DIY – Techin' Geek

Leonardo frequently showed a nonspecific error pop-up without any instructions for resolution. You need to dismiss the alert prior to proceeding, creating an experience akin to hitting a wall before trying to troubleshoot or look up the error code in Leonardo. Thankfully, connectivity is straightforward and hassle-free. The Romeo links to your computer through Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth, which appears to be a minor detail until you encounter the hiccups that Bluetooth can sometimes present (I’m looking at you, Design Space). While evaluating the Explore 5, I sporadically lost my Bluetooth connection, requiring me to disconnect and reconnect the device to my computer and attempt again. I’m uncertain if this stems from Design Space or my laptop juggling too many Bluetooth devices, but it can be quite annoying. Throughout my testing, the Romeo machine never unexpectedly lost connection.

Creating Space

There’s no getting around it: The Romeo is sizable—it offers double the cutting width of the Explore 5. It’s not the type of machine that can easily fit on a closet shelf when not in operation. Most users will likely want to allocate a table for it. This isn’t inherently a drawback, but it’s meant to be a constant presence in your workspace. (And do remember to account for the space behind the machine, as materials exit from the rear!). It is robust and well-constructed; it remained stable on the table during cutting, with minimal vibrations, the carriage navigated smoothly without any rattling, and nothing bent or creaked.

Its exposed design is another compromise. Unlike the Explore 5, which can be folded, everything is visible on the Romeo. I haven’t observed any accumulation thus far, but I am cautious about pet hair and dust infiltrating the internals, and I will keep an eye on it as time passes.

While cutting, the Romeo produces beeping and chirping reminiscent of dial-up internet, whereas the Cricut hums and whirs more like an older inkjet printer. Neither is particularly loud, but it’s something to consider if you share a working environment.

Ready to Move Up?

After utilizing both machines, my primary takeaway is that the Cricut is crafted to minimize as many decisions and friction points as possible. The Romeo provides you with the controls and anticipates that you will learn how to operate them.

After the launch of a particular book, a group of enthusiasts started to experiment with their own electronic configurations to craft DIY devices, frequently for hacking or on-the-go coding. Conventionally, these gadgets, referred to as decks, were akin to sturdy laptops featuring a screen and keyboard, engineered to be practical and packed in a resilient briefcase for survival situations. A year ago, a niche YouTuber presented a video entitled “DIY Doomsday Cyberdeck EMAIL/TEXT without INTERNET,” utilizing the “prepper” hashtag.

Tan’s cyberdeck is distinctive for its aesthetic. Within a redesigned clamshell handbag is a Raspberry Pi computer equipped with a petite keyboard and display. It adheres to standard hardware, yet the deck’s feminine facade and intricate design defy conventional expectations. “I haven’t seen anyone create a hyper-femme version before,” she remarks, while appreciating the tactical designs of existing decks but desiring one that reflects her own style. “I have always been quite anti-minimalist,” she continues. “In my life, I crave color, and I want everything I possess to express that it represents me.”

To reduce reliance on the internet, Tan filled her mermaid cyberdeck with an array of files from her computer, such as songs, books, maps, Wikipedia entries, and cat pictures. When linked to a custom mouse, it can even operate Doom.

Tan also showcased a solar panel-equipped deck on TikTok. The majority of her TikTok viewers are female. “Many reacted with, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize you could create a computer like this. I thought it needed to be a gray box, like every other Mac or Dell or whatever,’” states Ling Lu, a product designer from New York City, who was motivated by Tan’s videos to develop her own unique gadget, the “cyberduck” audio journal, a bird-shaped recording device for personal use.