This DIY Cyberdeck With a 12-Inch Screen Actually Works Like a Laptop - Yanko Design

"Most cyberdecks sit somewhere between prop and prototype, fun to look at but often awkward to use, with bolted-on parts and layouts that prioritize aesthetics over ergonomics. They're conversation starters that rarely stay on the desk once the novelty wears off. This "CMDeck" build is interesting because it tries to behave like a real laptop-class machine you could actually reach for when you want to write or tinker."

"Salim Benbouziyane's core decision was to give the deck the footprint of a full-size keyboard, a wide clamshell that feels anchored instead of chunky. A 12-inch touch display sits up top, and a custom low-profile mechanical keyboard lives below, with a split ortholinear layout, central trackpad, and small OLED. It's framed as a deliberate workspace rather than a random collection of parts that happened to fit in a box."

"The enclosure journey is where the design process shows most clearly. The first CAD pass looked clean with all the I/O on the back, then immediately ran into reality when cables blocked the lid from opening. Salim carved clearances, added a removable rear section for assembly, and reworked hinge mounts after early prototypes ripped screws out. The heavy display forced him to add brass weights so the deck could open fully without tipping backward."

The CMDeck adopts a full-size keyboard footprint and wide clamshell form to feel anchored and laptop-like rather than a chunky prop. A 12-inch touch display pairs with a custom low-profile mechanical keyboard featuring a split ortholinear layout, central trackpad, and small OLED to prioritize writing, coding, and multi-window work. Enclosure development included multiple CAD and prototype revisions to clear cable interference, enable assembly with a removable rear section, reinforce hinge mounts, and add brass counterweights to balance a heavy display. A translucent purple bottom and mixed resin-print/CNC finishes integrate internals into the device identity.

Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News