Cyberdecks Go Fashion: Annike Tan's Purse Build Goes Viral
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- Annike Tan (@ubeboobey) went viral on TikTok earlier this year with a mermaid-themed cyberdeck she built inside an old purse, and has since been featured in The Cut and Wired.
- Tan has upgraded the purse build and constructed two more devices: a dedicated MP3 player cyberdeck and a solar-powered cyberdeck.
- The new wave of cyberdecks abandons the traditional 3D-printed chassis or Pelican-case silhouette for art-project enclosures that, as the source puts it, 'don't look like a computer at all.'
- TikTok maker @diypagancrafts built a retro TV-themed purse cyberdeck with the screen on the outside and the Raspberry Pi, keyboard, and game controller stowed inside.
- Builders lean on recycled and thrifted parts, with documented examples including a Dunkin' Donuts munchkin box, a Pokeball, an Altoids tin, and a plastic box stuffed with fake moss and flowers.
- Under the art-project exterior, the devices are essentially mini Linux computers running on single-board computers, typically used offline for reading, journaling, or listening to music.
Why it matters: The cyberdeck scene is pivoting from rugged, cyberpunk-styled hardware builds to an art-driven, social-media-friendly aesthetic that hides Linux computers inside everyday objects. Tan and other DIYers are pulling millions of views by prioritizing thrift-store parts and personal expression over technical specs, turning a niche hardware hobby into a viral creative format.
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