MNT Pocket Reform
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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