Open_slate MEGATHREAD

[braxfan123]

256 GB is too small to replace a full laptop, which is my goal. One less device to carry around is huge. If the integrated 5G comes at the loss of the extra M2 slot for expanded SSD storage, that is a strong NO for me.

[plamen]

@mindblossom

Does this mean that the SSD can be upgrade to 512 or 1024 GB? Would this be to replace the current SSD or as a second SSD meaning two drives total?

It will be a slot for an additional SSD.

@mindblossom

so wait, there was no HDMI listed in the specs at the top of this megathread. Are you saying that you will now have a microHDMI port, allowing direct connections to TV LCD panels with full sized HDMI input ports?

I just corrected the specs. microHDMI port is included.

@mindblossom

if dual boot becomes available later, will we be able to implement that on an existing slate device or will we need to purchase a new one that supports dual boot?

You will be able to dual boot on the first gen of open_slate.

[braxfan123]

Will you provide a guide as to how to choose the best OS, among the ones you will offer, for my needs?

[braxfan123]

Are the graphics card/chip specs expected to be strong enough to run modern PC games? How do they compare to the integrated graphics functionality in an latest generation Intel chip (not a dedicated graphics card/chip) ?

[dobby]

Hi!

As I understand it’s fanless tablet, so something similar to Brax3.
open_slate specs:

@plamen

CPU - MediaTek Genio 720 (MT8391AV, 6 nm)

• 2× Cortex-A78 @ 2.6 GHz
• 6× Cortex-A55 @ 2.0 GHz
• Geekbench 6: ~1074 (single) / ~2441 (multi)
• AnTuTu: ~600k+

@plamen

GPU - Arm Mali-G57 MC2 @ 1.1 GHz

• OpenGL ES 3.2
• Vulkan 1.1
• OpenCL 2.2

Brax3:

@plamen

CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 6300
Cores: Octa-core (2X Arm Cortex-A76 up to 2.4GHz, 6X Arm Cortex-A55 up to 2.0GHz)
Frequency: up to 2.4GHz
GPU: Mali-G57 MC2

Geekbench 6: 742 (single) / 1987 (multi) https://browser.geekbench.com/search?q=brax3

Open_slate CPU is a bit faster. Looks like brax3 and open_slate have same GPU. I haven’t tried any games on brax3 but you can test different games and can get info what you can run on open_slate.
Open_slate PRO has 16GB RAM and ubuntu may change things a bit.
Hope it will help. Maybe someone can give better reply.

[Terry]

Plamen - Forgive me, my ignorance is vast… I have heard of microHDMI devices, but don’t know of, or have seen, anything that actually uses them. What are the types of things that use such a small port? I have seen photos of the plug, and it is TINY!

[george]

You use a converter cable. The pins should be 1-1 so no circuitry is needed.

[Mycenius]

@jf-13

It does seem I overlooked the specs. Thank you for catching me on that!

@jf-13

But the remark is still relevant, namely about proposing a single configuration:
16 Gb RAM + 128 Gb storage

1. The storage is easily extendable.
2. The product is not meant to be the user’s primary device and cloud storage will be used in most cases.

I’d tend to disagree, at least for my envisioned use, on the grounds that:

1. Extendable Storage: As discussed in thread above, the storage, while extendable, may be a choice between a second SSD or Cellular Mobile module (not both) for the single M2 slot. So even if there is an option to also stick in 256GB (or perhaps larger) SD Card you would still want more than 128GB of SSD if you planned to make this a laptop substitute for many use cases…

2. Cloud Storage: I have to disagree, and don’t want a device that’s reliant on cloud storage being used and would argue it may not be the “used in most cases” scenario. This is intended to be a privacy device so the majority of mainstream cloud providers aren’t desirable to use, and for ultimate privacy you wouldn’t use one at all (or at least only a Nextcloud type solution possibly restricted to your home LAN).

So just my 2c I would want the device to have reasonable ‘capability’ to have sizeable amount of storage if desired, going with minimal integrated SSD capacity onboard handicaps that, especially if there will only be one M2 slot and no cellular onboard on SoC so if you need the latter you can’t add any of the former (additional SSD drive). Some people may not need large amounts of storage but others may - especially those leaning towards substitute Laptop usage…

If it ends up it has one M2 slot and no integrated cellar then I’d say you definitely want 256GB storage onboard, regardless of cost.

3. Everyone will have slightly different use cases, but (a) my experience over a long time is when getting mobile devices (phones/tablets/laptops) to always get more than you think you need (RAM, Storage, etc) as this prolongs life of device, but also avoids needing expensive upgrades of components in future as people often underestimate what they need (I know some people argue the opposite and say they usually over estimate - but in this case we are talking a device most people are hoping to keep for at least 4-5 or more years (hopefully more) rather than normies looking to replace it in 2 or 3). It also improves potential resale value as it gets older if that’s a consideration. And (b) as above a vast majority here will buy it for primarily privacy and to some degree also security reasons then it needs to have some capability to operate ‘off grid’ successfully, and if being pitched as more than just a tablet - i.e. a combo tablet and light laptop substitute - it needs to also have more onboard storage capacity to support that.

Your config might work for me if it was also:

16GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Onboard 5G Cellular, M2 supports at least 500GB SSD, plus ideally a 256GB or higher SD Card slot.

But if no onboard cellular and only 128GB storage that’s too small IMO, even with 256GB+ SD Card support. Especially if running Linux and using as a Laptop replacement and all that implies for desktop type use.

