ΜΝΤ A few months ago, we looked at MNT Reform, which seeks to bring the dream of fully open source hardware to an audience that does not want to design and build a laptop completely from scratch. Now, MNT is bringing its open source ethos to a second computer, a 7-inch “Pocket Reform” laptop reminiscent of the design of old clamshell pockets, just as the big Reform refers to the design of the massive ThinkPads of the ’90s . The Pocket Reform borrows many of the design impulses of the large Reform laptop, including a low-profile mechanical keyboard and trackball-based pointing device and a bulky, retro design. The device includes a 7-inch 1080p display, a pair of USB-C ports (one of which is used for charging), a microSD slot for storage expansion, and a micro HDMI port for connecting to a monitor while in the office. Advertisement Enlarge / The purple case of The Pocket Reform looks at least a little more elegant than the bulky black case of the full size Reform. ΜΝΤ Full-size Reform is an interesting exercise in open source hardware and software, although an open source computer makes many compromises that you do not need to make with a “closed” system. Our main complaint about the big Reform was its extremely slow ARM processor, which will not change for Pocket Reform, although MNT continues to work on slightly more powerful processor options. You can at least increase the device’s default 802.11ac Wi-Fi with a mobile modem and a SIM card. MNT has also been working to address some of our major reform grievances since we considered it, including the addition of reinforced metal side panels to cover the doors and a redesigned battery system that will not let the batteries discharge. if the laptop is completely disconnected. The version of Pocket Reform in the announcement is not yet ready for release and MNT says it represents “almost final specifications and design”. For users interested in the upcoming Pocket Reform early beta program, there is a newsletter subscription link at the bottom of the announcement.
