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

mnt.stanleylieber.com

111–118 of 118 posts

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

#111
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

RK3288 was true open source. It boots with just u-boot and no blobs. DDR init was done by u-boot code and armv7 didn't require a TEE. RK3588 is "almost" open. It boots with mainline u-boot and device tree from the Linux kernel, but needs two blobs: the DDR training blob and the trustzone blob (BL31). It can run without a TEE OS. I recently heard that the BL31 is now open source, but I didn't look into it. Mainline ke…

What about in kernel binary blobs? Would something like GNUs linux-libre work on it?

mali_csffw.bin - see my other answer.

Xorg works, it uses the generic modesetting driver which is accelerated by Mesa panfrost driver, but like I said, with stuttering and temporary freezes when I move the mouse. It happens in all apps: moving windows, vkgears, glxgears, mpv video playback, but "mpv -vo gpu -hwdec=vaapi" started from console plays fine, very smooth. I didn't try Xlibre or wayland.

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

#112
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.

[flagged]

EU based products ? Can you name some ?

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

#113

Hi! I actually have, and have been using as my main device, an MNT Pocket Reform, and at one point was using an MNT Reform. MNT's devices are honestly kinda incredible. I can't recommend them for everyone yet , though that will change soon. Both of them are a kind of "laptop of theseus"; you can open and change and repair them, and honestly I have. Both device's guts are dramatically different than where they started…

> Hi! I actually have, and have been using as my main device, an MNT Pocket Reform, and at one point was using an MNT Reform.

I think the question here is "main what" device? Looking at the MNT reform alone:

I can't use it as a dev laptop (tiny screen, orthlinear keyboard)

I can't use it as my main web browser (4GB RAM isn't going to be enough)

So, that leaves it for uses where I need a small computer for doing something quick (emergency ssh for my site, for example).

For the Pocket Reform, there's even fewer use-cases. I'd love a rockchip based laptop that

1. Takes 18650 batteries

2. Has 16GB+ of RAM

3. Has mechanical keys in a regular layout

4. Has at least a 14-inch screen.

The form factor is what decides what the device is good for, and a form factor of a laptop but still being unsuitable for what laptops are used for is a puzzling product decision to me.

I mean, I am looking through this entire post you made. Quite a large post extolling the virtues, and yet I don't see one single point about what you use it for :-/

Look through all the comments - I don't see people explaining what they use it for.

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

#114

Hi! I actually have, and have been using as my main device, an MNT Pocket Reform, and at one point was using an MNT Reform. MNT's devices are honestly kinda incredible. I can't recommend them for everyone yet , though that will change soon. Both of them are a kind of "laptop of theseus"; you can open and change and repair them, and honestly I have. Both device's guts are dramatically different than where they started…

> Hi! I actually have, and have been using as my main device, an MNT Pocket Reform, and at one point was using an MNT Reform. I think the question here is "main what " device? Looking at the MNT reform alone: I can't use it as a dev laptop (tiny screen, orthlinear keyboard) I can't use it as my main web browser (4GB RAM isn't going to be enough) So, that leaves it for uses where I need a small computer for doing some…

have you checked the MNT Reform Next?

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

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Well said! Those Europeans with their tariffs, and their stupid motto "make Europe great again"! Oh wait...

Just because it is too subtle for you to notice doesn't mean it isn't there

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

#118
post #10

It's an interesting concept, but perhaps a bit financially and environmentally wasteful, when you can get a 10 year old ThinkPad for 10% of the price that will perform roughly as well as this one. We don't need to bring more low-powered laptops into this world.

One day we will actually run out of "old" ThinkPads. They are already quite pricey in a lot of places in the world - especially the ones with libreboot support.
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