can stick my behind 'through' where the monitor would be on a laptop to hit a switch

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 08:19:46 am
content: Quote from: DiTBho on July 27, 2025, 12:50:45 pmNo, the shown "deck" makes no sense - at all - from a "tool" perspective.First, you would optimise the footprint (aka table space) - one large display, in the natural viewing distance / angle. The two small displays shown, are the worst display method imaginable and serious waste of space.A keyboard should be around the size the current PC keyboards are - they have this size for a reason, as "normal" fingertips are about the size of the keys. That's why typewriters hat that format already 100+ years ago.Also, you would prefer to be able to move the keyboard around, without moving the display (at least for larger displays / desktop use).A laptop has several reasons to be like it is, mostly manufacturing and practical reasons.Sure, in a post-nuclear-war-scenario, you would hack together whatever you can get hold of. But that is not necessary today.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 11:25:12 am
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 28, 2025, 08:19:46 amYup, you better expressed what I think

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 11:29:53 am
content: ... also Adafruit?With a cyberdeck with a round display and a full computer inside a penk?SeehereA round display is fine for a watch (I did it)it's more or less fine for a bike computer display (I did it)but what good is it in a computer?!?

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 11:45:20 am
content: This dude took an old - I hope non-functioning - Commodore 64, a Raspberry Pi 3, various connectors and some custom-fabricated bits and pieces and created his very own version of the "Ono-Sendai" cyberdeck from cyberpunk author William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy.Umm, with that LCD !?!?!?-Years ago, I tried to develop a PDA similar to the Newtown from scratch, built with an ARM SoC, GNU/Linux, and a 5" display.Because I had to develop the display driver kernel, I worked with a laptop with the display connected via USB, near the laptop.As long as I used the laptop to program the display, and simply looked at it to verify that the various test software programs were working as expected, everything was fine.When I tried to work directly on the display, that is, with fbcon (text console, on framebuffer) running while I was typing on a keyboard attached to the ARM SoC which was controlling the display, well, it was incredibly uncomfortable to work with.So... that "deck stuff" is nice to look at, but then you likely don't use it for anything in real life.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 12:20:15 pm
content: Quote from: DiTBho on July 28, 2025, 11:45:20 amWell, I had an HP 95LX and used a Nokia Communicator as a modem - to remote access some of our servers. (Yes, that was the time you could safely telnet into internet stuff, as no one had the tendency to hack into those systems...) The screen on the Nokia was just too small, the 95LX was way better.That - of course - was quite a setup, but worked. Easy to carry around and enabled wireless internet. (However data transfer rates were awfully expensive at that time - still cheaper than other options. And a quick reboot mostly was all that the server needed anyway...)I'm probably too old now to like computers with tiny screens, so that computer setup does not impress me(And really, there already are desktop-ready RasPis, with enclosure and keyboard, if I'm not mistaken.)

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 03:54:14 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 28, 2025, 12:20:15 pmI did it too!Back to 2000, I used a PalmV with a keyboard to remote access my server over an IRDA link.The PalmV only has one serial, and it was already used for the keybord, the IR port was the only possible solution.Hald duplex, with the physical serial line of the CPU shared between the keyboard and the IR module.Not optimal, but with a large buffer and special interrupt handling, it somehow worked.I wrote an application with the Palm SDK for PalmOS to emulate a sort of vt100.Although writing UNIX commands was possible, it only worked if you didn't use pipes and the commands were very short.This is because the screen has a resolution of 160x160 pixels.VIM never worked for me. I used SED, and not without tons of frustration.In short, it was very limited.Nowadays, we have larger LCDs, and a tiny 160x160pixels LCD is fine on a router.However, even at 800x600, a 5" LCD is a terrible idea to write a C program, or bash/lua scripts.The minimal setup is 80 columns, but your eyes need a certain surface area, and a certain distance from the screen.So you need screens of at least 10" or 12", anything else simply won't work.Now, a cyberdesk is supposed to be used for that: programming/scripting/hacking.So, every implementation with similar small LCDs are simply not adequate.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 04:22:52 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 28, 2025, 08:19:46 amIt's usually a passion project for someone. But there are useful devices built like this. They need to have some sort of function other than being a computer. for example:-SDR with some amplifiers, built in battery to drag it on the field-Synthetizer to make music-Serial port console to debug some system-Ethernet port to commission servers-Some sort of AFE for a measurement device, that you are supposed to bring on siteThe point is to have extra electronics next to a computer. If you build it without that extra function, then yes it's just a bad computer.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2025, 10:43:44 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on July 28, 2025, 04:22:52 pmThanks, this explains the point perfectly.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2025, 10:51:34 am
content: Speaking of computers with small screens, we should also mention the Japanese clamshell PDAs capable of running GNU/Linux: they have a3.7-inch 640x480pixel, 16bpp screen.The keyboard is terrible; it's based onGPIO-KB-scan(which is terrible to maintain from the kernel side) the keycaps are so small that it's difficult to press a key precisely. Plus, the key travel feels very uncomfortable.In short, you can't type for more than 20 minutes without feeling uncomfortable. This is its limit.And the screen? Again... "usable", the VGA resolution is sufficient for the smallest rows and columns. GNU/Nano and Vim work well, unfortunately ... the LCD's very eye-straining.But the purpose of a PDA isn't to replace a laptop; it's to literally fit in your shirt pocket.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2025, 12:59:03 am
content: I wonder if they have a executive computer that has a monitor and keyboard on the interns back. And a fold out cup holderthe evolution of the vietnam era 'radio man'.you might wonder why, if you have a iphone. The idea is full sized keyboard and 32 inch monitor, plus voice controlled camera (mounted to head)the keyboard can be mounted to a rotary ring mechanism on the belt so it can rotate (and have its own little display) so you can put the executive assistant's computer into full hands free operation.brought to you by reynholm industries

author: abeyer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2025, 02:17:16 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on August 02, 2025, 12:59:03 amThe intern might have a different idea of where the coffee is being stuck... though it doesn't fold out (at least in normal operation!)

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2025, 09:00:25 pm
content: Cyberdeck for ? Satelite hacking!

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2025, 08:11:26 pm
content: No I don't want it as it's not very portable like the lap top and definitely can't be used on the lap. There isn't much more screen real estate than a good 17" 4K laptop.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2025, 09:38:48 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on August 05, 2025, 08:11:26 pmBut your laptop doesn't have a UHF antenna built in. And an LNA, and some SDR.