13 ms·

The PocketReform is a made-in-Berlin Linux handheld

402 points by sohkamyung 4y ago

jonahbenton 4y ago
OMG WANT. Miss my old Sharp Zaurus.
- pengaru 4y ago
  I still have quite a collection of Sharp Zauruses (Zaurii?) in a box somewhere. It's so hard to believe how badly Intel fucked that up, first omitting floating point altogether when they replaced StrongARM w/XScale, then selling it off to Marvell just when mobile was becoming interesting. I digress...
  - ornornor 4y ago
    I do too, a C860, pretty much new in its box. But I can’t find where to download software for it as it doesn’t have a working OS anymore. Any tips appreciated.
    - pengaru 4y ago
      That's something I've been meaning to spend time on eventually but never get around to. Maybe post somewhere on https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?board=179.0 https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?board=179.0 and see if anyone is still paying attention?
    - numpad0 4y ago
      You have an SL-C with corrupt firmware in 2022!? That's hard mode. There is a service menu that can be loaded by removing the battery and then plugging in AC while D + M is pressed down[1]. That lets NAND backups made and restored. This menu was brickable too. If that menu wouldn't load, an alternate pinout serial cable in conjunction with a command prompt flash tool can be plugged into Option Port 16 to load software, or so I think I heard in 2ch, definitely more than a decade ago. I vaguely remember the tool had camelcased name with an H, like HummingBird or HamsterWheel or something like that. If you need the full NAND files, they were not openly shared, nor the stock ROM loads were publicly distributed. Maybe pdaXrom custom firmware still has mirrors somewhere? Another factoid I remember is that the internal NAND was NOT wear leveled and the device could become unbootable if Kernel section of it become worn and unerasable(not unwritable, but erased bits comes back down apparently). The recommendation was to not touch the Kernel unless absolutely necessary, and a special minimal chainloader was used to relocate the Kernel if it's too late... that chainloader is probably lost to the Aether long ago. If "working OS" is so meant that the stock GUI and 2.4 kernel is simply outdated and no longer relevant, there were X/Qt XFree86 server app, Debian and Gentoo chroot filesystem zip somewhere, VNC and RDP client apps, PPP supports and few other options. swapon/swapoff binaries existed and worked. There could have been total replacement ROMs like a Maemo or Gtk-based GUIs but I don't remember any details about them. At best they must have been incomplete. 1: https://mobile.k05.biz/e/2015/08/service-menu.html https://mobile.k05.biz/e/2015/08/service-menu.html
      - pengaru 4y ago
        trisoft still hosts ROMs: https://trisoft.de/en_c860howto.htm https://trisoft.de/en_c860howto.htm Find other models linked in the left sidebar.
    - rmrfchik 4y ago
      I used to use pdaXrom distribution on my C860. Brings classic linux experience. Seems like pdaxrom.org doesn't not provide images anymore. Quick googling gives https://distro.ibiblio.org/pdaxrom/download https://distro.ibiblio.org/pdaxrom/download
- usrn 4y ago
  Everything since the Zaurus has been a regression.
causality0 4y ago
I love these odd devices. Not because I actually want one, but because diversity in personal electronics is important and the more there is the better the chance I'll get my dream device, which is a modern version of the Xperia play.
ghostpepper 4y ago
An OLED screen, a mechanical keyboard and a trackball are all cool ideas for hardware but I feel like software will be what makes or breaks this. Without a lot of low level tweaking I could see that 8000 mAh battery draining a lot faster than in an iPhone. I hope it succeeds though - would love to see a future where viable open source alternatives exist for mobile on par with what we had for desktops and have for laptops.
- usrn 4y ago
  As long as rtcwake works with memory suspend you can stretch the battery pretty far. That's essentially what Android does anyway.
- throw10920 4y ago
  > I feel like software will be what makes or breaks this This is pretty much the case. The Linux community attitude seems to be "build the hardware, and the software developers will come" - with pretty underwhelming results (which you can attribute to a lot of things, but I attribute to most developers who get these devices building toy apps instead of libraries, tooling, and documentation).
RL_Quine 4y ago
There's a whole lot of devices like this around at the moment but the keyboard layouts are painful. Their brand is "no spacebars included", but it absolutely rules out any serious use.
- jancsika 4y ago
  Good catch on that. It looks like there's a single regular-sized key for space, like some kind of fever-dream spacebar. :) Since it's hackable, I wonder if there's a way for the author to produce and ship a long spacebar that can be switched out for four or five of those keys at the bottom. I assume he has control over everything from the keyboard firmware to the OS, so it seems doable.
  - chartreusek 4y ago
    It is, just like the regular full sized MNT reform. You can reprogram the keyboard firmware (or even get a different PCB made as some people have done for the regular one). Part of the limitations on the layout is making it fit in a standard size while using off the shelf keycaps. The full sized reform only uses 1u and 1.5u key caps so the row spacing is off, but it eliminated having a bunch of odd sizes. Which also meant the space bar was split in two. Honestly for such a small device there's always going to be compromises in the keyboard. Either excessively small keys, or non-standard layouts. Just look at any of the UMPC offerings from the late 2000s, the Pocket CHIP, or even more modern ones like the GPD handhelds.
- rgoulter 4y ago
  I'm currently using a 5x12 keyboard as is. I think seeing it in a smaller form factor is wonderful. One advantage to designs like this is the thumbs get to press more keys (2-3 each). I imagine that especially with such a small device, taking up a lot of space when the thumb is just going to press the spacebar in the same place anyway is a poor design choice. Maybe with the smaller form factor, there'd be more benefit to 'splitting' the 10 alphabetical columns so they're each on the outer 5 columns, which would mean the hands have more spacing between them.
- mkj 4y ago
ghostly_s 4y ago
Never heard of this company but it seems they had the misfortune of launching an Open Hardware laptop around the same time as Framework but with a far poorer design.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- NoraCodes 4y ago
  MNT made a mint on their CrowdSupply campaign, which launched before Framework was available. The devices address completely different markets.
- nrp 4y ago
  For what it's worth, we're glad to see MNT building the Reform and now PocketReform. We don't consider them competitors (especially in relation to the colossal incumbents in the PC space) and are happy to see them championing open hardware.
- cookiengineer 4y ago
