MNT Research Targets February Launch for Open, Modular Reform Version 2 Laptop Crowdfunder

MNT Research has announced plans to open crowdfunding for a revised Version 2 of its open hardware, modular laptop design — the MNT Reform — some time next month, promising improved hardware that "can be used to get real work done."

We first covered MNT's open Reform laptop design two years ago, when Lukas F. Hartmann's design was powered by an NXP Semiconductor i.MX6QP system-on-chip (SoC) and a 3D-printed case made of eight separate pieces. Since then, MNT has been at work revising the design — and has now taken the wraps of the MNT Reform Version 2, boasting of improved hardware and a considerably faster assembly process.

"I'm typing this on a MNT Reform version 2, motherboard revision 2," Hartmann writes in his announcement. "Almost exactly one year has passed since we finished the previous big incarnation of Reform (which we call version 1). Back then, it was powered by i.MX6 and we needed at least a full day to assemble one. The new Reform has a much simpler architecture, more power, a bigger 1080p eDP display, a keyboard with a satisfying writing experience, and it can be used to get real work done. It can be assembled in half an hour (given populated PCBs)."

The revised hardware is now based on the more powerful NXP i.MX8M SoC, a considerable upgrade from the original design, though retains the same 4GB of RAM. The Boundary Devices Nitrogen8M system-on-module into which the SoC is installed, meanwhile, includes an Atheros AR8035 Ethernet MAC and mates to a custom aluminium heatsink which Hartmann claims completely eliminates the need for a cooling fan.

The latest version of the motherboard includes a power charger with seamless power switching for the eight LiFePO4 cells which run the system, an NXP LPC11U24 Arm Cortex-M0 microcontroller for power monitoring, a Texas Instruments SN65DSI86 DSI to embedded DisplayPort (eDP) converter — chosen, Hartmann explains, to avoid shipping a binary blob with the as-open-as-possible design by bypassing the internal HDMI and DisplayPort blocks in the i.MX8M — a TI TUSB8041 USB hub to expand the SoC's twin USB 3.0 ports, a Wolfson/Cirrus WM8731 audio DAC, NVMe-compatible M.2 M-key storage slot, and an mPCIe slot for additional hardware.

The 3D-printed case design is gone, replaced with an aluminum chassis designed by Ana Dantas and which comes in five CNC-milled parts: The screen back; screen front; and the main box, with separate top and bottom sections. All are held together using M2 screws with Phillips heads, aside from M4 screws for the hinge assemblies. The keyboard, too, is all-new, using an 80-key low profile design with a split space bar and Kailh Choc mechanical switches — plus an 128x32 OLED display panel, hooked directly into the system controller.

Finally, the display has been upgraded to an Innolux N125HCE-GN1 12.5" IPS eDP panel, offering 24-bit color and a 1,920x1,080 (Full HD) resolution. "It is sharp, bright and a pleasure to do text work on," Hartmann claims. "It has a great color gamut for watching movies, as well," aided by stereo speakers located beneath the display unit.

Hartmann has confirmed plans to open crowdfunding for the revised design some time in February, and is expecting to offer a range of reward types from a motherboard-only option through to a fully-assembled unit with pre-installed 1TB SSD and Wi-Fi add-ons. "In early 2020, we pre-sold a small number of Reform version 2 beta devices to early adopters to test our supply chain, assembly process and to get some valuable last-minute feedback before shipping the final revision to Crowd Supply backers," Hartmann explains. "In parallel, we are finishing the texts, imagery and video for the campaign along with nailing down the options and pricing, with the goal of launching the campaign in February 2020."

More information is available on the MNT Research blog, while interested parties can register on the Crowd Supply page to be informed when the campaign goes live.