MNT Pocket Reform
=================

I noticed that the MNT Pocket  Reform crowdfunding has been running for
a few days [1]. It already reached  the funding goal but they are still
open for further support.

The device is smaller than the  "full" (12.5") MNT Reform and about 50%
lighter (it is said to be under 1  kg). It has 7" screen (the device is
actually  bigger  than  that  because screen  bezel  is  considerable).
Anyway, it  can use  the same  CPU cards as  the big  Reform and  has a
similar level of hackability.

From my  experience the Reform is  a solid device with  a good keyboard
and I expect that the Pocket one will not be much worse.

I read  that some people  are unhappy from  keyboard layout of  the big
Reform (though I do not know if they have had any possibility to try it
in person) and  the Pocket added another level y  having an ortholinear
keyboard (so fast writers may wave  problems with it). Bad writers like
me will probably find it as bad  as any other keyboard. And the Esc key
is in the top left edge so vi(1) users will be served!

The Pocket has  pretty modern set of  ports (too much for  my liking) a
pair of  USB-C, a microHDMI  and an industrial Ethernet  port. Adapters
for more traditional interfaces (USB-A, HDMI/DVI, Ethernet, audio jack)
of course exist. The positive thing is that one of these USB-C supports
Power Delivery so a fairy standard  power adapter can be used. There is
an optional support for 4G/5G connections, too.

The Reform will be shipped with  an updated CPU board (faster, slightly
less power  hungry, with 8GB  of RAM and  with both WiFi  and Bluetooth
chips integrated) but will be able to use the old CPU which was default
for the older "big" reform  (it was no WiFi/Bluetooth integrated anyway
but the Ethernet and the HDMI will work with it).

The expected battery life  is 4 hours. It's not much  but I expect that
it  is with  the WiFi/Bluetooth  on. The  original Reform  is not  much
better (with bigger battery capacity but with bigger screen, of course)
and people somewhat live with it. Maybe  it's not as big deal as it may
look.

On the  positive side, it  is an open  hardware with sources  of almost
everything (including  the CPU  boards but not  the CPUs  themselves, I
think). There is  no microphone/camera integrated (you  have to connect
yours if you are  going to use it) which is a bonus  for people who use
tapes to cover cameras on their laptops. The hard aluminium casing adds
some  protection but  the device  is  not waterproof  not dustproof  in
anyway. But the passive cooling (no fans) may help here a bit.

What do you thing about this device?


References:

[1] https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/pocket-reform
[2] https://community.mnt.re