This DIY Framework 13 Mod Turns a Modern Laptop into a Retro Mechanical Marvel - Yanko Design

"DIY laptop mods that blend modern hardware with retro aesthetics are having a moment, and it's easy to understand why. Modern ultrabooks prioritize thinness and portability over tactile satisfaction, leaving many users longing for the chunky, satisfying keyboards and analog controls that made 1990s laptops feel substantial and purposeful. One ambitious modder has answered that call with something truly special."

"The Campus, built by Reddit user flurpyflurples, transforms a Framework 13 into something that looks like it escaped from a 1990s computer lab, complete with all the modern performance you'd expect. The custom-milled aluminum housing is dramatically thicker than the stock Framework, creating space for a gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard that delivers the kind of tactile feedback laptop users haven't experienced in decades."

"What makes the Campus particularly compelling are the three rotary encoders integrated into the chassis, providing analog control over volume, screen brightness, and keyboard backlight. These physical dials offer a hands-on experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly direct compared to fumbling through software controls or hunting for function key combinations. The satisfying click and smooth rotation of each encoder adds a layer of interaction that modern laptops have completely abandoned."

The Campus transforms a Framework 13 into a 1990s-style laptop using a custom-milled, much thicker aluminum chassis. The thicker housing accommodates a gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard that restores tactile feedback akin to vintage laptops. Three rotary encoders integrated into the chassis provide analog control of volume, screen brightness, and keyboard backlight with satisfying clicks and smooth rotation. The trackpad is repositioned off-center to better align with natural typing hand placement. The mechanical keyboard is slightly slimmer in depth, eliminating the half-height function row to improve finger positioning and wrist comfort. The design remains compatible with Framework's modular expansion card system.

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