Well, it's been a fun week of exploring my interest in cyberdecks1. More fun to consider the cultural conversation they are soliciting.

So am I going to get into cyberdecks? That would be a no. That mostly comes down to current life situations where a new mildly expensive hobby isn't in the works for me. I also feel like I need a community around me to enjoy the build.

Maybe the community would come as I built it. That is possible but I live in the boonies right now and there's not much around me. Sure, I can head an hour up to the city, but that feels like a lot to find a community that I can't be a part of that often.

Another reason is my need to get away from my screen. I spend too much time looking at screens. I work from home on my laptop, my hobbies include video games and writing blogs, and I will decompress by doomscrolling on Instagram.

Tom Skerritt as Dallas (from Alien movie) sitting in the computer room, speaking to Mother. The walls are beige and filled with small lights.

This morning I forced myself to walk without my Apple watch on and my phone in my pocket with a 30 minute timer. I got 21 minutes into it before I looked at the phone. That was a sad moment.

While I think the cyberdeck is a counter to this screen addiction many of us have2, I don't think the limitations of a cyberdeck would be useful for me. I described it as a drip compared to a stream. But I can get obsessed with a drip. Best bet would be to build in an e-ink screen. I just don't feel like doing that. I want to touch grass.

I think a more traditional craft like pottery would be good. There's value in cyberdecks but until I can get the screen use in my day-to-day life under control, adding another screen doesn't feel like it will help.

They are still fun to look at.