Lichee Pi 4A / LM4A
A compact TH1520 path with public schematics, BOM, drawings, and 3D models useful for the first hardware trace.
3DVR Laptop
Concept · early prototype planningKeep the laptop. Swap the computer.
A repairable laptop shell designed to survive multiple generations of compute hardware instead of becoming disposable with each processor cycle.
Long-lived laptop parts stay useful.
Compute becomes a replaceable module.
Replaceable computeSupport more than one board generation.
Serviceable essentialsBattery, storage, keyboard, display.
Hardware privacyPhysical control where practical.
Open documentationRepair, modify, manufacture.
Architecture
Separate what ages quickly from what should last.
The processor changes fast. A good keyboard, display, battery system, enclosure, storage interface, and ports should not have to become waste at the same pace.
Compute moduleCPU, memory, and board-level compute live behind a documented replaceable interface.
Display + inputUse common interfaces and replaceable assemblies for the screen, keyboard, and trackpad.
Power + batteryServiceable power design with published electrical and mechanical information.
I/O + storageKeep storage and useful ports independent from any single processor board where practical.
Prototype candidates
Start with boards we can actually test.
The chassis and module interface are the experiment. We do not need to design a new processor before we can learn whether the laptop architecture works.
StarFive / Beagle
Alternative boards give the module standard a chance to prove it is genuinely vendor-independent.
Documented x86 modules
Useful for validating power, thermals, display, input, and enclosure without waiting on every RISC-V software gap.
Next physical milestone
Build one ugly prototype that works.
Validate the module boundary, power, display, keyboard, storage, thermals, and Linux first. Beauty comes after the architecture proves itself.