FWIW I’m coming at this hoping (but not necessarily expecting) this will potentially replace my standard iOS iPad (~11") now and eventually my (Asahi Linux) M1 MacBook with a single device; that I can use for quite some time all going well. So will eliminate the need to eventually replace the MacBook with a dedicated Linux Laptop sometime down the track.

@braxfan123

If the integrated 5G comes at the loss of the extra M2 slot for expanded SSD storage, that is a strong NO for me.

No that won’t be the case from what’s said so far - it’s the other way around - if it’s integrated you’ll have the M2 slot still available for other uses; e.g. SSD storage, etc. If it’s not integrated then you’d need to use the M2 slot for a 5G module if needed; so then no capacity remains for a second SSD. If like me you want both cellular and second SSD options then you want to support having an integrated 5G Cellular module included rather than it shipping with no cellular function.

[braxfan123]

I think Ape’s comments about the microHDMI port fragility are valid. Can you comment on this? Also, if I were to use the DisplayPort instead, is it easy to find an HDMI adapter for this to then connect to a full HDMI input port on an LCD TV or would that not work?

[neo21]

Excellent. Is there any ability to create a Brax 3.1 Pro with a significantly improved display? Better camera? Better 3.5mm low volume audio?

There is something optically wrong with the Brax3 display that really hurts my eyes. Maybe there’s some internal reflecting going on between layers that doesn’t allow my eyes to focus as well as it does on OLED laptop displays and my watch. I never had this problem on CRTs, old fashioned LEDs, but some of the newer displays do this.

[neo21]

Totally agree on Cloud reliance. As in… there should be absolutely no reliance on cloud services. The only ones that should be pushed are ones you can host yourself at of your own house. Anything that is “someone else’s computer” should be DOA unless a user specifically opts to destroy their security and privacy posture.

[Zack]

Ditto. Mini HDMI is truly a monstrosity that should’ve never seen the light of day. I wanted to comment on it tbh, but I stayed quiet because I incited the last poll on the 5G module and esim situation loool. But tbh if we’re going to do proprietary, might as well be HDMI 2.0 at minimum, don’t know if they can do 2.1b or 2.1. BUT from my limited understanding and time in the open source world (3 years give or take). I believe display port might be a better option if the Brax devs feel the need for a dedicated display port. All in all I think we can all live without it as we have Type C Display Port already stamped onto the proposed design.

[Mycenius]

@Zack

All in all I think we can all live without it as we have Type C Display Port already stamped onto the proposed design.

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(some ASCII art to meet the character minimum)

[phobos]

Hello all.

Just joined the community to hopefully vote in the next design poll for the open_slate.

Really excited for the device in general!

[george]

Regarding the screen try to use the night light and set it to as much red shift as you can tolerate or use the polymer yellowish glasses designed for screens.

You can also change the icons and the style to some “warm” single colour through the wallpaper settings.

The blue light eye straining can kick in randomly and stay forever.

[ir0nh3at]

@Zack

Ditto. Mini HDMI is truly a monstrosity that should’ve never seen the light of day. I wanted to comment on it tbh, but I stayed quiet because I incited the last poll on the 5G module and esim situation loool. But tbh if we’re going to do proprietary, might as well be HDMI 2.0 at minimum, don’t know if they can do 2.1b or 2.1. BUT from my limited understanding and time in the open source world (3 years give or take). I believe display port might be a better option if the Brax devs feel the need for a dedicated display port. All in all I think we can all live without it as we have Type C Display Port already stamped onto the proposed design.

I agree - MicroHDMI is the devil. Either full size HDMI, or just use DP compatible USB-C if I’m going to need to carry an adapter anyway.

[jf-13]

Yes, it is ok to disagree since every one is his own use case, as you said. I was just trying to suggest what could be a common denominator that would keep the price in the confort zone with a single model to keep in stock.

But to give my 2 pennies on your 2 cents:

1. 5G is a fringe use case for a privacy device IMO. It surely shouldn’t be determining other parts of the architecture, like how much storage to embark. And since it is easy to share the connection from a mobile phone, I’m not sure what the use case may actually be.

2. About the cloud not being private:

   That’s the point. You don’t just use any cloud service. There are multiple offers nowadays for client-side encryption, like Proton, pCloud and many others. You can even use an open-source solution (as I do), not even relying on the cloud provider’s proprietary software and without even having to self-host.

3. Your other remarks:

   3.1. Your concern about the durability of the device with “only” 128 GB is also solved by cloud storage.

   3.2. A typical Linux distro footprint is like 8-12 GB. Double it for Android. With a 128 GB storage, that leaves more than enough space for the files you are currently working on (again, the rest residing on the cloud).

   3.3. You’re planning to use the tablet as your primary device. I’m not sure that’s Braxtech’s original design. (But I admit that for someone who doesn’t use the cloud, it is always better to have all his files on just one device…) In my case, it would be secondary. Still, it would be nice as a backup workstation, albeit in a degraded mode, in case the primary fail.

Bottom line (and from the bottom of my heart ):

• What you guys are doing with 5G on a privacy tablet?
• What don’t you guys learn how to use the cloud properly?

I really would like to understand.

[george]

Most modern modems are 5G meaning they support bands above the 2.4GHz , what is the issue with privacy?

[jf-13]

• What the band has to do with privacy?
• About cellular in general: there are many concerns with privacy. Rob made videos on that: Rob Braxman Tech (see for instance the ones discussing SIP phones).

[george]

Yes, what do the bands have to do with privacy ? A tablet is good to be able to connect to the cellular network, then you decide whether you will use SS7 or only data with VPNs, SIP phones or whatever other madness.