  The MNT reform came way before the framework. Note that the framework isn't completely open source, it runs an Intel CPU so it's by definition running a proprietary blob. When it comes to MNT, this guy went as far as reverse engineering all SD card drivers, writing his own HID drivers, writing his own display drivers, implememting u-boot support for flashing the BIOS etc. Look at his github profile, it's kind of insane how he never gives up. [1] It's pretty serious in terms of being able to claim it's 100% open. I mean, even the batteries are standard ̶L̶i̶-̶I̶o̶n̶ 18650 LiFePO4 cells that can be replaced without soldering or anything. [2] Whereas with the Framework it's basically "just get a new mainboard" the very same as Apple's laptops are "repaired" these days, which I think is a shame...and they could've gotten much much further if they really wanted to. In terms of practicality though, it's always the RISC vs Intel debate. Different markets, different expectations. [1] https://github.com/mntmn?tab=repositories&q=reform https://github.com/mntmn?tab=repositories&q=reform [2] https://mntre.com/reform2/handbook/parts.html https://mntre.com/reform2/handbook/parts.html
ryukafalz 4y ago
I have the previous Reform and I’m very much looking forward to this one! It’s definitely an odd device, but in a charming way. (I use trackballs on all my other devices so it’s appreciated here!) And I like that all the schematics, firmware, etc are open for anyone to use. I don’t know of any other laptop on the market like that.
nilshauk 4y ago
I love that they included an ortholinear keyboard and open schematics. Definitely keeping my eyes on this.
murrayb 4y ago
I had a HP200LX back in the day, it was a great little machine and I taught myself rudimentary C primarily on it and have often yearned for a modern replacement.
ccbccccbbcccbb 4y ago
Is the code that runs inside ARM TrustZone open source too? Especially ROM code.
- robert_foss 4y ago
  I think it is to the extent these boards can be booted without TZ, which probably depends on which SOC vendor is used.
- znvzxcvbnxcn 4y ago
  The ARM Trusted Firmware is what typically runs in the secure world, and it is indeed open source: https://github.com/ARM-software/arm-trusted-firmware https://github.com/ARM-software/arm-trusted-firmware ROM code generally speaking is not open source, but has been dumped on occasion.
alfiedotwtf 4y ago
I miss my Sharp Zaurus. I'm glad we're finally getting something like them back again, along with 20 years of added tech!
stewbrew 4y ago
All these devices look as if the Psion 5 never existed. And they look old on arrival compared to that.
- DoingIsLearning 4y ago
  The Psion 5mx really felt like something of the future.
  - Beltiras 4y ago
    I had a 5mx. Bought it for a business trip where I was making up an order from a wholesaler while examining the merchandise. Invaluable tool. Would have taken me a whole lot longer without it. Found it in storage the other day. Swapped in new batteries and turned it on and it lit up with no problems.
- tluyben2 4y ago
  Check the Astro Slide. Their entire collection is inspired by the Psion (and using the same designer I think), but the Slide looks like it could be a modern replacement. I was a big fan of the Psion.
  - dasv 4y ago
    The similarity in the name to the lube brand has to be intentional, right?
  - christefano 4y ago
    Link: https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/astro-slide https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/astro-slide
- vanderZwan 4y ago
  I had a friend who spent a year traveling around the world in the mid 2000s who said this was the absolutely perfect writing device for his blog. Nobody cares to steal it, and the fact that two AA batteries can power it for 10-20 hours means you don't have to worry about running out of electricity even in the most exotic of locations.
walrus01 4y ago
see also, the famous nokia 9000 and communicator series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_9000_Communicator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_9000_Communicator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_Communicator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_Communicator
CoastalCoder 4y ago
Trivial nitpick: In the photograph, the phone is displaying the message, "... and repairable by yourself." If your goal is to use traditionally correct grammar, use "you" rather than "yourself". More info here [0]. [0] https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-xpm-2012-09-05-ct-tribu-words-work-myself-20120905-story.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-xpm-2012-09-05-...
- smokey_circles 4y ago
  English Grammar is arbitrary and there is really no such thing as a "correct" form, only a formal one. Which is kind of elitist and disparaging imo. Ain't is my favorite example. It was considered proper English until the lower class started using it [0] I'm not against formal grammar but to grammar nazi everyday language is to be nothing more than an elitist pedant who presumes form to be more correct than function (which is only true in creative writing imo) [0] https://www.etymonline.com/word/ain't#etymonline_v_8076 https://www.etymonline.com/word/ain't#etymonline_v_8076
  - CoastalCoder 4y ago
    If your point is to critique my comment, then I think it's misplaced. Note what I wrote: > If your goal is to use traditionally correct grammar, use "you" rather than "yourself".
- rerx 4y ago
  I don't think the article applies to this idiom. See for instance https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/by-yourself https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/by-your... > by yourself > PHRASE > If you do something _by yourself_, you succeed in doing it without anyone helping you. > "I didn't know if I could raise a child by myself."
  - CoastalCoder 4y ago
    I'm afraid I'm not following your point. My understanding is that "yourself", "myself", etc. are reflexive pronouns. I.e., they're used when and only when referring to the very same person as the sentence's subject. The examples you mentioned fit that pattern. The message on the computer screen doesn't.
cik 4y ago
I'm fascinated, ongoingly by a Linux phone. I spent effort making many versions of the Sharp Zaurus cellular(ish) back in the day, even going as far as writing a sync tool for Evolution back in 2003. I'd love a Linux cellphone. My needs are very simple, and I'd love to know the state of anything that can (and with stability). 1. Be a decent phone (voice, sms) 2. Contacts/Mail/Calendar sync 3. Run android apps that require voice (Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, etc)? 4. Take pictures + videos (not even at a high level) 5. eSIM Everything else is gravy. But those 5 items are the base requirement that I personally have for a phone. Every time I dip in, it's at best unclear.
- iforgotpassword 4y ago
  What you want is an Android phone.
- busymom0 4y ago
  Which Linux specific features do you want though? Those features you listed seem available on iOS and android too.
  - cik 4y ago
    I want the freedom to do whatever I want, and however I want to my machine. I can do all of this on my Android(s). I can install debian on my Android with x11 in a sandbox and work if I need to (and have). But what I want again - is freedom.
  - tluyben2 4y ago
    I want to be able to replace my desktop. I don't need much power (most of the things that require performance I do on a remote machine anyway), so being able to do whatever with my phone on the road and then plug it into a monitor and have a desktop Linux would be perfect. The pinePhone can do but it cannot switch from Android to Linux that readily and also, I don't need much power, but the pinePhone is just really not good enough for anything I use a smartphone for (which is not calling).
    - 4y ago
HidyBush 4y ago
