I meant the cost difference of having a version that has the mobile capabilities and one that doesn’t. For example, In the past, I specifically bought an iPad with cellular capabilities just in case. I found that I could have saved a lot of money if I got the model that didn’t have that capability because I ended up not ever needing it.
I’m more privacy minded so I prefer not to have it at all in the pro model but have the ability to add it for the others that may need/want it. Non-pro models usually would not come with that flexibility but in this case, atm, the only difference from the pro and non-pro are memory and disk size. To make that mobile differentiation may create more cost in manufacturing two different boards.
Those decisions will be made after careful considerations avoiding as much as possible multiple products with huge differentiations. The number of sales will show whether it is possible to fund further models. The phone has been able to give many revisions. It’s all theoretical for now.
Welcome to our community!
Yes, to both. We’re getting that promise from MediaTek and the integrator they hired for the linux part.
The mandate is to get everything working, as it will on Android. We will communicate a linux roadmap in due course. One of the main reasons for selecting the g720 by MediaTek (and not a way cheaper alternative such as Rockchip 3588) was the strategic importance for MediaTek to run linux on it - this is their latest high end IoT chip. Most of their customers for the chip will run Linux. Obviously, the camera won’t beat iPad, but it will not be crap.
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The cost impact is not too significant. We’re not exactly sure of how many users would want to have mobile connectivity. When we’re in doubt, we try to make it optional. Our objective is also to build a multi-purpose product that doesn’t needs as little variations as possible, while also being relevant for years to come.
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Amazing news, thank you! I will certainly pre-order when it’s ready!
Ditto - this is my preferance, however…
Agreed, I’d be happy with M2 cellular option however:
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If it occupies the only M2 slot would be concerned about storage capacity expansion capability if used in laptop replacement role (as SD Card slot may only partially satisfy this need), and
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Would there be option to have this purchased and ideally preinstalled at purchase, rather than have to source elsewhere and manually install it after delivery.
If M2 option used that could be a distinction, Pro has M2 Cell module included and installed while the standard one doesn’t?
Low tech question….which port will serve as the ethernet connection
Any of the two usb-c 3.2
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I also voted for cellular via M.2 *on the assumption that there will be two (2) M.2 slots.* If there’s only one M.2 slot then I definitely vote for integrated.
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I am new to all things concerning phones. I know what an M.2 slot is, but associate it with memory modules, mostly. What kind of device is it that people are talking about that will enable the Open Slate to have a cellular function?
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M2 slots can have nearly anything. The most common use at present in consumer market is probably SSDs for fast storage. As you note can also be used sometimes for memory in some situations (and also some other things). In this case it’ll be a modem radio module for cellular (that will take a physical SIM or support eSim use).
In crude terms the M2 format is simply motherboard infrastructure to support PCIe connectivity to maximise speed; so pretty much anything can use it.
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Will it support Tap to Wake on Android?
I want to repeat this question as I possibly missed the answer..
Can this device use sim and ESim and make cellular calls on 4g network like a regular phone?
An additional question, will there be dual-boot capability?
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No, natively it can’t, you will need a cellular modem attached internally on the M.2 slot or through a USB dongle.
Dual boot is not working for the moment but it is planned for the future.
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Welcome to our community.
Tap to wake will be supported on Android - both by finger touch and pen touch.
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On Brax3 we only have a feature to double-tap the status bar to turn off the screen but I have noticed that it happens in other areas of the screens randomly.
That’s an absolute interesting device.
I was thinking about changing from my 2012 macbook pro, which got now some display issues, to a lenovo x1 carbon (like rob in one of his vids recommended), and change to linux. And, because of my age (<60), my eyes get a bit weaker, want to connect it to a monitor.
Will the open_slate be able run a monitor?
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yes, this is supported (via DP or microHDMI).
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Adding clarification regarding mounting a 5G network module, since it was asked a few times.
I can see how this could affect your vote. If it did change it, feel free to change your vote in the poll.
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Please replace the microHDMI with a full size HDMI! microHDMI is an abomination that should have never seen the light. It’s unusable especially for mobile devices as the connector is poorly designed and prone to breaking.
Please change at least one of the USB-C 2 ports to a standard USB-A. Most of the devices still use USB-A so it doesn’t make sense to have 5 USB-C ports and only one USB-A. The point is - you want to use as little adapters as possible on mobile devices as every one of them is decreasing the mobility of the device.
It’s a pity there’s no LAN port, because if you’re privacy oriented, why to use WiFi in the first place. if there’s absolutely no way to include it then I guess that’s the only one that is manageable with an adapter to USB-C.
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