Pine64 first revealed working on Pinebook Pro Arm Linux laptop at FOSDEM 2019 back at the end of January. The first Pinebook laptop had limited hardware resources, and as such was meant for simple tasks, but Pinebook Pro equipped with Rockchip RK3399 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB to 128GB flash, and a 14″ Full HD display is designed to be used as your main laptop.
That means everything needs to work from 3D graphics acceleration, to hardware video decoding, and USB-C video output. Lukasz Erecinski very recently shot a demo of the laptop in action, and everything looks very good, meaning the laptop should be come available soon.
You can watch the demo further below, but if you are in a rush here’s what has been tested and works:
- Ubuntu & Debian with MATE desktop
- 4K video playback
- 3D graphics acceleration for games (Quake demo)
- 3D graphics acceleration in Chromium web browser (WebGL, aquarium demo @ ~30 fps)
- 1080p video playback in Chromium
- USB-C video output
Audio is not working, but this is an hardware issue with the PCB in the development kit, which also requires modifications for charging and suspend to work.
Lukasz concludes by explaining the software is mostly finished at this point, and in the coming weeks and months, the company will be shipping development unit to partners so that they can port their operating system to the platform. If a given OS already works on Rockchip RK3399, a simple device tree file change should be enough to have it working on Pinebook Pro.
Since hardware still needs to be finalized and partners will work on software, it may take a few more months before the $200 Linux laptop becomes available to the general public.
Via ameriDroid
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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