Sometimes, when your dream device doesn't exist, you just have to roll up your sleeves and make your own. We've seen plenty of people take up the mantle over the years, but not many of them can say they've designed a modular handheld system that can swap between productivity and gaming mode and can dual-boot Windows and Linux.

It sounds too good to be true on paper, but one person is building just that, and they hope to launch a Kickstarter soon.

The CG Deck is a portable PC fan's dream come true

More literally than figuratively

Over on the Linux subreddit, user ZCTMO showed off what they've been working on. They've created the first working prototype of the CG Deck, a handheld x86 device that can dual-boot Windows and Linux. The CG Deck's biggest draw is that it's modular, meaning you can swap out input devices on the fly and turn it from a gaming machine into, say, a device for doing CAD in Blender.

So far, things are looking good for the CG Deck, and ZCTMO has a working prototype. They say it's still a little rough around the edges and needs some additional work, but it's definitely looking a lot like a finished product.

ZCTMO takes some time to describe the modules they've already designed for the project:

There are currently 4 different modules, all of which can be swapped in and out with each other depending on your current use case. There are two slots and types of modules*,* the primary and secondary slot, each fitting their respective modules. For primary modules, there I have currently put together the 64-Key Rubber Keyboard Module, 11-key & Rotary Knob w/ Hot Swap Sockets, the Gamepad Controller Module.

As of right now, the only secondary module is the Trackball Mouse Module, but ZCTMO hopes to create more soon. If you'd like to learn when this project is ready, head over to the CG Deck website, where you can sign up for the waitlist. ZCTMO hopes to launch the device on Kickstarter soon, but they'll also release everything as open source so you can make your own if you so desire.