5 non-standard pocket DIY computers and more: strange gadgets around us

Micro Journal Rev.2.ReVamp: mini-laptop without a touchpad

A text editor designed for writers, copywriters, screenwriters, and other professionals who work with text. In the summer, its creator presented the Micro Journal Rev.6 model - now it's time for the improved version.

Micro Journal Rev.2.ReVamp by Un Kyu Lee is a mini-laptop. It uses a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W as the processor, and the operating system is based on Linux, making this device the most versatile among all versions of the Micro Journal.

The novelty is not yet available for purchase, but the creator promises that it will be on sale soon. The cost will be 314 $ for the version with a fully assembled keyboard or 269 $ for the version without keys and switches (for those who prefer a custom model). If you want to build something similar with your own hands, the author recommends visiting the project page on GitHub. There you can find design files, software, and assembly instructions.

The OS loads in about 20-30 seconds and launches the WordGrinder text editor. It allows for more complex document editing than earlier models of the same developer's text editors: highlighting text fragments in bold, highlighting headings, and creating lists.

The device has a feature — there is no touch screen, touchpad, or trackball. Navigation is mainly done through the keyboard. However, there are special handles on the sides of the device for scrolling the document.

LILYGO T-Deck Plus: PDA for developers

This is a pocket personal computer, a handheld. It looks like a BlackBerry. But it is not a phone, it does not support 4G or 5G cellular networks and does not run on Android. The device is positioned as a PDA for developers.

LILYGO T-Deck Plus is equipped with an ESP32 microprocessor, a 2.8-inch display, and a LoRa radio module for long-range wireless communication. There is also a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication module.

These characteristics are similar to the T-Deck model released last year. But the T-Deck Plus has several key improvements. For example, it has a GPS module, an improved case, and a built-in 2000 mAh battery. In the original T-Deck model, users had to connect a LiPo battery themselves, and the LoRa module was an optional addition. Otherwise, the devices are quite similar. They have a 2.8-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels, dual-core ESP32 LX7 microprocessors, 8 MB of RAM (PSRAM), 16 MB of flash memory, a microSD card slot, a microphone, and a speaker.

LILYGO T-Deck Plus supports wireless connections via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 LE. You can code on this device using Arduino, Micropython, and PlatformIO-IDE. Additional documentation is available on GitHub.

The device costs $70.

Pilet: pocket computer for IT specialists

Another interesting pocket computer based on Raspberry Pi 5. Looking ahead, I will say that the photo shows a test sample, the device will go on sale in a couple of months. The price has not yet been announced. It was developed for IT specialists: system administrators, pentesters, and so on.

The device has an unusual keyboard - it is a combination of the keyboard itself, a touchpad with a trackball, and a rotary disk. This entire module can be detached from the main device by pressing the orange lever button visible in the photo. The developers have provided a cooler for active cooling, a programmable physical key, and VESA mount support. The screen diagonal is 7 inches. Any OS compatible with Raspberry Pi 5 can be used as the operating system.

In the future, the developers want to add a gaming module - of course, not for modern titles, but for video games of past years. For example, with Nintendo DS.

MOREFINE M11: mini-PC and tablet

And this is no longer a DIY project, but a compact desktop computer that can be used as a tablet with Windows thanks to the built-in 7-inch HD touch screen and 25.8 Wh battery. However, it is a bit thick for a tablet. And it also has a full set of full-sized ports, so the model is better considered as a mini-PC that you can take with you on the go.

MOREFINE is available with N100 or N200 processors. Both of these chips are low-power solutions based on the Intel Alder Lake-N architecture, but the N200 is more powerful. Its graphics module is also better. Here is the set of ports and connectors:

• 1 × HDMI 2.1;

• 1 × USB 3.0 Type-C;

• 1 × USB Type-C;

• 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A;

• 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A;

• 1 × Gigabit Ethernet;

• 1 × 3.5mm for audio.

All models of this compact computer come with 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and the system is also equipped with an M.2 2242 slot for SSD. In addition, the device received an Intel AX201 wireless card supporting Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

The model with the Intel N100 chip can be purchased for $348, and the version with the Intel N200 processor for $395.

Zerowriter Ink: from DIY project to mass production

We have already written about this device for working with text. We remembered it again now because from an ordinary DIY project with a single test instance, Zerowriter Ink has turned into a project with mass production. The author launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds.

The price of the device has also become known — $199. For this money, you get a device with an ESP32 microcontroller. The display size is 5 inches, it is E-Ink with a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels from Soldered Electronics. There is a full-fledged high-quality keyboard, 60% of the usual size. The software is exclusively focused on working with text. Files are saved to a microSD memory card. All code is written in Arduino.

You may know about some other unusual computers, homemade or factory-made? Share in the comments!

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