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MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

mnt.stanleylieber.com

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Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#41

Post by F3nd0 »

boesboes wrote: post #2

I've been looking into switching away from apple and try to buy more EU based services and products. I love the concept and might just buy one to support the project, but I want something sleeker for my daily use. So I'm considering slimbook & tuxedo atm as buy-from-eu options.

They’re also working on MNT Reform Next, which is the sleeker version. It should be coming soon-ish, so if you otherwise like (and can afford) the classic Reform, you might want to keep an eye on it.

https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/mnt-reform-next

Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#43

Post by seba_dos1 »

unleaded wrote: post #33
irusensei wrote: post #9

I think 1450 EUR for a 16GB RK3588 is hard to justify. Is the Rockchip open to begin with? I'd go for a framework using the Roma or CIX boards if I wanted to go for an "open hardware but not really" goal.

I thought it was an NXP i.MX? or did they make another revision

There are (were?) several SoC boards to choose from.

Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#44

Post by seba_dos1 »

ghighi7878 wrote: post #39
F3nd0 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MNT is entirely open hardware and much more free-software-friendly, right? If you care about stuff like freedom and autonomy in computing, and you have the money to spend, the Reform seems like a far better product to me.

What part of framework is less open than MNT?

Framework is perhaps well-documented, but it's not open. There are only pinouts, partial schematics and some MCAD stuff published for extension development but no ECAD designs.

Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#45

Post by chmod775 »

ghighi7878 wrote: post #39
F3nd0 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MNT is entirely open hardware and much more free-software-friendly, right? If you care about stuff like freedom and autonomy in computing, and you have the money to spend, the Reform seems like a far better product to me.

What part of framework is less open than MNT?

Lots of components from third parties, starting with the processors they use (Intel/AMD vs ARM processors).

Framwork is usability and performance first, openness second. MNT is the other way around.

Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#46

Post by scottlamb »

I ran across their trackpad [1] last night; it uses the same Azoteq TPS65 module as the keyboard I just bought. Unfortunately the module's discontinued. [2, 3] I guess people have been going through stockpiles of these given that the last manufacturing run was 2 years ago, but I note the MNT Reform Trackpad is listed as out of stock...

I'm wondering what they'll do to replace it. You can still buy the IQS550 chip it's based on and apparently make a very similar PCB. [4] The black frosted glass seems like more of a challenge for most DIY keyboard makers, maybe not for MNT. The replacement project I saw recommended "2mm thick matte acrylic".

[edit: or maybe the TPS65 manufacturing restarted? mouser apparently has it in stock. [5] although that's the A unit without the surface.]

[1] https://shop.mntre.com/products/mnt-reform-capacitive-trackp...

[2] https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/azoteq-pty-ltd/TP...

[3] https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus...

[4] https://github.com/geek-rabb1t/GR-Trackpad65

[5] https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Azoteq/TPS65-201A-S?qs=...

Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#49

Post by jogu »

ghighi7878 wrote: post #39
F3nd0 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MNT is entirely open hardware and much more free-software-friendly, right? If you care about stuff like freedom and autonomy in computing, and you have the money to spend, the Reform seems like a far better product to me.

What part of framework is less open than MNT?

MNT publishes everything: source code, schematics, complete BOMs, mechanical design files. You could produce one of their laptops, or any part of it, yourself through normal PCB suppliers like JLC and 3d print a case.

Reproducing what they have aside, you can also modify any aspect of it by remixing their designs. The most common example of this has been custom keyboard layouts (ergo, split, etc).

Re: MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany

#50

Post by ryukafalz »

Typing this from a Pocket Reform right now. The two non-work devices I use most often are this and the Reform 2, and I've upgraded both to various degrees over time. I plan to swap modules between them at some point soon so I can have the Pocket Reform be the faster of the two.

I should really write up a long-term review of this thing at some point, but overall I love it. It can be a bit rough around the edges at times, but it's also the coziest little machine I've used in a long time. (And seriously, having a mechanical keyboard in this form factor is great.)

I hope to keep using it long into the future, and the fact that it's open hardware (and that the batteries are standard off-the-shelf pouch cells, or 18650s for the full-size Reform) gives me hope that I will be able to.

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