Sometimes an old computer cannot be fully restored, and the best option is to replace its core components with modern hardware. The Toshiba T1000 laptop from 1987 is a great candidate, which brings us to the Reddit profile of "nilseuropa" who recently took the case of a T1000 and turned it into a cyberdeck with a color screen and a Raspberry Pi at its heart. They also installed a mechanical keyboard and created additional pieces for custom I/O on the back.
Retrohardware enthusiasts have made all kinds of clones and replacements to keep their favorite machines alive. From the Commodore 64 to the original NES, we have PCB replicas, alternative chips, and other wonderful solutions to challenge time. However, not all battles can be won, and sometimes we must accept certain compromises. For example, Reddit user "nilseuropa" has restored a total of five Toshiba T1000 units from 1987, reusing parts from other "donors". And having a spare case, they made the best decision: transform it into a cyberdeck.
A classic 1987 Toshiba T1000, now as a cyberdeck
In case you don't know it, the Toshiba T1000 hit the market in 1987. It became very popular due to its relatively low price ($1,199, though it dropped to $850), its 2.9 kg weight, and its IBM PC compatibility, a pretty powerful combination at the time. Even so, it wasn't free from certain technical quirks, most notably a power section integrated into the motherboard that doesn't have a great reputation, and the requirement of a battery installed for operation (unless you inject 4.8v into its terminals).
Having an empty case, "nilseuropa" installed a Raspberry Pi (I can't confirm the exact model), a modern LED panel, a mechanical keyboard, and a 10,000 mAh battery. On the back we find access to the Raspberry Pi's main I/O, a slot for GPIO pins, a serial port, and another HDMI. The USB C port is connected to what appears to be a Waveshare hat that coordinates battery charging and power on, and they even took the trouble to redirect the hat's LEDs to the keyboard.
Link below!
Source: Reddit