Linux handheld devices are mostly just toys for people a bit too excited and with too much disposable income. There might be a couple of uses, such as IT admin or on-location surveyor, where having a very small device with desktop functionalities and ports to plug in instrumentation could be useful. For the rest of us, smartphones really hit the nail of what people need to do with a pocketable device: the interface has to be simple, the features cannot be extensive and the battery should last quite a bit. I bought a PinePhone because I think it can succeed in being a smartphone with the right software, but I would never waste money on glorified PDAs because they seem useless to me regardless of their capabilities
numpad0 4y ago
Wouldn't you want the hinge either in line with the lid(traditional laptops) or shear force applied by lever arm(MacBook)?
fold3 4y ago
This article is already a few months old, Lukas just made an update today about the pocket reform: https://mntre.com/media/reform_md/2022-06-20-introducing-mnt-pocket-reform.html https://mntre.com/media/reform_md/2022-06-20-introducing-mnt...
ngcc_hk 4y ago
Got a few this kind of pocket one. From Sharp Zaurus, the version before transformer And in fact still waiting the transformer to be delivered. This one is great as a linux box to link to I hope, as I am still trying to find one. But it is a valid question raised in the linked article - where is the space bar. In fact you used to (other than some Japanese box) to have a big shift of the qwert not squarish. With that I think the user interface is ignored by the designer and would hurt them later. Personally I just use them as a lisp in a box for my ipad and hence it might be fine. Hence I would look into that as the old linux box is broken and the new one stil not delivered. But please whilst not everyone like Steve job, someone should sit and think like him on how customer use it. Please.
jhoelzel 4y ago
I really like this thank you! Back in the PDA days and even with blackberries, I always loved having a phsyical keyboard and the "flip phones" like the HTC Touch Pro 2 wher hands down my favorite phones. Now that everything else under the sun is dead and there basically only remains android and ios, I can tell you with a high probability that apple is never going to give me anthing like the HTC Touch Pro 2 ever again :/ I firmly believe -this- is the ultimate form factor for a phone, and the only reason I personally can get away with my iphone, is because it does autocorrect for what it thinks I type on the touch display.
loser777 4y ago
Ugh, every time I see a device like this (and even the larger Reform) I'm so tempted. But I learned my lesson form-factor wise with the GPD Win Max: even as a travel laptop it's painfully small after about a day or two of use. And the sad reality is that the performance-freedom tradeoff is still immense. If we assume the best system module is faster than say a Raspberry Pi 4 (which seems optimistic), it'd still get absolutely walked by an 11-year old i5 (e.g., Tx20 generation Thinkpad which are coreboot-able these days). Any kind of performance-critical stuff is clearly not the point, but it's hard to not think that smartphones have killed off this form-factor/performance tier for good reason. Makes a lot of sense as a Raspberry Pi with a screen and keyboard, but not really as a "laptop."
- uniqueuid 4y ago
  Absolutely. I have a clockwork pi devterm, which is arguably on the more usable end of the spectrum. In practice, the keyboard (and trackball) are much too small and cumbersome to use with joy. Another thing is that despite the very capable hardware (it has a rockchip along with plenty of RAM, I think 4 or 8GB), modern software just has so much latency. Perhaps we've been spoiled by today's ssds, but even cli software just feels much slower than what we're used to.
  - selfhoster11 4y ago
    Actually I think that old CLI software is a bit faster on SSDs than modern CLI software. I would have to do some benchmarks to confirm this, but it certainly seems to be the case when booting older Linux distros on modern hardware.
  - floren 4y ago
    I'm puzzled by the devterm, because it seems like if they had just made it the same size as a TRS-80 Model 100, it would have been perfect! Those were certainly portable too! Maybe they couldn't find a big enough screen?
    - RodgerTheGreat 4y ago
einpoklum 4y ago
From the article and the purchase link: Dimensions: 20 × 12.6 × 4.5cm Price: 1099 EUR It's an interesting initiative to be sure, but it doesn't fit in your pocket - neither physically nor financially.
- uxcolumbo 4y ago
  Pricey for what it is. I'd buy an old Thinkpad and put Linux on it. Or maybe get a Steamdeck. But still - important project - so I hope they can make it a success and they've done their market research.
  - mikelovenotwar 4y ago
    This isn't even the same product, they posted a laptop, not the MNT pocket, hence their wildly different dimensions/specifications https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform
    - uxcolumbo 4y ago
      Ok thanks for clarifying. I thought the EUR 1099 price tag was for this pocket computer (PocketReform).
- mikelovenotwar 4y ago
  You can't have read the specs of the product in question, or the laptop product you've found. https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform
baybal2 4y ago
nivenkos 4y ago
Steam Deck seems like a better fit for most use cases.
- branon 4y ago
  Was thinking this too, it doesn't have a physical keyboard but it's got USB-C and all the rest. Got mine 2 weeks ago and have been absolutely loving it, feels like I've had it for years because it runs regular Linux just like all my other computers.
bullen 4y ago
Ok, that's better than their laptop! OpenGL ES 3!
- pjmlp 4y ago
  A 3D API specification released in 2011, based on mobile hardware from a decade ago, what an achievement!
- detaro 4y ago
  .... it has the exact same slot and SoM selection as the laptop.
  - bullen 4y ago
    Sure but I cannot order the laptop with OpenGL ES 3... I'm not going to buy anything before I can get what I need...
    - detaro 4y ago
      It's a bit weird to call a future product "better" when it being "better" relies on availability of a SoM that you'll also be able to get with the Laptop when it becomes available. I very much doubt they'll sell the Pocket with SoMs they aren't also selling with the Laptop.
born-jre 4y ago
there is also dragonbox pyra[0], which has been very very slowing coming out of the cave. [0] https://dragonbox.de/en/45-handhelds/pyra/ https://dragonbox.de/en/45-handhelds/pyra/
t_mann 4y ago
Looks a bit like the 'Netbook' form factor that was popular 10-15 years ago. One thing makes me skeptical when looking at the design: it seems like quite a lot of the hardware is packed into the 'display' rather than the 'keyboard' part (can't tell where the battery is from the pictures), which might make the base a bit unstable.
- aldrich 4y ago
  Good point. I'm wondering whether they intend on placing the battery in the keyboard compartment, and perhaps carry the power wires next to the hinges. Can't really tell from the CAD renders, but I can imagine there may be some space still left there.
elliotpage 4y ago
I am very tempted by this but what is going on with that spacebar? The older I get the more I realise that what I really want is an updated Psion 5.
- wastholm 4y ago
  Something like this? https://store.planetcom.co.uk/ https://store.planetcom.co.uk/ No affiliation, just a (mostly) happy owner of a Gemini. They don't seem to sell those anymore and I can't vouch for the other models but they look nice too, I guess.
Saint_Genet 4y ago
It looks like it has a mechanical keyboard. I hope it's not loud, because any use case I can see for a device like this is pulling it up in a bar or café and firing of some quick stuff.
- Tenoke 4y ago
