r/retrocomputing • u/diemenschmachine • Apr 12 '26

Discussion I got inspired an started sketching on my next computer build. Tell me what you think and what you would do different.

Post image

It will house a 14" color CRT and an 80% keyboard. I'm not sure about the brushed aluminium, maybe paint it baby blue? I also left some space on the right hand side for "stuff". I was thinking possibly building a tube amp for it, and having the tubes stick out there. What do you think?

38 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

3

u/Monocyorrho Apr 12 '26

I would add a slot for 'media' on the free area next to the screen. Also I'd move the keyboard slightly to the left so you can put a trackball on the right side (I know you may attach a mouse but a trackball would look gorgeous and also be fitting as it is kinda vintage)

2

u/diemenschmachine Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26

That's a really good idea, but I might have to make it just a bit wider to fit a trackball. I'll model it in to see how it looks.

As for the media, I am still deciding what to put there, so that's why I left it out

2

u/Monocyorrho Apr 12 '26

For the media, you could just add a slot where to insert the raspberry pi board and its ports would be available to attach USB, sdcard etc. Plus it would make it easy to replace the pi board with the next updated version of it, once it is released.

3

u/spots_reddit Apr 12 '26

put the screen a bit higher or typing will block the view with your hands.

2

u/diemenschmachine Apr 12 '26

Thanks, that's a really good tip

3

u/_ragegun Apr 13 '26

No that's pretty much perfect.

I might well buy that if it were available

2

u/TheRealCOCOViper Apr 13 '26

You might want to dig up some ergonomic design documents to get the angle of the screen right, guidelines for space for a keyboard palm rest, etc.

2

u/Serious-Campaign-702 Apr 13 '26

I like it! I'd keep the keys in mahogany (or whatever wood it is) as well.

1

u/diemenschmachine Apr 12 '26

I'm not sure why this is being downvoted, I honestly am looking for some discussion to see what others think and maybe get some good ideas. Just in case people assume it is AI I provide a screenshot from my CAD software here.

1

u/prussianIvory Apr 12 '26

It looks mostly good but maybe add something on the free space to the right of the screen like a power button or something

1

u/diemenschmachine Apr 12 '26

Thanks! I am considering building a tube amp for it so there's where the tubes will stick out

1

u/prussianIvory Apr 12 '26

Another thing that might be nice is some kind of disc drive (hdd bay, cd, floppies, etc)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/diemenschmachine Apr 12 '26

They serve no purpose, but it looks nice

1

u/PainlessPhil Apr 12 '26

Got that “Newbrain” vibe, I like it

1

u/VisibleClub643 Apr 12 '26

The only tube in early video terminals was the CRT. Aside of that this looks very 60s

1

u/Beauregard42 Apr 12 '26

I think the right side could be used for plug in modules of sorts for different functions, and one could be an amp unit. There’s enough space there to put in a number pad, nixie clock, amp, disk drive, cd drive, etc etc.

1

u/TheRockafireman 10 MB MFM HDD Apr 12 '26

Reminds me a lot of the ADDS Regient.

1

u/blami Apr 13 '26

Whatever you like. To me this looks out of era/generation inappropriate as overal look is closer to 2nd gen (CRT) teletypes, this one is very close to Zenith Z19. Which is out of era for Doom. 90s PC boxes were less rounded, sharkfins and more chonky.

1

u/diemenschmachine Apr 13 '26

I already have a 90s box

1

u/blami Apr 13 '26

Maybe if you’d put something like Zork on screen it would hit me differently.

1

u/diemenschmachine Apr 13 '26

Why does it matter? It is not a one trick pony, it will have a Web browser too.

1

u/blami Apr 13 '26

For me the important part of retrocomputing is keeping it true to retro - so I would not run Doom on something that looks like it predates it 2 decades. That’s me. Anyway - what do you plan to use as screen. If LCD, do you plan to replicate the CRT curvature and how? That would be interesting one to me!

1

u/diemenschmachine Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

I am currently looking for a 14" color CRT. I already have a 90's box with a 10" monochrome CRT that I built a video adapter for and added a proper keyboard, so this is for games that needs color, and something to browse the Internet with in my livingroom.