DIY laptop mods that blend modern hardware with retro aesthetics are having a moment, and it’s easy to understand why. Modern ultrabooks prioritize thinness and portability over tactile satisfaction, leaving many users longing for the chunky, satisfying keyboards and analog controls that made 1990s laptops feel substantial and purposeful. One ambitious modder has answered that call with something truly special.
The Campus, built by Reddit user flurpyflurples, transforms a Framework 13 into something that looks like it escaped from a 1990s computer lab, complete with all the modern performance you’d expect. The custom-milled aluminum housing is dramatically thicker than the stock Framework, creating space for a gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard that delivers the kind of tactile feedback laptop users haven’t experienced in decades.
Designer: flurples
What makes the Campus particularly compelling are the three rotary encoders integrated into the chassis, providing analog control over volume, screen brightness, and keyboard backlight. These physical dials offer a hands-on experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly direct compared to fumbling through software controls or hunting for function key combinations. The satisfying click and smooth rotation of each encoder adds a layer of interaction that modern laptops have completely abandoned.
The builder made thoughtful ergonomic adjustments throughout the design process. The Framework 13’s trackpad gets repositioned off-center to better align with natural hand placement when typing, while the mechanical keyboard itself is slightly slimmer in depth than the original, eliminating the half-height function row to create more space for comfortable finger positioning and wrist placement.
Despite the dramatic visual transformation, the Campus maintains compatibility with Framework’s modular expansion card system, preserving the flexibility that makes the platform so appealing to tinkerers. The increased chassis thickness also creates potential for a larger battery, though the current build prioritizes the mechanical keyboard experience over extended runtime. The aluminum construction should improve thermal management compared to thinner designs.
Community response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with Reddit users immediately suggesting additional modifications like optical drives, trackpoints, and even coffee makers. The project taps into a deep nostalgia for laptops that felt like serious tools rather than disposable consumer electronics. Comments range from genuine purchasing interest to playful suggestions about cramming even more retro features into the generous chassis space.
The practical trade-offs are obvious but intentional. The Campus is significantly heavier and thicker than any modern ultrabook, making it less suitable for daily commuting or frequent travel. However, for users who value typing experience and tactile interaction over portability, these compromises feel worthwhile. The aluminum construction and mechanical switches should provide durability that outlasts several generations of disposable laptops.
The Campus stands in stark contrast to the stock Framework 13, which emphasizes thinness, portability, and modern minimalism. While both laptops share modular DNA, they serve completely different philosophies about what a laptop should prioritize. The Campus joins projects like the MNT Reform in pushing open hardware boundaries, but its combination of mechanical keyboard, multiple rotary encoders, and familiar laptop ergonomics feels uniquely practical.
Projects like the Campus demonstrate how open hardware platforms can enable entirely new approaches to laptop design. The resurgence of interest in mechanical keyboards, analog controls, and substantial build quality suggests that some users are ready to trade portability for satisfaction. The Campus proves that with enough creativity and machining skills, you can have both modern performance and retro tactile pleasure in a single, admittedly chunky package.
The post This DIY Framework 13 Mod Turns a Modern Laptop into a Retro Mechanical Marvel first appeared on Yanko Design.