ShaRPiKeebo is probably the smallest Linux computer you’ll find with a physical QWERTY keyboard. Measuring just 6 x 11 x 1.5 cm and powered by a Raspberry Pi (RPi) Zero W or 2W, it features a 400x240-pixel, low-power, daylight-readable, black-and-white SHARP Memory Display and a long-range wireless transceiver.

If you thought PocketChip was cool, wait until you get your thumbs on ShaRPiKeebo! With a low-latency display, two D-pads, on-board power-management, and support for Wi-Fi connectivity, this open-hardware, battery-powered nanocomputer is perfect for gamers, system administrators, software developers, pentesters, students, makers, and any Linux geek who manages to be none of the above.

Linux on a Raspberry Pi in the Palm of Your Hand

Who hasn’t dreamed of a computer the size of a calculator they could use to play games or carry out system-administration tasks when they’re on the go? Who doesn’t want a way to keep busy or stay entertained on a bus or a train or a subway? (A way that does not require balancing expensive hardware on their lap while repeatedly elbowing their neighbors…) Who wouldn’t enjoy leaving their bag or backpack at home more often? Scenarios like this speak to us, here at Morpheans, so we decided to make them a reality—with the ShaRPiKeebo nanocomputer.

As the culmination of the BlakRPi range of mini-computers we’ve been developing over the past four years, ShaRPiKeebo comes with the following…

Features & Specifications

• 2.7", 400x240-pixel, low-latency, energy-efficient LS027B7DH01 SHARP Memory Display
• Built-in, QMK-compatible USB QWERTY keyboard with 56 keys
• Can function as an external keyboard when attached to another device (such as a rack server)
• Two four-button D-pads for gaming
• Five buttons, controllable via (up/down) GPIO voltage detection
• Four independently controlled LEDs, programmable using classic GPIO commands in C++ or Python
• Long-range, 433-MHz radio transceiver (currently RFM95; working on upgrade to CE-marked RakWireless chip)
• On-board battery-management and charging module that draws power through USB Type-C
• A JST connector for a LiPo battery
• UART and I²C available through GPIO for external 3.3 V modules (GPS, a 4G or 5G modem, etc.)
• ISP programming port available for QMK-keyboard flashing or upgrades
• Form factor
  • SBC connector: 2x40-pin connector for Raspberry Pi Zero W or 2W SBCs
  • Dimensions: 66 x 115 x 20 mm
  • Weight: Under 100 g

Tiny, Easy-to-Use, Versatile, and Affordable

All you have to do is connect a battery, slot your Raspberry Pi Zero W or 2W SBC, and:

• Play a game
• Connect to a server over SSH
• Launch a local or remote Python script
• Audit the security of nearby Wi-Fi networks using the many diagnostic tools available in Linux
• Host your cryptocurrency wallet or roll with a portable BTC Lightning payment node
• Protect the above with a hardware security key
• Plug a storage device into the USB port and log tons of data
• Chat with another ShaRPiKeebo user (up to a kilometer away without using a cellular network!)

We could go on, but…

"Play a Game," You Say?

ShaRPiKeebo is capable of running many well-known games with only slight modification. The fast refresh rate of its SHARP Memory Display allows it to play dynamic games without lag. Thre are various online collections of open-source Linux titles with support for one-bit color. All you have to do is recompile them for the SHARP display.

Way Better Than a Pager

On call and on the beach? What system administrator hasn’t dreamed of being able to handle emergencies without having to drag a bunch of kit along with them. SharRPiKeebo’s got you covered. SSH into your servers—wherever they might be—and use this Linux Swiss-Army knife to fix the problem. Then write a python script to monitor the offending process and parse the relevant logs so you never have to do so again. And don’t forget to apply sunscreen.

Part of a Thriving Open Source Ecosystem

Thanks to its Raspberry Pi brain, ShaRPiKeebo is fully compatible with all major programming languages and commandline Linux tools. That menas you can take advantage of (and contribute to!) the work of a huge community of developers from all over the world. Whether you’re learning or creating, you’ll be able to leverage thousands of existing libraries with very little adaptation.

Comparisons

Support & Documentation

ShaRPiKeebo is open source to its core. Please help yourself to our schematics and our KiCAD project source, as well as the DXF, STL, and Solidworks files you’ll need if you want to lasercut or 3D print yourself an enclosure. You can find all of the above in our GitHub repo. If you’d like to reach out directly, please use the Ask a technical question link below.

Manufacturing Plan

We expect to have all crowdfunding orders at Mouser’s warehouse—and ready for fulfillment to backers—less than three months after the end of the campaign. Broadly speaking, our manufacturing plan involves six steps:

1. We ensure the availability of all components, identify a fabrication and assembly partner in China (with whom we've worked on several projects in the past), and send them the BOM and specifications.
2. The PCB supplier sends us ten production boards for testing and validation.
3. After reaching our funding goal, we check in with our PCB Supplier, establish a time line, and ensure that all parts have been ordered.
4. We continue to monitor the manufacturing process throughout.
5. Our PCB supplier sends all crowdfunding and stock units to our warehouse in France, where we test and verify them.
6. We send crowdfunding and stock boards to Mouser's warehouse in the United States.

Fulfillment & Logistics

Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, will handle shipping to backers. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service in their guide. (And please remember to keep your shipping address up to date in your Crowd Supply account!) ShaRPiKeebo is not CE marked. As a result, we cannot accept orders to shipping addresses in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, or Turkey. Sorry!

Risks & Challenges

As with any venture, this one involves a few risks. After many Blak RPI iterations over the past four years, however, our design is extremely stable at this point, so our main concerns are possible sourcing, logistics, and shipping issues. This project is our team’s primary focus, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that manufacturing and fulfillment go according to plan. We will communicate any delays clearly and promptly through regular project updates.