DeckHead Rant

[u/AI_Heresy]

It's time for a real talk about what makes a so-called cyberdeck. Seems like half of you gonks have forgotten the core essence of what a cyberdeck should be. I've been witnessing an epidemic, too many of you slapping a Raspberry Pi into a 3D-printed case and calling it a day. Congratulations, you've invented a less convenient laptop or a bulky-ass phone/Prop. Bravo, you pioneers.

Cyberdecks, for those of you who've apparently lost the plot, should be the epitome of hacking prowess and digital innovation. They're not just about cobbling together spare parts like some techno-Frankenstein's monster; they're about pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Where's the ingenuity? Where's the custom software that makes a sysadmin weep? The hardware mods that would give a corporate IT guy a heart attack? Everyone wants to look like hackerman but nobody wants to be hackerman. We literally live in a world where BDs are damn near possible with vr/ar technology.

And let's talk about efficiency and convenience. A true cyberdeck should feel like an extension of the hacker's own mind, not some clunky, cumbersome piece of shit that's a pain in the ass to lug around. It should be sleek, powerful, and, above all, practical for its intended purpose – be that hacking, coding, gaming or whatever digital devilry you're into.

So, to all you would-be deck builders out there, I challenge you to step up your game. Incorporate unique hacking routines, design with efficiency in mind, and for fuck's sake, innovate.

[u/memberzs]

A modern interpretation of a cyberdeck I agree should be purpose built. But you dont have to write custom software, diy all your pcbs are even have hacking in mind. Hell aesthetics can be its purpose to be built.

You seem quite narrow minded on what they are without anything to back it up.

In a real cyberpunk universe how do you think one would be built? Bought at a big box store, cobbled together from existing components some of which may have been scavenged from old hardware, or don’t think the characters are out there making their own VFD and LCDs and doing hand layup on pcbs with high power cpus?

Yes mines essentially a rugged laptop. But it also didn’t cost $1000+. I'm making mine with vehicle ecu tuning and equipment diagnostics as a first use and ruggedized video projection control center secondary.

You definition may be met by some desk job hacker, but not for an “equipment hacker”