  Many mechanical keyboards are loud for a quiet office but would be hardly noticable in a louder place like a bar or even cafe.
anthk 4y ago
Too expensive. The Chinese should create a clone for $100/100 EUR.
zmix 4y ago
So, what's the use case for this?
megous 4y ago
As an author of pinephone keyboard firmware, I spent a bit of time thinking and trying to use keyboard like this. I can say that what hinders portability/serious use of all of these layout designs that try to emulate regular big keyboard is that they try to emulate big keyboard layout. That layout is made with an asumption that you have many fingers available, and that they can easily reach anywhere if you like. If you have only two thumbs available for typing, that can only reach about half the keyboard each (quite a hard limit!), you realize how asumptions this layout makes suddenly don't hold, and normal things like ctrl+a or alt+shift+1, or alt+shift+any arrow are almost impossible. Yes, you can modify the shortcuts in i3wm,screen,... (not Firefox, which is quite resistant to modifying keyboard shortcuts by design) specially for your "PDA". But if you just want a portable device you can painlessly migrate your tasks to for a few days a year, spending a lot of time designing shortcuts for your DE, or terminal multiplexer, is not that appealing. It would be probably more useful if key layout was designed from the start to allow various modifier combos to be invoked by dedicated keys, or layout designed so that more modifiers were symetricaly placed (or something even less traditional, and have all letter/number keys on the right and all modifier/modifier combos/special keys on the left), instead of wasting space on big enter key, or big spacebar (for which you may spend several HW iterations just to make those right and reactive on their whole surface), etc. Due to size, it's usually uncomfortable to press 3 key combos even with the keyboard laying on the table. Also comfortable position for the most comonly used keys (usually modifiers) is not on the edge of the keyboard. That's really pretty bad for your thumbs. The layout of these things just needs a lot more thought. Sad thing is, that if someone would spend a ton of research and thinking on making something usable and comfortable, most people would completely poopoo it as a freaky unusable layout, just because it would look unfamiliar, lol.
- JadeNB 4y ago
  > not Firefox, which is quite resistant to modifying keyboard shortcuts by design Do you have a Mozilla reference for this design principle? I've always wondered about this difficulty, but thought it was just an accident.
  - megous 4y ago
fermigier 4y ago
In the promo video, at 0:46 (https://youtu.be/cxcB45K-24k?t=46 https://youtu.be/cxcB45K-24k?t=46): "It runs all the free software you need to get your work done". Then proceeds to show Neverball, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (a roguelike game), and either Minecraft or Minetest ;)
protoman3000 4y ago
I would pay the price of an iPhone + MacMini + Apple Tax if I can have an iPhone that turns into a MacMini when I connect it to a USB C dock. The M2 is there. Why can’t we have this?
- izacus 4y ago
  Because then you wouldn't be buying two (or even three devices). You can, of course, opt for a Samsung Galaxy phone and have that today, right now.
  - jrm4 4y ago
    Yeah, I think people don't appreciate the fundamental shift since Jobs; Apple is no longer an innovative company. I don't mean that as an insult, just an observation. "Taking chances" is not what they do anymore.
Linda703 4y ago
[dead]
AshamedCaptain 4y ago
> If we assume the best system module is faster than say a Raspberry Pi 4 (which seems optimistic), it'd still get absolutely walked by an 11-year old i5 (e.g., Tx20 generation Thinkpad which are coreboot-able these days). The GPDs come with actual intel Core based processors, not even Atoms. It would be interesting to see, but they probably are miles better than a 11 year old laptop CPU, they even advertise them for gaming.
- jeffbee 4y ago
  The choice of CPU appears to be some kind of deranged Euro-mysticism, as if making a portable in Germany with a Dutch CPU will somehow improve their privacy.
  - amatecha 4y ago
    I mean, it has nothing to do with where the hardware is from. It has a lot more to do with, say, the lack of questionable "features" like Intel Management Engine, and actual open specifications and broad support from existing open source drivers. Rather than speculating, read more about the choice of processor here: https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/reform/updates/re-introducing-reform https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/reform/updates/re-introducin... Edit: consider the fact that two noteworthy open-hardware-focused products are coming from a similar region of the world is more an indication of their understanding of the importance of privacy and openness, rather that some kind of "deranged" motives. :)
k_bx 4y ago
I am now serving in Ukrainian army and have to say something like this might be tempting in theory: no requirements being top performance, no need for camera etc The sad reality is that windows and x86 are a requirement due to a few specific software solutions, but I can see how this can become a go to for at least few kinds of users
Readywater 4y ago
I love the idea of these, but why one device vs usb-c mechanical keyboard + tablet. That combo of Plank keyboard + iPad Pro has proven absolutely killer for me as a portable and highly flexible work studio (design, write, Jupyter, and ssh-Ing).
- seltzered_ 4y ago
  > Plank keyboard + iPad Pro has proven absolutely killer for me Consider sharing your setup to https://www.reddit.com/r/ergomobilecomputers/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ergomobilecomputers/ , I've been doing similar with a Linux Tablet PC and a detached keyboard as my only machine after my MacBook died a year ago.
Copenjin 4y ago
I've followed on and off what Lukas has done over the years since the Amiga expansion board he did a few years ago, lot of fun projects, we should all do more of this kind of stuff.
luxuryballs 4y ago
I was like “who would really use this?” then I watched the video and by the half-way point I already wanted one.
throwaway787544 4y ago
I've been a long-time Linux user, but I couldn't care less if my mobile device runs it. Linux is just a kernel. I care about the functionality, UX, whether it followed ethical materials sourcing and assembly. It's great to be able to say your hardware/software is open, but it's not much use if it's a pain to use.
checkurprivlege 4y ago
SoftTalker 4y ago
Roller ball mouse? I guess there isn't much room for a trackpad but those roller balls accumulate dirt and get janky pretty quickly. A trackpoint such as on ThinkPad keyboards would be better.
aluminaient 4y ago
i hope that the screen is as modular as the rest of it. i am looking forward to swapping an aelectronic paper display, black and white or color. to the people writing off the keyboard, i don't think you know what you're talking about. it takes maybe a day to get used to this layout, and ortholinear is much more logical and comfortable than what most people are used to. the people complaining about the space bar are the most confused. wide space bars ourr a waste of space. you don't touch the whole thing anyway. some people have commented on shortcuts being in the wrong place, but this is also flawed thinking. for copycut and paste you can use your right thumb to press the modifier key or control. i just hope this is not too big to use with just two thumbs. my dream device is some keyboard wider than a blackberry style one. i miss my sidekick.

