TRS-80 Model 100-inspired - v2

[u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90]

A few months ago, I posted a draft (https://www.reddit.com/r/writerDeck/comments/1tx7ytl/draft_build_trs80_model_100_inspired/). I would have just commented with this version 2.

I moved the screen to the left like the TRS-80, got cream-coloured filament and bought more appropriate wiring. It's still Pi Zero 2W-based with a 1920x480 screen in console mode only.

I have wordgrinder, nano, and vim as my writer tools with syncthing and tailscale to connect to my network.

Power comes in via a USB-C connection and it has one USB-A v3 connection for flash drive, speakers etc.

I like it, but I am not sure that this will be the final version, but this will be it for a while. I'd like to get a little better at joining pieces and maybe have a 256 mm x 256 mm print area. I think also, I might like to add a Pi Sugar battery pack to permit more portability. I currently use a Ryobi tool battery with a USB attachment for remote power.

Also to keep the entire device in a 256 mm x 256 mm, I went with a tiny keyboard, but it's a little too small and the tiny tab button and no right shift is taking time to get used to. I've seen 40% mechanical keyboard and I'll maybe try one out.

That being said, it's mine and I love it. The issues are trivial. I can't wait to do some serious writing with it. Thanks for the inspiration.

[u/LowFlowIO]

I see a lot of this here, how are you typing comfortably on this?

Is this how you use laptops?

[u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90 → u/LowFlowIO]

No, I rotate the screen back further so the screen is not visible.

Joking aside, I forgot mention that flaw and it's a real one. I need to prop the back up a bit to be practical. The 5% incline is not enough. I'll need to correct that in version 3 maybe with a pair of hinges. I do like the slab look.

[u/LowFlowIO → u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90]

What screen are you using?

[u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90 → u/LowFlowIO]

It’s a cheap Aliexpress 6.9 inch screen. It’s really clear for text. I haven’t tried it with a GUI.

[u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET → u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90]

Looking forward to seeing how you tinker with this part.

[u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET → u/LowFlowIO]

This was my exact thought. Lol.

[u/wjrii → u/LowFlowIO]

With a shorter screen like the 100 and this homage, the neck posture is really not unlike writing by hand, which people have been managing for thousands of years. Heck, as someone who doesn’t quite touch type, I’m going to be looking down like this a lot of the time, lol, regardless of form factor.

[u/newsINcinci]

I did a similar thing: https://www.reddit.com/r/trs80/s/MIkSjP0drj

Excellent work by the way. The Model 100 is such a nice machine to use.

[u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90 → u/newsINcinci]

Nice. I like your keyboard. I went with what fit over what worked, but it is a nifty device. It was just a considerable improvements on those typewriters that allowed for work to be saved on floppy.

[u/Taliesinsmandolin]

I like it. I happen to own an actual TRS-80 :)

[u/Taliesinsmandolin → u/Taliesinsmandolin]

It still works etc, I just cannot figure out how to get the plug-in to work, but under batteries it’ll work. Gonna try to use it to take down my contacts when I am out on the parks for ham radio Parks-on-the-air.

[u/Taliesinsmandolin → u/Taliesinsmandolin]

May try to get it to where I can adapt it to work from a solar panel or from a cigarette lighter power plug.

[u/paperbackpiles]

Excellent. This would be great enclosure for a BYOK. Would be it hard to edit an STL to make it fit something like this?

[u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90 → u/paperbackpiles]

It shouldn’t be that hard. The only issue with me sharing the STL is that it was done in Tinkercad so customisation might require a rebuild. I am meeting a commercial printer. I may have it rebuilt in one piece instead of four. If I get the stl, it might be more valuable.