Raspberry Pi Shares Its Official Tutorial For Making a Cyberdeck 19
Raspberry Pi has published an official guide for building a cyberdeck, leaning into a viral trend of homemade portable computers built from repurposed cases, purses, and other oddball hardware. The guide uses a Raspberry Pi 5, keyboard, battery, and Pelican-style case. The Verge reports: Raspberry Pi's head of social, Ashley Whittaker, acknowledged the cyberdeck trend today, saying "we haven't been able to get away from cyberdecks this year." Raspberry Pi has also increased its prices multiple times this year due to rising costs for RAM and other components, which could be another reason to support this growing market of active and would-be hobbyists. The 16GB version of the Raspberry Pi 5 included in the company's official cyberdeck guide got a $100 price hike in April, nearly as much as the board's original $120 price.
I have a CM5 cyberdeck... (Score:5, Informative)
I have a Hackberry Pi, which is a cyberdeck built around the CM5. It's... ok. The biggest problem is that Raspberry Pis don't really have a power-saving mode, so you get maybe 4-5 hours of battery life.
And without active cooling, the thing gets really hot
But, it's a cool gadget and reasonable if you want an ultra-portable computing device.
Re: (Score:2)
I have a Hackberry Pi, which is a cyberdeck built around the CM5. It's... ok. The biggest problem is that Raspberry Pis don't really have a power-saving mode, so you get maybe 4-5 hours of battery life.
And without active cooling, the thing gets really hot
But, it's a cool gadget and reasonable if you want an ultra-portable computing device.
This looks like a similar concept. I like the high resolution screen and the proper Blackberry keyboard. If I can shoehorn a 4G modem in there it could almost replace a smartphone... https://www.tindie.com/product... [tindie.com]
Too expensive (Score:4, Interesting)
RasPis have become too expensive to be considered hobby or maker any longer. Of course this is mostly due to the AIpocalypse but even before this prices were creeping too high. You are better off picking up a used i7 ThinkPad. Just my opinion though. I've had lots of fun playing with RasPis over the years until the prices became absurd.
Re: (Score:3)
I hadn't looked in a while.
Pi5 mainboard is $250+ at microcenter; so a cyberdeck here would be more than a cheap (likely better) used laptop.
If you don't care about the form factor/cool factor, and just want something with a bit of processing power on the go, a used laptop seems like a no-brainer.
Re: (Score:3)
Pi5 mainboard is $250+ at microcenter
Raspberry Pi 5 - 1GB; ARM Cortex A76 Quad Core Processor; 1GB LPDDR4X RAM
16 IN STOCK
Our price $42.99
8GB LPDDR4X RAM
25+ IN STOCK
Our price $169.99
16GB LPDDR4X RAM
25 IN STOCK
Original price $279.99
Re: (Score:2)
I see. it's mainly the insane RAM pricing that's got them so high.
I guess that makes sense. (local microcenter only had 16GB ones).
Raspberry Pi 5’s still begin at $45 (Score:3)
RasPis have become too expensive to be considered hobby or maker any longer.
Raspberry Pi 5’s still begin at $45 and do an outstanding job at fulfilling their role. Giving a person an excellent platform to learn software and hardware. It is an amazingly capable embedded Linux environment.
That fact that they offer higher end configuration for higher prices does not change this. These constitute supplemental sales that help keep the original mission going.
Re: (Score:3)
RasPis have become too expensive to be considered hobby or maker any longer.
They haven't changed in price at all. You don't need to buy the top of the line latest and greatest Rpi5 16GB model. The Raspberry Pi 3B is still currently being manufactured and is in stock at major suppliers. Too powerful for you? The Raspberry Pi Pico is still $4. All these devices haven't changed in price.
Of course this is mostly due to the AIpocalypse
The AIpocalypse hasn't affected the price of the lower end devices at all. Yet. Give it time. But your assertion that prices have become absurd now is just plain wrong.
You are better off picking up a used i7 ThinkPad.
If your needs can be met by an la
Re: (Score:1)
Keep in mind that if you want a graphical user interface (GUI), the 2GB versions are useless—even if you aren't using a web browser. For context, I just gave away two laptops with 16GB of RAM for free.
#5
16GB 354,10€ 405,40€ 2weeks
8GB 196,05€ 219,90€ in stock
4GB 164,50€ 175,50€ 1week
2gb 87,00€ 97,50€ 2week
New prices make this unattractive (Score:3)
I don't find the rpi 5 and equivalents to be particularly attractive at current price points. I have a few around that do things like my media server, pihole, Homeassistant, etc and that's pretty much it. For only a little bit more, you can get a decently configured AMD Ryzen sff box and call it a day.
Not ultra-portable, but more useful for things that I need to get done.
Re: (Score:1)
RaspberryPi runs at 5 watts. Ryzen idles at over 20.
I knew the RAMpocalypse raised prices but (Score:3)
I read that as "Tutorial For Making a Cybertruck". Figured it went something like:
1. Sell Pi on eBay.
2. Buy Cybertruck.
Re: I knew the RAMpocalypse raised prices but (Score:2)
Given the price increases on the former and the price drops on the latter, soon it might be feasible
Cyberdeck (Score:3)
Even more capable than a pi5, with built-in battery, wifi, bluetooth, no need for cooling, etc, I think it would be more fun to make a cyberdeck that looks like it's built on an RPi but is really hiding an old cellphone inside.
Seems to be missing core components :) (Score:1)
Hello,
While it is a good start, it seems to be missing a few things that make a cyberdeck a cyberdeck.
This documentary contains a better list of required hardware, IMHO: https://youtu.be/UzRjtvMQds4?t... [youtu.be]
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
Missing element? (Score:2)
I'd also add an SDR to that kit... opens up a whole new world if you're needing it for a survivalist or prepper situation.
A cheap RTLSDR stick and wire antenna will do the job fine with one of the many SDR programs that'll run on the Pi.
How To Build The World's Most Boring Cyberdeck (Score:1)
It's nothing more than a fat, under-powered laptop.
Have some style guys, a little pizazz. I spent at least twice as much time designing, printing, re-printing, re-designing (etc.) my case before I ever got into assembly. And I am still not done, always one better tweak, last one was replacing the PiSugar with several Geekworm X-UPS1s. Neeed more power on the USB rail to operate the connected AR glasses display.
I mean it's pretty cool of them to put this out several years after it should have been published.