Gallery: Tiny Terminal: Maker Builds a Working Raspberry Pi Laptop
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Look out, Apple, there's a new ultra small laptop on the market featuring cutting-edge hardware, a solid-state hard drive, and a glowing fruit icon on the lid. The miniature, fully functional machine was designed in Austin by Nathan Morgan, the CEO of [Parts People](http://blog.parts-people.com/2012/12/20/mobile-raspberry-pi-computer-build-your-own-portable-rpi-to-go/), using a Raspberry Pi for the processor. While the Raspberry Pi is a super accessible and inexpensive computing platform, it's rarely used in [traditional applications](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/design/2012/12/raspberry-pi-roundup/). The Raspberry Pi platform has been used to add computational power to almost everything, from mini arcade games to augmented-reality goggles, but few have tried to create something that approximates a traditional computer. This attempt takes electronic components that were destined to repair Dell computers and combines them with a 3-D printed shell to create a laptop with 10 hours of battery life, a full qwerty keyboard, and a great chance of giving its user a hernia with its heft.
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This diminutive desktop replacement isn't going to win any benchmarking competitions, and an iPhone would beat it handily in a head-to-head match up, but pure performance isn't really the point. <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="481"><tbody><tr><td width="126">__CPU__</td><td width="335">Broadcom BCM2835 ARM11 700Mhz</td></tr><tr><td>__Screen__</td><td>3.5" / 4:3 aspect ratio / 640 x 480 pixel resolution</td></tr><tr><td>__Memory__</td><td>256MB (shared with GPU)</td></tr><tr><td>__Main Storage__</td><td>4GB SD Card (OS Installed)</td></tr><tr><td>__Extended Storage__</td><td>64GB Sata II SSD</td></tr><tr><td>__Wi-Fi Wireless__</td><td>Built-in B/G/N Card</td></tr><tr><td>__Bluetooth__</td><td>Built-in Bluetooth 3.0</td></tr><tr><td>__Peripherals__</td><td>1 Powered USB Port</td></tr><tr><td>__Video Output__</td><td>HDMI Port</td></tr><tr><td>__Keyboard / Mouse__</td><td>QWERTY Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse</td></tr></tbody></table>
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Morgan did an admirable job designing the enclosure in [SketchUp](http://www.sketchup.com/) — its 3-D printable parts all snap together, except for the cover which is held on with four screws. He's made [all](http://blog.parts-people.com/wp-content/uploads/rpi-mobile/mobile-pi-base.stl) [of](http://blog.parts-people.com/wp-content/uploads/rpi-mobile/mobile-pi-tray-left.stl) [the](download 3D STL file) [.STL](http://blog.parts-people.com/wp-content/uploads/rpi-mobile/mobile-pi-screen.stl) [files](http://blog.parts-people.com/wp-content/uploads/rpi-mobile/mobile-pi-back-door.stl) available for anyone who wants to take a crack at perfecting the plastic components.
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Another challenge for those with CAD and 3-D printing capabilities is removing the need for an access door on the computer's left side. The access hatch locks the keyboard in place, but also covers the on/off switch, making for less than ideal ergonomics. This feature is just begging a Raspberry Pi enthusiast to channel their inner Jony Ive and design a sexier solution.
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This laptop won't come cheap. The Raspberry Pi only costs $35, but all the other components will end up costing over $390 dollars, and that's before plastics for the housings. Still, some of nicest touches, like the back-lit lid, come at almost no cost by leveraging circuitry and power supplies already in the case.
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While ostensibly in the same class as a product like the MacBook Air, Apple's products pack significantly more computing punch. However, this Raspberry Pi machine could crush a Mac laptop in a case competition. With its huge battery pack, rectangular dimensions and reddish color, this thing is a literal brick.