402 points by sohkamyung 4y ago

jonahbenton 4y ago

OMG WANT. Miss my old Sharp Zaurus.

pengaru 4y ago
I still have quite a collection of Sharp Zauruses (Zaurii?) in a box somewhere. It's so hard to believe how badly Intel fucked that up, first omitting floating point altogether when they replaced StrongARM w/XScale, then selling it off to Marvell just when mobile was becoming interesting. I digress...
- ornornor 4y ago
  I do too, a C860, pretty much new in its box. But I can’t find where to download software for it as it doesn’t have a working OS anymore. Any tips appreciated.
  - pengaru 4y ago
    That's something I've been meaning to spend time on eventually but never get around to. Maybe post somewhere on https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?board=179.0 https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?board=179.0 and see if anyone is still paying attention?
  - numpad0 4y ago
    You have an SL-C with corrupt firmware in 2022!? That's hard mode. There is a service menu that can be loaded by removing the battery and then plugging in AC while D + M is pressed down[1]. That lets NAND backups made and restored. This menu was brickable too. If that menu wouldn't load, an alternate pinout serial cable in conjunction with a command prompt flash tool can be plugged into Option Port 16 to load software, or so I think I heard in 2ch, definitely more than a decade ago. I vaguely remember the tool had camelcased name with an H, like HummingBird or HamsterWheel or something like that. If you need the full NAND files, they were not openly shared, nor the stock ROM loads were publicly distributed. Maybe pdaXrom custom firmware still has mirrors somewhere? Another factoid I remember is that the internal NAND was NOT wear leveled and the device could become unbootable if Kernel section of it become worn and unerasable(not unwritable, but erased bits comes back down apparently). The recommendation was to not touch the Kernel unless absolutely necessary, and a special minimal chainloader was used to relocate the Kernel if it's too late... that chainloader is probably lost to the Aether long ago. If "working OS" is so meant that the stock GUI and 2.4 kernel is simply outdated and no longer relevant, there were X/Qt XFree86 server app, Debian and Gentoo chroot filesystem zip somewhere, VNC and RDP client apps, PPP supports and few other options. swapon/swapoff binaries existed and worked. There could have been total replacement ROMs like a Maemo or Gtk-based GUIs but I don't remember any details about them. At best they must have been incomplete. 1: https://mobile.k05.biz/e/2015/08/service-menu.html https://mobile.k05.biz/e/2015/08/service-menu.html
    - pengaru 4y ago
      trisoft still hosts ROMs: https://trisoft.de/en_c860howto.htm https://trisoft.de/en_c860howto.htm Find other models linked in the left sidebar.
  - rmrfchik 4y ago
    I used to use pdaXrom distribution on my C860. Brings classic linux experience. Seems like pdaxrom.org doesn't not provide images anymore. Quick googling gives https://distro.ibiblio.org/pdaxrom/download https://distro.ibiblio.org/pdaxrom/download
usrn 4y ago
Everything since the Zaurus has been a regression.

causality0 4y ago

I love these odd devices. Not because I actually want one, but because diversity in personal electronics is important and the more there is the better the chance I'll get my dream device, which is a modern version of the Xperia play.

ghostpepper 4y ago

An OLED screen, a mechanical keyboard and a trackball are all cool ideas for hardware but I feel like software will be what makes or breaks this. Without a lot of low level tweaking I could see that 8000 mAh battery draining a lot faster than in an iPhone. I hope it succeeds though - would love to see a future where viable open source alternatives exist for mobile on par with what we had for desktops and have for laptops.

usrn 4y ago
As long as rtcwake works with memory suspend you can stretch the battery pretty far. That's essentially what Android does anyway.
throw10920 4y ago
> I feel like software will be what makes or breaks this This is pretty much the case. The Linux community attitude seems to be "build the hardware, and the software developers will come" - with pretty underwhelming results (which you can attribute to a lot of things, but I attribute to most developers who get these devices building toy apps instead of libraries, tooling, and documentation).

RL_Quine 4y ago

There's a whole lot of devices like this around at the moment but the keyboard layouts are painful. Their brand is "no spacebars included", but it absolutely rules out any serious use.

jancsika 4y ago
Good catch on that. It looks like there's a single regular-sized key for space, like some kind of fever-dream spacebar. :) Since it's hackable, I wonder if there's a way for the author to produce and ship a long spacebar that can be switched out for four or five of those keys at the bottom. I assume he has control over everything from the keyboard firmware to the OS, so it seems doable.
- chartreusek 4y ago
  It is, just like the regular full sized MNT reform. You can reprogram the keyboard firmware (or even get a different PCB made as some people have done for the regular one). Part of the limitations on the layout is making it fit in a standard size while using off the shelf keycaps. The full sized reform only uses 1u and 1.5u key caps so the row spacing is off, but it eliminated having a bunch of odd sizes. Which also meant the space bar was split in two. Honestly for such a small device there's always going to be compromises in the keyboard. Either excessively small keys, or non-standard layouts. Just look at any of the UMPC offerings from the late 2000s, the Pocket CHIP, or even more modern ones like the GPD handhelds.
rgoulter 4y ago
I'm currently using a 5x12 keyboard as is. I think seeing it in a smaller form factor is wonderful. One advantage to designs like this is the thumbs get to press more keys (2-3 each). I imagine that especially with such a small device, taking up a lot of space when the thumb is just going to press the spacebar in the same place anyway is a poor design choice. Maybe with the smaller form factor, there'd be more benefit to 'splitting' the 10 alphabetical columns so they're each on the outer 5 columns, which would mean the hands have more spacing between them.
mkj 4y ago

ghostly_s 4y ago

Never heard of this company but it seems they had the misfortune of launching an Open Hardware laptop around the same time as Framework but with a far poorer design.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
NoraCodes 4y ago
MNT made a mint on their CrowdSupply campaign, which launched before Framework was available. The devices address completely different markets.
nrp 4y ago
For what it's worth, we're glad to see MNT building the Reform and now PocketReform. We don't consider them competitors (especially in relation to the colossal incumbents in the PC space) and are happy to see them championing open hardware.
cookiengineer 4y ago
The MNT reform came way before the framework. Note that the framework isn't completely open source, it runs an Intel CPU so it's by definition running a proprietary blob. When it comes to MNT, this guy went as far as reverse engineering all SD card drivers, writing his own HID drivers, writing his own display drivers, implememting u-boot support for flashing the BIOS etc. Look at his github profile, it's kind of insane how he never gives up. [1] It's pretty serious in terms of being able to claim it's 100% open. I mean, even the batteries are standard ̶L̶i̶-̶I̶o̶n̶ 18650 LiFePO4 cells that can be replaced without soldering or anything. [2] Whereas with the Framework it's basically "just get a new mainboard" the very same as Apple's laptops are "repaired" these days, which I think is a shame...and they could've gotten much much further if they really wanted to. In terms of practicality though, it's always the RISC vs Intel debate. Different markets, different expectations. [1] https://github.com/mntmn?tab=repositories&q=reform https://github.com/mntmn?tab=repositories&q=reform [2] https://mntre.com/reform2/handbook/parts.html https://mntre.com/reform2/handbook/parts.html

