Every time we come across Cyberdeck designs online, their creators usually prioritize factors like portability and efficiency. However, this retro Cyberdeck by 'D1g1t4l_G33k' on Reddit follows a different path: its portable profile is closer to the early luggables of the '80s with built-in CRT monitor, and the hardware is based on an AMD Geode processor, mounted on an ISA card intended for industrial applications.
Many Cyberdeck enthusiasts have built their own systems with the help of the Raspberry Pi, but the increase in price, lack of power and availability issues gave rise to other solutions, among which the motherboards of Framework computers stand out. That said... the Cyberdeck concept doesn't close the door to any type of hardware. In fact, creativity and improvisation are essential aspects for any design, and that's how we arrive at the Reddit post by 'D1g1t4l_G33k' with a fabulous retro dose.
A "portable" retro Cyberdeck of 25 kilograms
What we are looking at is a portable industrial system from 1990, completely built in metal, with a passive ISA backplane and an integrated Sony CRT monitor. The first generational leap comes with the use of an SBC based on the AMD Geode LX-600 processor, clocked at 366 MHz. In other words, it's a "computer on an ISA card", probably similar to the IOWA-LX, with 512 MB of RAM and a 32 GB CompactFlash card. The trained eye will notice the presence of a Gotek module replacing one of the floppy drives, but 'D1g1t4l_G33k' has said he doesn't need it.
Connecting the monitor (a sort of hybrid between EGA and VGA) only required an adapter to convert the VGA output to DB-9. 'D1g1t4l_G33k' posted the first images of this machine in 2020 when it used its original hardware (which he still keeps), and the goal behind the upgrades is to install a semi-modern version of Linux, AntiX Core 19.5 to be precise.
Even so, the software presents its own challenges. Linux distros with 32-bit support are slowly disappearing, and the AMD Geode can't run anything x64. One possibility is to remove the backplane ISA and install more modern hardware, something like an Intel Atom in ITX format. 'D1g1t4l_G33k' explains that ISA-format Atom SBCs for industrial applications cost more than $800 (!!!), but a motherboard with an integrated Intel Atom is much more accessible.
