MNT Reform Next
www.crowdsupply.com
A new 12.5" open hardware laptop that is future-proof, modular, and highly performant

“A new 12.5” open hardware laptop that is future-proof, modular, and highly performant"

Mechanical Keyboard Details

  • Standard stagger, 80 keys
  • Kailh Choc Brown switches
  • N-key rollover
  • Layout: QWERTY-US, laser-etched legend (international keycap sets available)
  • Custom MBK Glows keycaps by FKcaps
  • Customizable RGB backlight
  • Raspberry Pi RP2040 controller
  • OLED screen for system control functions
  • Open source firmware
  • redshift@lemmy.ml
    1·
    2 hours ago

    I’d buy one of these today if the screen were bigger than 12.5". I wouldn’t be able to read anything on that. Scaling everything is not a realistic option.

  • normalexit@lemmy.world
    41·
    10 hours ago

    The project sounds neat, but when I saw the thumbnail I was wondering why someone posted about a 1995 Thinkpad. I don’t think I could go back to a thick laptop, even if the screen is tiny.

    I’d probably go for a framework laptop with a keyboard in my bookbag, but that’s just me.

    • jevans ⁂@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      This laptop certainly isn’t for everyone. I currently have a Framework as my daily, and it’s nice. I won’t be getting this because I just can’t justify the cost. I did, however, order a Pocket Reform, which I am very excited for. My goal is to eventually go from android phone to dumbphone for emergencies + pocket reform.

  • Shifty Eyes@leminal.spaceOPEnglish
    6·
    14 hours ago

    I’m most excited for the split spacebar and the customizable key layout.

    However they’ve made it really annoying to swap out the keycaps, due to the wonky sizes. MNT calls them “1u” in documentation but the cake is a lie.

    Custom MBK Glows keycaps by FKcaps

    • Circle key - 1.5U
    • Backspace - 1.5U
    • Tab - 1.5U
    • Right CTRL - 1.75u
    • Enter - 1.75u
    • Shift x2 - 1.25u
    • Hyper/Function - 1.25u
    • Super - 1.5u
    • Right ALT - 1.5u
    • Left Space - 1.5u
    • Middle Space - 2u
    • Right Space - 1.5u
    • Right Arrow - 1.5u

    I really wish they stuck to just 2-3 sizes, 1u, 1.5u, and 2u instead of all these inbetween sizes 1.25u, 1.75u. It really makes changing out the keycaps challenging, you pretty much have to get keys custom printed if you want the led backlight to shine through, or just use blank keys or lasered keys if you don’t mind the lack of backlight.

    The good news is it is all open-firmware and hardware, so you could just make your own custom keyboard and stick it in the case.

    • tankplanker@lemmy.world
      3·
      12 hours ago

      The keyboard has me interested as I cannot stand modern laptop keyboards being a big mechanical keyboard fan.

      I would hope that they would do the option to solder your own switches as I am not the biggest fan of the browns plus I would really want to lube my switches.

      They seem to make the PCB opensource so I guess I could just get a PCB printed and do it myself but its extra expense. However I would be very tempted to redesign the layout as I really do not like that layout at all as it has way too many keys for me to be useful. I also prefer 3u/1u/3u for my space-bar setup.

      As its using v2 chocs it should take DSA MX stem keycaps without it fouling the screen but I would like that confirmed from them. As I already have a ton of 40% keyboards I have a number of DSA sets that would fit as those sizes are pretty standard for “normal” mechanical keyboards.You would lose the shine thru but I see that as a bonus

      Final thing, it would have been nice if it was running QMK via VIAL for the keyboard, would make it easy for me to port my standard map to it. However I do like that you can configure the keyboard directly, always prefer that to having to remap in Linux.

    • jevans ⁂@lemmy.mlEnglish
      3·
      15 hours ago

      I’m pretty sure the older version of their keyboard had fewer key sizes, but they moved away from that to make the stagger between the rows closer to what people are used to.

  • hope@lemmy.world
    51·
    15 hours ago

    Does anyone find trackpads like this usable on small laptops?

    Personally, I don’t think they should make laptops bigger than 13", and the laptops 13" and smaller really benefit from the mouse buttons being above the trackpad rather than below, and those trackpoint nubs actually become really nice.