The MNT Pocket Reform, a smaller version of the MNT Reform laptop, with a 7-inch display has just launched on Crowd Supply with an NXP i.MX8M Plus system-on-module, but also compatible with an NXP Layerscape LS1028A module, Raspberry Pi CM4, Pine64 SOQuartz, and an AMD Kintex-7 FGPA module.
The open-source modular laptop also comes with a 128GB eMMC flash, 8GB RAM, WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity on-module, an optional 1TB NVMe SSD, a backlit 60-key mechanical keyboard with an optical trackball and four buttons, a micro HDMI port to connect an external display, a few USB ports, and Ethernet through an ix industrial connector.
MNT Pocket Reform specifications:
- SoM – Boundary Devices Nitrogem8M Plus system-on-module with
- SoC – NXP i.MX 8M Plus quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 @ 1.8GHz with Cortex-M7 real-time core, Vivante GC7000UL GPU, 2.3 TOPS NPU with open drivers, H.264/H.265 Video Decoder with open drivers (Hantro), and HiFi4 Audio DSP
- System Memory – 8GB DDR4
- Storage – 128GB eMMC flash
- Wireless – WiFi 5 (802.11ac) & Bluetooth 5.0 (Qualcomm QCA9377-3)
- Storage
- M.2 NVMe 2280 SSD slot (up to 2TB)
- MicroSD card slot
- Full-disk encryption (LUKS) is enabled by default
- Display – 7-inch display with 1920×1200 resolution, ~310 ppi
- Video Output – Micro HDMI up to 4K resolution
- Audio
- Texas Instruments DAC with Mono Speaker
- Headphones via USB-C audio adapter or Bluetooth
- Connectivity
- WiFi and Bluetooth on NXP module
- ix industrial Ethernet port with RJ45 adapter cable
- Optional Mobile Internet with WWAN slot for 4G/5G/LTE modem and Micro SIM card slot (data or VoIP only, no calls/SMS)
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 Type-C port, including one supporting USB PD
- User input
- Keyboard with ortholinear matrix, 60 keys
- Mechanical switches (Kailh Choc White)
- N-key rollover
- International layouts: US, UK, GER, FR, ES, DK, JP
- RGB backlight
- Micro-optical trackball with 4 buttons
- Controlled via Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU
- Battery – 2x Li-Ion cells for 8,000 mAh in total good for about 4 hours on a charge
- Power Supply – USB PD port for charging
- Dimensions – 20 x 12.6 x 4.5 cm
- Weight – 1.1 kg
- Enclosure – Two structural case parts milled from Purple or Black anodized, bead-blasted Aluminum, plus two outer plates and two inner bezels (for the keyboard and display) made of matte black PCB
Several Linux distributions can be installed on the MNT Pocket Reform, but the official image is based on Debian Linux with GNOME 4 environment suitable for most people, or Sway Wayland compositor for advanced users. As an open-source hardware project, you’ll find the system images for Reform laptops in one git repository, and the KiCAD hardware design files for all the boards used in the Pocket Reform in another.
The MNT Pocket Reform open-source laptop is comparatively heavy for a 7-inch laptop, but I suppose that’s the cost of having a modular design and easy repairability.
The Crowd Supply campaign is going well with around $115,000 raised out of the $135,000 funding target in less than one day. Rewards start at $899 for the Pocket Reform Black and go up to $1,369 for the “Pocket Reform Hyper Purple” with a 1TB NVMe SSD, Pocket Reform Piñatex (leather-like) sleeve, and a few printed materials. The shipping fee is included in the price, and deliveries are scheduled to start in the second half of October 2023. But if you happen to live in San Francisco, you may be able to see an early prototype in action in the next few days, since the MNT Pocket Reform will be shown at the Humanmade makerspace on Monday, March 20th starting at 5 PM.
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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They’re missing a market here… add an option to connect the keyboard via USB or 2.4 to another computer and you have a deluxe ortholinear preonic. Considering the proces of gaming/custom keyboards this may be the main market.
I don’t understand this market segment. What are these devices for? Can anyone who has a need for these please share?
I just use a cheap 8 inch Android tablet. As needed, I also have a foldable Bluetooth keyboard. If I need more computing power, I remotely access a server.
All the benefits (and more) at a fraction of the cost.
Apparently, some people just gotta have power in their pocket but like you, I don’t know these people.
Apparently from the video it’s for those who have to code at the café using vi under CoolRetroTerm, those who need to work on their presentation in the bus on the last mile to the conference center, those who think that looking at the schematic of a board they’re touching with an unplugged solder iron will prevent damaging it, and those who appreciate to change the keys backlight color by caressing the trackball.
More seriously, while I’d have found such devices fun for hacking 10-15 years ago, nowadays mobility is not an excuse anymore for something that thick and heavy, and the price means you won’t offer it to your kids to run games on the sofa. So I’m still wondering who buys these (aside those mentioned above of course).
I often use a Nokia N810 in crowded subways to write LaTeX code. 1 CPS, which is much greater than 0. This MNT device is probably too large for that task.
As an owner of a libretto CT50, I would have thought I’d have more appreciation for these devices, but I just don’t see it. The other poster who said to use a cheap android tablet with a BT keyboard seems to make a good arguement. Small android tablets are super cheap and the keyboards are as well. If you need points for cool hacker dude, run Linux on it.
If you need a real laptop, then get some use out of Intel’s many year project to try to find a use for their chips that’s called “Thin and light” notebooks. There’s plety of them out there that are very portable, have good battery life, and even offer reasonable CPU performance. Better yet, you can type on their keyboards without having to crush your fingers together.
Or as said elsewhere on the internet, buy the Intel 7″ laptop its looks similar too and install Linux on it. Much cheaper, come recycle time sell it for parts. If anyone will buy the bits
I think the main point here is that device is open-source?
Indeed! And modular. And upgradeable.
It’s already 101% funded on CS.