PS-85 | Typeframe

2 min read Original article ↗

The PS-85 is a rugged barebones slate-style portable computer inspired by the Alien universe.

Before I built the PX-88, I tried to modify the awesome Penkesu by Penk Chen to fit a hot-swap keyboard PCB. While I was somewhat successful, I wasn't happy with the result and it lost the charm of the original. After pivoting to the PX-88, I still had the working guts from my Penkesu experiment - so I decided to design a simple slate-style case around it. You'll find the parts and wiring are very similar to the Penkesu with a couple of additions.

Features​

  • Carrying Handle: A sturdy handle for easy transport.
  • Exposed GPIO: Access to all GPIO pins for tinkering or adding your own Bonnets.
  • MU/TH/UR LED Matrix: An optional 8x16 LED matrix, just for fun.
  • Mechanical Keyboard: A 40% keyboard with hot-swappable switches.
  • One Power Connection: A Micro USB port that powers the device and charges the battery.
  • Raspberry Pi Zero 2W: Low power and compact.

Caveats​

  • Lite OS: With a Pi Zero you're likely going to want to run Raspberry Pi OS Lite and have a command-line only interface.
  • No Touch Screen: While the screen supports touch, it requires a separate USB connection. (Doesn't matter if you're using the Lite OS anyway.)
  • No Hardware Screen Brightness: The HDMI screen doesn't allow brightness control like a DSI screen.