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.

What is everyone else's thoughts? Do you have one, do you plan to build, what are your real world use cases, etc....

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)

poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Cougar428 <=-

Cougar428 wrote to NITER3 <=-

I don't have one, but since you already did some research you know
these were the fictional computers used in Neuromancer the fiction
novel by William Gibson.

It seems nowdays, people create functional Cyberdecks as a hobby.
Highly customized 'cyberpunk' devices that can be used for real. In the novel they allowed users to perform 'netrunner' abilities. Quickhacks
and breaching protocol.

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.

That alone is reason enough to build one! I was thinking yesterday how "boring"
mobile computers are, visually. There is no style to them apart from some miminalistic sleeknees. I don't mind knobs and controls, in fact I prefer them over "barely there" buttons or touch screens.

This seems to be the opposite of minimalism, and could become a practical solution, if you could make it modular (ie, a suitcase compter, where the "computer" part (storage and CPU) is interchangeable.


___ MultiMail/Linux v0.52

--- Mystic BBS/QWK v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

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.

Right.. :> This is kind of my view on it too. It's just for show vs functionality.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)

boraxman wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

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.

That alone is reason enough to build one! I was thinking yesterday how "boring"
mobile computers are, visually.

Yeah, the best you can do nowadays is creatively stickerbomb a Thinkpad
or Macbook.

I used to do that, now I take a more subtle approach. I have evilcorp
stickers on my laptop - a Weyland-Yutani ("building better worlds")
sticker on one, and Maas Biolabs (From a William Gibson story) sticker
on the other.

I do get some comments on the W-Y sticker.

I don't know if anyone ever made a "Mitsubishi-Genentech" sticker, that
would be my next.







There is no style to them apart from

some miminalistic sleeknees. I don't mind knobs and controls, in fact
I prefer them over "barely there" buttons or touch screens.

This seems to be the opposite of minimalism, and could become a
practical solution, if you could make it modular (ie, a suitcase
compter, where the "computer" part (storage and CPU) is
interchangeable.

___ MultiMail/Linux v0.52

--- Mystic BBS/QWK v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

I don't know if anyone ever made a "Mitsubishi-Genentech" sticker, that
would be my next.

Easy enough to print your own.

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointFace (21:4/106.21)

Re: Cyberdeck Computers
By: Ogg to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Apr 28 2025 07:03 pm

I don't know if anyone ever made a "Mitsubishi-Genentech" sticker, that
would be my next.

Easy enough to print your own.

Yeah, but it was mentioned in passing in a book. I don't know if anyone's made a pass at designing one, and my design skills are sorely lacking.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

boraxman wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

That alone is reason enough to build one! I was thinking yesterday how "boring"
mobile computers are, visually. There is no style to them apart from
some miminalistic sleeknees. I don't mind knobs and controls, in fact
I prefer them over "barely there" buttons or touch screens.

This seems to be the opposite of minimalism, and could become a
practical solution, if you could make it modular (ie, a suitcase
compter, where the "computer" part (storage and CPU) is
interchangeable.

Sounds like a go box :-)


... The truth is out there... Anyone know the URL?
=== MultiMail/Mac v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.24-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)

Re: Re: Cyberdeck Computers
By: Jimmy Anderson to boraxman on Tue May 06 2025 07:43 pm

This seems to be the opposite of minimalism, and could become a practical
solution, if you could make it modular (ie, a suitcase compter, where the
"computer" part (storage and CPU) is interchangeable.

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.

I like the idea of a rooted phone running a linux distro - RDP into it from any Windows box and you've got a customized system wherever you go.

You'd need to figure out how to get it on wireless first. :(
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

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

Re: Re: Cyberdeck Computers
By: Jimmy Anderson to boraxman on Tue May 06 2025 07:43 pm

This seems to be the opposite of minimalism, and could become a prac
solution, if you could make it modular (ie, a suitcase compter, wher
"computer" part (storage and CPU) is interchangeable.

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.

I like the idea of a rooted phone running a linux distro - RDP into it from any Windows box and you've got a customized system wherever you go.

You'd need to figure out how to get it on wireless first. :(

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 got no idea xD

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Family BBS: Telent Familybbs.ddns.net:23 (21:1/204)

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
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (21:1/175)