The GRiD Compass may not immediately ring a bell, but it was one of the first portable computers in the "laptop" format (some might even call it "the" first). Used by NASA on several missions and immortalized by the turret scene in Aliens, the GRiD Compass is essentially a Holy Grail for any collector. But Penk Chen decided to take the reproduction route. His Rasti laptop looks very much like the original, and by using hardware from the Framework platform, well, it doesn't lack firepower...
Available information indicates that the GRiD Compass participated in all Space Shuttle missions between 1983 and 1997. With 256 KB of RAM and 384 KB of "bubble memory" for storage, it's easy to understand the $8,150 price tag (about $25k after inflation). The best alternative for the average user was something like the Osborne 1 (much more popular and compatible thanks to CP/M)... but it was an 11-kilogram tank. The GRiD Compass weighed less than half that.
The only thing I can add is "good luck finding one," because it's not a machine known for showing up on eBay. And with that in mind, Penk Chen decided to build his own laptop, using the Compass as inspiration. His final result is called Rasti, and it looks great.
Rasti: A Laptop with a 1982 Spirit and Modern Hardware
The Rasti's case was designed to be easily 3D printed on a 30 x 30 bed. The images show a sanded case (which also received a base), painted in Tamiya TS-40 metallic black, and optimized with some touches of silver to convey that worn and scratched metal feel.
The keyboard is a custom design with Kailh Choc Low Profile switches, and a Raspberry Pi Pico acts as the "brain" for its layout. One of the most notable components is the screen, with 10.4 inches and an unusual resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. It also has touch support and uses the hinges from a MacBook Pro. The rest of the hardware is based on a Framework 13 mainboard, its battery, the WiFi module, and the antennas.
This isn't the first time we've explored ideas for reusing Framework hardware (we've already seen all-in-ones and a fabulous cyberdeck), but Penk has hit the nail on the head here. The files for printing the case are already available on GitHub, and he'll publish the assembly instructions later.
(Editor's note: Yes, Rasti is a registered trademark, but I don't think there will be any issues. In the worst case, it would be enough to change the name.)
Rasti on GitHub: Click here.
