Ben Might Have Built the Ultimate Handheld PC That Can Run Full Desktop Software

Ben has been chasing a dream with his latest device, a handheld PC that runs full desktop software without sacrificing anything. He chose to base it on the LattePanda Mu single-board computer, which has serious x86 computing capability and can handle up to 16 gigabytes of RAM and some onboard storage. He installed a 1TB solid state disk and a wireless card for complete connectivity.

Custom work began immediately away on a carrier board to connect all the components. You have four normal USB ports lined up down one side, which is ideal for all of your peripherals. Then there’s a full-size HDMI output, allowing you to connect it to a larger screen if necessary. This monster is around 36mm thick, weighs about a kilogram, and feels great in your palm – the design is quite smart. The front is dominated by a stunning 7-inch screen with a sharp 1920 x 1080 resolution and a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. Ben actually replaced out the previous screen to achieve this degree of sharpness and smoothness.

Typing is done on a unique keyboard that is specifically intended for thumbs, with all straight lines to make it easy to reach the keys. Each key is designed to last, using small switches that can resist millions of pushes. Ben made the keycaps himself, designing them first with software and then creating them using a 3D printer.

For pointing and clicking, a thumbstick from a Nintendo Joy Con just fits into position on the left; once the custom firmware is installed, the pointer glides as smoothly as possible. On the right is a rotary encoder that transforms into a convenient thumb-operated scroll wheel. Then there are the trigger buttons on the index fingers, which are for left and right clicks.

Power comes from a 4,500 mAh battery pack, which Ben developed with a specific control circuit to handle charging safely and keep track of levels. There’s even a small indicator on the front that indicates how much charge you have left at a glance. When you need to recharge, simply plug it in via USB C, and there’s also a power switch that allows you to turn it off completely when not in use.

He made the outside case from a layer of translucent resin on the rear, allowing the interior components to shine through. After the initial powder coating did not turn out as expected, the front plate was machined from aluminum and manually polished. Everything inside is securely fastened with bolts and proper insert nuts. The speakers had to be fitted flat to fit into the restricted space available, and because the built-in audio options were not cooperating, he ended up running music through a makeshift USB adapter.

Linux Mint is his preferred operating system, as it provides him with a complete desktop experience. Given the hardware, he chose mint to keep things lean and responsive. General day-to-day tasks do not cause him any lag, and he can even go out and get any typical piece of software he wants. That being said, gaming is still confined to older or less-demanding titles because there isn’t a separate graphics card available, but expansion is simple thanks to all the ports on hand and a custom built dock that allows him to place the little device up on his desk and get to work. Simply plug in a larger display, a keyboard, and a mouse, and this small portable transforms into a full-fledged workstation.
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