ryukafalz 4y ago

I have the previous Reform and I’m very much looking forward to this one! It’s definitely an odd device, but in a charming way. (I use trackballs on all my other devices so it’s appreciated here!) And I like that all the schematics, firmware, etc are open for anyone to use. I don’t know of any other laptop on the market like that.

nilshauk 4y ago

I love that they included an ortholinear keyboard and open schematics. Definitely keeping my eyes on this.

murrayb 4y ago

I had a HP200LX back in the day, it was a great little machine and I taught myself rudimentary C primarily on it and have often yearned for a modern replacement.

ccbccccbbcccbb 4y ago

Is the code that runs inside ARM TrustZone open source too? Especially ROM code.

robert_foss 4y ago
I think it is to the extent these boards can be booted without TZ, which probably depends on which SOC vendor is used.
znvzxcvbnxcn 4y ago
The ARM Trusted Firmware is what typically runs in the secure world, and it is indeed open source: https://github.com/ARM-software/arm-trusted-firmware https://github.com/ARM-software/arm-trusted-firmware ROM code generally speaking is not open source, but has been dumped on occasion.

alfiedotwtf 4y ago

I miss my Sharp Zaurus. I'm glad we're finally getting something like them back again, along with 20 years of added tech!

stewbrew 4y ago

All these devices look as if the Psion 5 never existed. And they look old on arrival compared to that.

DoingIsLearning 4y ago
The Psion 5mx really felt like something of the future.
- Beltiras 4y ago
  I had a 5mx. Bought it for a business trip where I was making up an order from a wholesaler while examining the merchandise. Invaluable tool. Would have taken me a whole lot longer without it. Found it in storage the other day. Swapped in new batteries and turned it on and it lit up with no problems.
tluyben2 4y ago
Check the Astro Slide. Their entire collection is inspired by the Psion (and using the same designer I think), but the Slide looks like it could be a modern replacement. I was a big fan of the Psion.
- dasv 4y ago
  The similarity in the name to the lube brand has to be intentional, right?
- christefano 4y ago
  Link: https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/astro-slide https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/astro-slide
vanderZwan 4y ago
I had a friend who spent a year traveling around the world in the mid 2000s who said this was the absolutely perfect writing device for his blog. Nobody cares to steal it, and the fact that two AA batteries can power it for 10-20 hours means you don't have to worry about running out of electricity even in the most exotic of locations.

walrus01 4y ago

see also, the famous nokia 9000 and communicator series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_9000_Communicator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_9000_Communicator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_Communicator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_Communicator

CoastalCoder 4y ago

Trivial nitpick: In the photograph, the phone is displaying the message, "... and repairable by yourself." If your goal is to use traditionally correct grammar, use "you" rather than "yourself". More info here [0]. [0] https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-xpm-2012-09-05-ct-tribu-words-work-myself-20120905-story.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-xpm-2012-09-05-...

smokey_circles 4y ago
English Grammar is arbitrary and there is really no such thing as a "correct" form, only a formal one. Which is kind of elitist and disparaging imo. Ain't is my favorite example. It was considered proper English until the lower class started using it [0] I'm not against formal grammar but to grammar nazi everyday language is to be nothing more than an elitist pedant who presumes form to be more correct than function (which is only true in creative writing imo) [0] https://www.etymonline.com/word/ain't#etymonline_v_8076 https://www.etymonline.com/word/ain't#etymonline_v_8076
- CoastalCoder 4y ago
  If your point is to critique my comment, then I think it's misplaced. Note what I wrote: > If your goal is to use traditionally correct grammar, use "you" rather than "yourself".
rerx 4y ago
I don't think the article applies to this idiom. See for instance https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/by-yourself https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/by-your... > by yourself > PHRASE > If you do something _by yourself_, you succeed in doing it without anyone helping you. > "I didn't know if I could raise a child by myself."
- CoastalCoder 4y ago
  I'm afraid I'm not following your point. My understanding is that "yourself", "myself", etc. are reflexive pronouns. I.e., they're used when and only when referring to the very same person as the sentence's subject. The examples you mentioned fit that pattern. The message on the computer screen doesn't.

cik 4y ago

I'm fascinated, ongoingly by a Linux phone. I spent effort making many versions of the Sharp Zaurus cellular(ish) back in the day, even going as far as writing a sync tool for Evolution back in 2003. I'd love a Linux cellphone. My needs are very simple, and I'd love to know the state of anything that can (and with stability). 1. Be a decent phone (voice, sms) 2. Contacts/Mail/Calendar sync 3. Run android apps that require voice (Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, etc)? 4. Take pictures + videos (not even at a high level) 5. eSIM Everything else is gravy. But those 5 items are the base requirement that I personally have for a phone. Every time I dip in, it's at best unclear.

iforgotpassword 4y ago
What you want is an Android phone.
busymom0 4y ago
Which Linux specific features do you want though? Those features you listed seem available on iOS and android too.
- cik 4y ago
  I want the freedom to do whatever I want, and however I want to my machine. I can do all of this on my Android(s). I can install debian on my Android with x11 in a sandbox and work if I need to (and have). But what I want again - is freedom.
- tluyben2 4y ago
  I want to be able to replace my desktop. I don't need much power (most of the things that require performance I do on a remote machine anyway), so being able to do whatever with my phone on the road and then plug it into a monitor and have a desktop Linux would be perfect. The pinePhone can do but it cannot switch from Android to Linux that readily and also, I don't need much power, but the pinePhone is just really not good enough for anything I use a smartphone for (which is not calling).
  - 4y ago

HidyBush 4y ago

Linux handheld devices are mostly just toys for people a bit too excited and with too much disposable income. There might be a couple of uses, such as IT admin or on-location surveyor, where having a very small device with desktop functionalities and ports to plug in instrumentation could be useful. For the rest of us, smartphones really hit the nail of what people need to do with a pocketable device: the interface has to be simple, the features cannot be extensive and the battery should last quite a bit. I bought a PinePhone because I think it can succeed in being a smartphone with the right software, but I would never waste money on glorified PDAs because they seem useless to me regardless of their capabilities

numpad0 4y ago

Wouldn't you want the hinge either in line with the lid(traditional laptops) or shear force applied by lever arm(MacBook)?

