MNT Reform DIY Laptop (opens in new tab)

Hi,

this is where I regret not having updated that particular page in a longer time. While the goals remain the same, we have almost finished a complete redesign of the project.

Here are some updates: https://mntre.com/media/news_md/2019-05-20-reintroducing-ref...

In the flesh:

https://mastodon.social/@mntmn/102903623346043604

https://mastodon.social/@mntmn/102872674526072643

https://mastodon.social/@mntmn/102720152037379092

There are many work-in-progress pictures when you go to https://mastodon.social/web/accounts/35156/media

If you prefer Twitter, I also post a lot of updates about the project there (@mntmn).

Updated technical specs:

CPU: NXP/Freescale i.MX8M with 4x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.5GHz), 1x Cortex-M4F core

RAM: 4GB LPDDR4 memory

GPU: Vivante GC7000Lite GPU with

Display: Full HD (1920x1080 pixels) 12.5" IPS eDP display. Optional HDMI port

USB: 3x USB 3.0 external, 2x USB 2.0 internal (for input devices)

Networking: Gigabit Ethernet port. Optional miniPCIe WiFi card

Storage: Internal M.2 socket for NVMe SSD. Full size SD Card slot

PCIe: 1 miniPCIe port

Keyboard: Slim Mechanical USB Keyboard with Kailh Choc Brown Switches, FOSS Firmware

Trackball (Option): Reform Optical USB Trackball with 5 Mechanical Switches (Kailh Choc Brown), FOSS Firmware

Trackpad (Option): Reform Capacitive USB Trackpad Enclosure: Modular case from CNC milled, black anodized aluminum 6061 and semi-transparent acrylic (bottom cover, bezel)

Sound: Wolfson ADC/DAC (WM8731), Stereo Speakers, 3.5" headset/microphone jack (no internal microphone) Camera: No camera

Battery: Safe LiFePO4 battery technology. Owner serviceable 8x 18650 cells totalling 12Ah/3.2V. Estimated 5h battery life.

System Controller: NXP LPC11U24 ARM Cortex-M0 chip with FOSS Firmware and hackable expansion port Manual: Printed Operator Manual incl. system schematics and full parts list

Sources: KiCAD sources for motherboard, keyboard, trackball, trackpad, STEP/STL/FreeCAD files for case parts, C sources for all firmware (input devices and system controller), build scripts for boot & system image

OS: Preloaded with Debian GNU/Linux 10, Linux 5.x mainline kernel

Weight: ±1.5kg (TBD)

The beta units were 600 euros, while the chipset is $87.

Meanwhile an Acer Aspire E 15 for $600 gives you a $297 CPU and $70 graphics card.

I guess there is some overhead because the beta was 10 units not a hundred thousand units, but still. You might as well get a Raspberry Pi and a portable screen and stick them in a box. It's half the price and you can use the components for other things after you get bored.

> Reclaim your privacy and security: No microphone, camera or management engine

The nice thing about Libre laptops is the camera + microphone have a hardware switch, so it's not either/or. They also claim to have neutered the management engine.

Regardless this project looks cool and is obviously a different approach to Libre.

To what extent have you consulted the mechanical keyboard community? There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience about keyboard layout, electronics, software, hardware, etc. and it is not obvious to me that a community design would closely resemble what you are using. I recommend posting to https://reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards, https://geekhack.com, and https://deskthority.net, and possibly reaching out directly to some of the most experienced individuals, if you have not already done so. The keyboard has been an important part of the success of at least one major laptop brand.

Crowd supply campaign: https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/reform/updates/re-introducin...

I would rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon that look at that eye-sore of a "computer". This is 2019, not COMDEX 1988. C'mon people.

I think if a specialised workshop can assemble a better laptop will be nice. It can open in business for those specialist who can use machining and specialities skills to quickly assemble a laptop for customers based on their choices and design.

Like in the good old days corner stores and shops can assemble pc’s. Larger assemblers like HP, Dell and Apple killed that market but I feel it will be a good time to restart it. Like vinyl took over CD sales representing going back in time.

Hopefully this can be done for mobile phones as well with advancement in technology and standards. We need IBM PC kind of open and free as in freedom standards in laptop and mobile phones on hardware level.

Why have mSATA or MiniPCIe on a 2018/2019 design? M.2 replaced both of those as of literally years ago, and anything remotely modern is only available in that format. mSATA is flat out dead and MiniPCIe has very few modern offerings.

It's not like there's a meaningful hardware difference, it's just a different slot pinout for the same technologies, but one's the modern standard and the others are outdated trash.

This should have two M.2 B-keyed and one M-keyed slot rather than the three legacy slots it has. And really, if I were in charge, it would have two M-keyed slots and only one B-keyed for WWAN. The SSD slot should be a M-keyed PCIe slot, not SATA nonsense. SATA is for spinning rust, PCIe NVMe is for SSDs.

Does anybody know the expected price point? This is quite exciting and is exactly what I'm looking for, but I imagine the price point will be too high to justify replacing my high-spec working laptop with this lower-end device.

The chrome browser on the screenshot makes me suspicious :) Otherwise cool project.

Will you be at FOSDEM 2020? Would be nice to see a presentation and the actual hardware. https://fosdem.org/2020/

This is fantastic. It looks like we're approaching the territory of being able to easily build our own laptops from scratch. That will go a long way to preventing lock-in!

More libre hardware. Excellent!