Pi-Micro: Pocket-Sized Linux Computer

Have you ever wanted a computer that could fit in your pocket? While you could convincingly argue that your phone is just that, Anon1701 wanted something a little bit different. What he came up with is what he believes to be the “smallest computer built using a Raspberry Pi that also has a full keyboard.”

Naturally, he used a Pi Zero W for his build, giving it Wi-Fi connectivity, 512 MB of RAM and a 1 GHz processor. This allows him to browse the web, edit documents, create scripts, play games, and whatever else you’d use a tiny computer for. The device is equipped with a Bluetooth keyboard for user interface, hacked to remove the battery and reduce its size. A former solar power bank is also stripped down to produce a thin battery/charger combination. Finally, a USB port is included, enabling users to connect external gadgets as needed.

The laptop — perhaps you might call it a “knee-top” — has been under development for over a year. Naturally there were a few lessons learned, such as getting things to pivot correctly by using needles as hinges.

Be sure to check out his process via the link above, including 3D printing files — potentially useful for many types of mini-computing projects!