fold3 4y ago

This article is already a few months old, Lukas just made an update today about the pocket reform: https://mntre.com/media/reform_md/2022-06-20-introducing-mnt-pocket-reform.html https://mntre.com/media/reform_md/2022-06-20-introducing-mnt...

ngcc_hk 4y ago

Got a few this kind of pocket one. From Sharp Zaurus, the version before transformer And in fact still waiting the transformer to be delivered. This one is great as a linux box to link to I hope, as I am still trying to find one. But it is a valid question raised in the linked article - where is the space bar. In fact you used to (other than some Japanese box) to have a big shift of the qwert not squarish. With that I think the user interface is ignored by the designer and would hurt them later. Personally I just use them as a lisp in a box for my ipad and hence it might be fine. Hence I would look into that as the old linux box is broken and the new one stil not delivered. But please whilst not everyone like Steve job, someone should sit and think like him on how customer use it. Please.

jhoelzel 4y ago

I really like this thank you! Back in the PDA days and even with blackberries, I always loved having a phsyical keyboard and the "flip phones" like the HTC Touch Pro 2 wher hands down my favorite phones. Now that everything else under the sun is dead and there basically only remains android and ios, I can tell you with a high probability that apple is never going to give me anthing like the HTC Touch Pro 2 ever again :/ I firmly believe -this- is the ultimate form factor for a phone, and the only reason I personally can get away with my iphone, is because it does autocorrect for what it thinks I type on the touch display.

loser777 4y ago

Ugh, every time I see a device like this (and even the larger Reform) I'm so tempted. But I learned my lesson form-factor wise with the GPD Win Max: even as a travel laptop it's painfully small after about a day or two of use. And the sad reality is that the performance-freedom tradeoff is still immense. If we assume the best system module is faster than say a Raspberry Pi 4 (which seems optimistic), it'd still get absolutely walked by an 11-year old i5 (e.g., Tx20 generation Thinkpad which are coreboot-able these days). Any kind of performance-critical stuff is clearly not the point, but it's hard to not think that smartphones have killed off this form-factor/performance tier for good reason. Makes a lot of sense as a Raspberry Pi with a screen and keyboard, but not really as a "laptop."

uniqueuid 4y ago
Absolutely. I have a clockwork pi devterm, which is arguably on the more usable end of the spectrum. In practice, the keyboard (and trackball) are much too small and cumbersome to use with joy. Another thing is that despite the very capable hardware (it has a rockchip along with plenty of RAM, I think 4 or 8GB), modern software just has so much latency. Perhaps we've been spoiled by today's ssds, but even cli software just feels much slower than what we're used to.
- selfhoster11 4y ago
  Actually I think that old CLI software is a bit faster on SSDs than modern CLI software. I would have to do some benchmarks to confirm this, but it certainly seems to be the case when booting older Linux distros on modern hardware.
- floren 4y ago
  I'm puzzled by the devterm, because it seems like if they had just made it the same size as a TRS-80 Model 100, it would have been perfect! Those were certainly portable too! Maybe they couldn't find a big enough screen?
  - RodgerTheGreat 4y ago

einpoklum 4y ago

From the article and the purchase link: Dimensions: 20 × 12.6 × 4.5cm Price: 1099 EUR It's an interesting initiative to be sure, but it doesn't fit in your pocket - neither physically nor financially.

uxcolumbo 4y ago
Pricey for what it is. I'd buy an old Thinkpad and put Linux on it. Or maybe get a Steamdeck. But still - important project - so I hope they can make it a success and they've done their market research.
- mikelovenotwar 4y ago
  This isn't even the same product, they posted a laptop, not the MNT pocket, hence their wildly different dimensions/specifications https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform
  - uxcolumbo 4y ago
    Ok thanks for clarifying. I thought the EUR 1099 price tag was for this pocket computer (PocketReform).
mikelovenotwar 4y ago
You can't have read the specs of the product in question, or the laptop product you've found. https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform https://shop.mntmn.com/products/mnt-reform

baybal2 4y ago

nivenkos 4y ago

Steam Deck seems like a better fit for most use cases.

branon 4y ago
Was thinking this too, it doesn't have a physical keyboard but it's got USB-C and all the rest. Got mine 2 weeks ago and have been absolutely loving it, feels like I've had it for years because it runs regular Linux just like all my other computers.

bullen 4y ago

Ok, that's better than their laptop! OpenGL ES 3!

pjmlp 4y ago
A 3D API specification released in 2011, based on mobile hardware from a decade ago, what an achievement!
detaro 4y ago
.... it has the exact same slot and SoM selection as the laptop.
- bullen 4y ago
  Sure but I cannot order the laptop with OpenGL ES 3... I'm not going to buy anything before I can get what I need...
  - detaro 4y ago
    It's a bit weird to call a future product "better" when it being "better" relies on availability of a SoM that you'll also be able to get with the Laptop when it becomes available. I very much doubt they'll sell the Pocket with SoMs they aren't also selling with the Laptop.

born-jre 4y ago

there is also dragonbox pyra[0], which has been very very slowing coming out of the cave. [0] https://dragonbox.de/en/45-handhelds/pyra/ https://dragonbox.de/en/45-handhelds/pyra/

t_mann 4y ago

Looks a bit like the 'Netbook' form factor that was popular 10-15 years ago. One thing makes me skeptical when looking at the design: it seems like quite a lot of the hardware is packed into the 'display' rather than the 'keyboard' part (can't tell where the battery is from the pictures), which might make the base a bit unstable.

aldrich 4y ago
Good point. I'm wondering whether they intend on placing the battery in the keyboard compartment, and perhaps carry the power wires next to the hinges. Can't really tell from the CAD renders, but I can imagine there may be some space still left there.

elliotpage 4y ago

I am very tempted by this but what is going on with that spacebar? The older I get the more I realise that what I really want is an updated Psion 5.

wastholm 4y ago
Something like this? https://store.planetcom.co.uk/ https://store.planetcom.co.uk/ No affiliation, just a (mostly) happy owner of a Gemini. They don't seem to sell those anymore and I can't vouch for the other models but they look nice too, I guess.

Saint_Genet 4y ago

It looks like it has a mechanical keyboard. I hope it's not loud, because any use case I can see for a device like this is pulling it up in a bar or café and firing of some quick stuff.

