September 7th, 2024

MNT Pocket Reform – Unboxing and First Impressions

The MNT Pocket Reform is a durable, modifiable laptop with a mechanical keyboard and trackball. It offers promising performance but has inconsistent Wi-Fi and USB-C charging compatibility issues.

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MNT Pocket Reform – Unboxing and First Impressions

The MNT Pocket Reform is a compact, open-platform laptop that emphasizes durability, modifiability, and sustainability. It arrives in a simple, recyclable package and is designed for long-term use, reducing the likelihood of obsolescence. The laptop features a solid build with visible screws for easy servicing, and its metal case is expected to age well. The setup process is user-friendly, offering a choice between two windowing environments, Wayfire and Sway, with the reviewer opting for Sway due to its tiling capabilities. The keyboard, equipped with "Red Pro" mechanical switches, requires some adjustment but is praised for its thoughtful layout. A small trackball replaces the traditional touchpad, providing customizable functionality. Performance-wise, the Pocket Reform is expected to handle tasks efficiently, although the Wi-Fi connection has shown some inconsistency. The unique design includes a microcontroller that manages the keyboard and trackball, allowing for battery status checks without powering on the main system. Charging compatibility has been an issue with various USB-C chargers, but the included power supply works well. Overall, the reviewer expresses optimism about the Pocket Reform's potential as a versatile and long-lasting computing solution.

- The MNT Pocket Reform is designed for durability and modifiability.

- It features a mechanical keyboard and a small trackball for input.

- The laptop runs on an open platform with customizable firmware.

- Initial performance is promising, though Wi-Fi connectivity may need improvement.

- Charging compatibility with USB-C chargers has been inconsistent.

Link Icon 5 comments
By @yjftsjthsd-h - 5 months
> The Pocket Reform uses a USB-C PD power supply to recharge the batteries. I did not have any luck charging with my phone’s USB-C charger or the official Raspberry Pi USB-C power supply I had on hand.

Sounds like it needs a minimum power level to use the charger? That's annoying; having worked with machines that do it both ways, I really strongly prefer machines that let you at least trickle charge with anything you have handy. Hopefully firmware improvements can fix?

By @userbinator - 5 months
Looked like a nice machine until I saw the keyboard. What's with the ridiculous gaps between the keys? That's not just this machine, but many other laptops have gone this route in the past few years. The picture with the 3 laptops shows it clearly: the Reform has 60 keys, the eeePC has 80 keys in nearly the same amount of space, and the ThinkPad has 83 keys in a considerably wider space. Moreover, the latter two have reasonably standard layouts.
By @analognoise - 5 months
I was interested in these for the FPGA boards (you could replace the CPU carrier card with an FPGA board and write your own system), but they came in at €1600 for the smaller Kintex 7 and €2600 for the larger one - a complete nonstarter.
By @rozenmd - 5 months
iFixit did a teardown video the other day: https://youtu.be/QdZoK3MfV28