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Tim Aidley’s Retroey, also called the Picomachine, is a personal Raspberry Pi 4 Model B prototype built to develop and play PICO-8 and Picotron. It combines a section-printed case, mechanical keyboard, touchscreen, battery system and USB floppy drive in a portable, retro-inspired computer—not a commercial product or documented off-the-shelf kit.
What the Retroey Picomachine includes
Aidley designed the machine around the width of its 68-key mechanical keyboard, which measures 308 mm, then built a custom enclosure to house the computer and accessories. The physical specifications below come from the creator’s project post; they are not independently measured product specifications.
| Component or feature | What is reported |
|---|---|
| Computer | Raspberry Pi 4; Hackster identifies it as a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B. |
| Display | 10.1-inch touchscreen, 1024×600 resolution. The sources do not identify its brand or exact retail model. |
| Keyboard | 68-key mechanical keyboard, 308 mm wide. |
| Power | Aidley describes a 74 W DC UPS with 5 V USB, USB-C and barrel outputs, each able to supply 3 A. He says the unit combines charging and voltage conversion. |
| Storage and peripherals | USB 3.5-inch floppy drive, with rear storage for a mouse, wireless gamepads, power cable and disks. The Reddit post also notes USB, Ethernet and HDMI ports on the back. |
| Audio | Small amplifier, internal speakers and a switch that routes sound to the headphone socket. |
| Reported size and weight | 310 × 400 × 100 mm and 3.5 kg, according to Aidley’s January 2025 Reddit post. |
Hackster describes the case as 3D-printed in sections. The available accounts do not establish that Aidley has published the CAD files or a complete bill of materials, or that a kit is available.
How the screen serves both fantasy consoles
The 1024×600 resolution was chosen to show each system’s image at an integer scale, avoiding fractional pixel sizing. Aidley’s figures describe his design calculations:
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| System image | Integer scale | Displayed image | Remaining display area |
|---|---|---|---|
| PICO-8: 128×128 | 4× | 512×512 | 128 horizontal pixels and 40 vertical pixels of border; Aidley says this uses 85% of the display height. |
| Picotron: 480×270 | 2× | 960×540 | 20 horizontal pixels and 30 vertical pixels of border; Aidley says this uses 90% of the display height. |
In retrospect, Aidley says a 1920×1080 panel would have fit Picotron perfectly and used 95% of the display height for PICO-8. That is his assessment, not a tested comparison of screen models. He also notes that the touchscreen’s glass front adds weight.
What the mode switch does—and what it does not mean
Project coverage describes a physical switch for selecting PICO-8, Picotron or the Raspberry Pi OS desktop. This is a feature of Aidley’s setup, not a standard Raspberry Pi OS function. The project demonstrates his configuration; it does not establish that every Raspberry Pi model or operating-system combination officially supports Picotron.
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Picotron is also not simply another way to run PICO-8 games. Lexaloffle’s Picotron FAQ describes a workstation-like development environment and says PICO-8 cartridges do not run out of the box. Picotron supports PICO-8-style shorthand syntax and almost the whole API, with compatibility features that can help when porting, but it remains a distinct environment. The FAQ lists Windows, Mac, Linux x86-64 and HTML5/wasm support; it does not list Raspberry Pi as a native platform.
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Why it looks retro, including the floppy drive
Aidley says his first computing experiences were with 1980s 8-bit home computers. His family’s second computer was an Acorn BBC Micro, whose keyboard and wedge shape influenced the design. He told Hackster: “I got started on the old eight-bit home computers, and PICO-8 really reminds me of them, and I wanted to capture some of that in the design.”
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The floppy drive is a nostalgic choice rather than a technical requirement. Aidley explains: “The floppy drive is more from the 16/32-bit era that came afterwards, which is what Picotron imitates, but I remember the feeling of having a game on a floppy, so I wanted to have that too.” It lets the machine load games from disks while reinforcing the period-inspired feel.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How portable is it in practice?
Aidley estimated that the battery lasts around eight hours, but explicitly said he had not measured the runtime exactly. Treat that as the creator’s rough estimate, not a verified endurance result. The reported 3.5 kg weight and 310 × 400 × 100 mm dimensions also make clear that “portable” here means a self-contained computer that can be moved, rather than a lightweight laptop.
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- PROTECTIVE CASE WITH FOLDING STAND: Unlike bare display boards, this mini touchscreen monitor includes a protective back cover to help shield internal electronic components. The foldable cover helps reduce screen scratches and also converts into a stand for desktop use, portable setups, and project testing
- 1024X600 IPS DISPLAY: The 1024x600 IPS panel delivers clear images with 500 cd/㎡ brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 178-degree viewing angle, making it easy to view project data, control panels, terminal windows, and monitoring screens
- 5-POINT TOUCH CONTROL: The responsive multi-touch screen supports direct on-screen control through the included USB-A to USB-C power/touch cable, giving you a more convenient way to interact with menus, dashboards, control panels, and compatible applications
- PORTABLE HDMI DISPLAY: With Mini HDMI input, this small travel monitor works as a compact HDMI display for Pi-compatible boards, mini PCs, laptops, 3D printers, security cameras, and other HDMI-enabled devices, helping you build a flexible setup without a bulky screen
Can you build the same machine?
The project accounts establish the broad component categories, but not a fully reproducible shopping list. They do not identify exact retail models for the touchscreen, keyboard or UPS, nor do they verify downloadable enclosure files or a purchasable kit. A reader can use the reports as a design reference, but should not assume they are enough to reproduce Aidley’s exact build.
Quick Recap
- For the core computer, the independent coverage names a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B.
- Other described categories include a 10.1-inch 1024×600 touchscreen, 68-key mechanical keyboard, DC UPS and USB floppy drive.
- The enclosure was designed and printed in sections, but no printer, filament specification or verified CAD download is identified in the cited accounts.
Sources
- Tim Aidley, “Introducing the Tim Aidley PicoMachine,” January 20, 2025
- Gareth Halfacree, Hackster.io, coverage of the Retroey prototype
- Tim Aidley (Captain_Xap), Reddit project post, January 15, 2025
- Lexaloffle Games, Picotron FAQ
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