Tenoke 4y ago
Many mechanical keyboards are loud for a quiet office but would be hardly noticable in a louder place like a bar or even cafe.

anthk 4y ago

Too expensive. The Chinese should create a clone for $100/100 EUR.

zmix 4y ago

So, what's the use case for this?

megous 4y ago

As an author of pinephone keyboard firmware, I spent a bit of time thinking and trying to use keyboard like this. I can say that what hinders portability/serious use of all of these layout designs that try to emulate regular big keyboard is that they try to emulate big keyboard layout. That layout is made with an asumption that you have many fingers available, and that they can easily reach anywhere if you like. If you have only two thumbs available for typing, that can only reach about half the keyboard each (quite a hard limit!), you realize how asumptions this layout makes suddenly don't hold, and normal things like ctrl+a or alt+shift+1, or alt+shift+any arrow are almost impossible. Yes, you can modify the shortcuts in i3wm,screen,... (not Firefox, which is quite resistant to modifying keyboard shortcuts by design) specially for your "PDA". But if you just want a portable device you can painlessly migrate your tasks to for a few days a year, spending a lot of time designing shortcuts for your DE, or terminal multiplexer, is not that appealing. It would be probably more useful if key layout was designed from the start to allow various modifier combos to be invoked by dedicated keys, or layout designed so that more modifiers were symetricaly placed (or something even less traditional, and have all letter/number keys on the right and all modifier/modifier combos/special keys on the left), instead of wasting space on big enter key, or big spacebar (for which you may spend several HW iterations just to make those right and reactive on their whole surface), etc. Due to size, it's usually uncomfortable to press 3 key combos even with the keyboard laying on the table. Also comfortable position for the most comonly used keys (usually modifiers) is not on the edge of the keyboard. That's really pretty bad for your thumbs. The layout of these things just needs a lot more thought. Sad thing is, that if someone would spend a ton of research and thinking on making something usable and comfortable, most people would completely poopoo it as a freaky unusable layout, just because it would look unfamiliar, lol.

JadeNB 4y ago
> not Firefox, which is quite resistant to modifying keyboard shortcuts by design Do you have a Mozilla reference for this design principle? I've always wondered about this difficulty, but thought it was just an accident.
- megous 4y ago

fermigier 4y ago

In the promo video, at 0:46 (https://youtu.be/cxcB45K-24k?t=46 https://youtu.be/cxcB45K-24k?t=46): "It runs all the free software you need to get your work done". Then proceeds to show Neverball, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (a roguelike game), and either Minecraft or Minetest ;)

protoman3000 4y ago

I would pay the price of an iPhone + MacMini + Apple Tax if I can have an iPhone that turns into a MacMini when I connect it to a USB C dock. The M2 is there. Why can’t we have this?

izacus 4y ago
Because then you wouldn't be buying two (or even three devices). You can, of course, opt for a Samsung Galaxy phone and have that today, right now.
- jrm4 4y ago
  Yeah, I think people don't appreciate the fundamental shift since Jobs; Apple is no longer an innovative company. I don't mean that as an insult, just an observation. "Taking chances" is not what they do anymore.

Linda703 4y ago

[dead]

AshamedCaptain 4y ago

> If we assume the best system module is faster than say a Raspberry Pi 4 (which seems optimistic), it'd still get absolutely walked by an 11-year old i5 (e.g., Tx20 generation Thinkpad which are coreboot-able these days). The GPDs come with actual intel Core based processors, not even Atoms. It would be interesting to see, but they probably are miles better than a 11 year old laptop CPU, they even advertise them for gaming.

jeffbee 4y ago
The choice of CPU appears to be some kind of deranged Euro-mysticism, as if making a portable in Germany with a Dutch CPU will somehow improve their privacy.
- amatecha 4y ago
  I mean, it has nothing to do with where the hardware is from. It has a lot more to do with, say, the lack of questionable "features" like Intel Management Engine, and actual open specifications and broad support from existing open source drivers. Rather than speculating, read more about the choice of processor here: https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/reform/updates/re-introducing-reform https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/reform/updates/re-introducin... Edit: consider the fact that two noteworthy open-hardware-focused products are coming from a similar region of the world is more an indication of their understanding of the importance of privacy and openness, rather that some kind of "deranged" motives. :)

k_bx 4y ago

I am now serving in Ukrainian army and have to say something like this might be tempting in theory: no requirements being top performance, no need for camera etc The sad reality is that windows and x86 are a requirement due to a few specific software solutions, but I can see how this can become a go to for at least few kinds of users

Readywater 4y ago

I love the idea of these, but why one device vs usb-c mechanical keyboard + tablet. That combo of Plank keyboard + iPad Pro has proven absolutely killer for me as a portable and highly flexible work studio (design, write, Jupyter, and ssh-Ing).

seltzered_ 4y ago
> Plank keyboard + iPad Pro has proven absolutely killer for me Consider sharing your setup to https://www.reddit.com/r/ergomobilecomputers/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ergomobilecomputers/ , I've been doing similar with a Linux Tablet PC and a detached keyboard as my only machine after my MacBook died a year ago.

Copenjin 4y ago

I've followed on and off what Lukas has done over the years since the Amiga expansion board he did a few years ago, lot of fun projects, we should all do more of this kind of stuff.

luxuryballs 4y ago

I was like “who would really use this?” then I watched the video and by the half-way point I already wanted one.

throwaway787544 4y ago

I've been a long-time Linux user, but I couldn't care less if my mobile device runs it. Linux is just a kernel. I care about the functionality, UX, whether it followed ethical materials sourcing and assembly. It's great to be able to say your hardware/software is open, but it's not much use if it's a pain to use.

checkurprivlege 4y ago

SoftTalker 4y ago

Roller ball mouse? I guess there isn't much room for a trackpad but those roller balls accumulate dirt and get janky pretty quickly. A trackpoint such as on ThinkPad keyboards would be better.

aluminaient 4y ago

i hope that the screen is as modular as the rest of it. i am looking forward to swapping an aelectronic paper display, black and white or color. to the people writing off the keyboard, i don't think you know what you're talking about. it takes maybe a day to get used to this layout, and ortholinear is much more logical and comfortable than what most people are used to. the people complaining about the space bar are the most confused. wide space bars ourr a waste of space. you don't touch the whole thing anyway. some people have commented on shortcuts being in the wrong place, but this is also flawed thinking. for copycut and paste you can use your right thumb to press the modifier key or control. i just hope this is not too big to use with just two thumbs. my dream device is some keyboard wider than a blackberry style one. i miss my sidekick.