Open_slate MEGATHREAD

[majorpaynedof]

Has anyone inquired if Zorin OS would work\ported for this since it is also based on ubuntu?

[george]

You definitely need some tuning. If Zorin is already compiled for ARM for some mobile device the tuning will be far less.

[dontreraxaroundbrax]

Can use with the pogo keyboard?

[dontreraxaroundbrax]

Have yall considered RISCV (I know CPU probably weaker), would that make it more modular?

Also when is the pre-order and will it be on indigogo? Anyone there know if you can use prepaid debit card to buy?

[jamesmuir]

Agree. No 5G needed.

[george]

I think there hasn’t been any mobile RISC-V SoC, only Single Board Computer, it’s a matter of power consumption, the SBC runs on power supply, not on battery.

I bought Brax3 from Indiegogo with debit VISA, the prepaid should work too.

[george]

If we leave it as it is then someone who wants both storage and 4G/5G would have to deploy an external USB or Bluetooth/WiFi modem.

[Mycenius]

@plamen, just musing about something different, what is the thinking around the stylus support? Will there be a specific device/accessory to purchase with the tablet or just support for using any generic device on the market. And will it just be support for a basic inert stylus; or something more interactive (a.k.a. Apple Pencil-like devices), possibly via an app? Or will this (latter style) be driven solely by the Linux (and Android) OS?

Also on a related note will the case options (specifically the rugged one; and the folio with keyboard for psuedo-laptop use) include allowance for storage of a stylus/pencil device onboard? (e.g. similar to the STM Dux Plus Case for iPad and such). A bit niche but also if you use a stylus/pencil not having storage ‘on device’ in someway is annoying. But conversely if you don’t use one having unused storage for one present that’s obtrusive is also very annoying (hence STM Dux range for example have tough cases with and without the option…

EDIT: typos/grammar

[plamen]

@braxfan123

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

We will make video guides, yes.

@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) ?

It is not powerful enough to run modern PC games, no. The integrated GPU of latest gen Intel is significantly more powerful than that of open_slate.

If you are using your laptop for playing graphics intensive games, open_slate will not be able to replace it. If you are using your laptop for work, coding, etc. - open_slate can be a viable replacement.

[plamen]

@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!

The microHDMI is your input for the tablet. You can use a microHDMI/HDMI cable or a converter cable.

[plamen]

@neo21

there should be absolutely no reliance on cloud services.

We are not cloud-enjoyers. If there ever is a brax cloud, you will be able to host it on your own.

[plamen]

I see microHDMI getting a lot of heat. We may have to reevaluate that decision. Note taken.

[plamen]

@majorpaynedof

Has anyone inquired if Zorin OS would work\ported for this since it is also based on ubuntu?

There is no mandate to port Zorin OS. But the open_slate will get mainline linux kernel support. Porting it wouldn’t be hard, as long as there is someone to take on the port and maintenance.

[plamen]

@dontreraxaroundbrax

Can use with the pogo keyboard?

No. Not as designed at the moment. We will post more accessory details soon.

[plamen]

@Mycenius

@plamen, just musing about something different, what is the thinking around the stylus support? Will there be a specific device/accessory to purchase with the tablet or just support for using any generic device on the market. And will it just be support for a basic inert stylus; or something more interactive (a.k.a. Apple Pencil-like devices), possibly via an app? Or will this be driven solely by the Linux OS?

The objective is to support active stylus pen on both Linux and Android. With Android, it will be available from the get go. With linux, it may take up some time to make it available.
We will be offering a stylus pen. We don’t want to lock up people to use only our accessory, so we will share the full spec so anyone can get an alternative they like better.

@Mycenius

Also on a related note will the case options (specifically the rugged one; and the folio with keyboard for psuedo-laptop use) include allowance for storage of a stylus/pencil device onboard? (e.g. similar to the STM Dux Plus Case for iPad and such). A bit niche but also if you use a stylus/pencil not having storage ‘on device’ in someway is annoying. But conversely if you don’t use one having unused storage for one present that’s obtrusive is also very annoying (hence STM Dux range for example have tough cases wirh and without the option…

The rugged case is not designed to hold a pen. Waiting on the designs of the book folio case.

[Terry]

Plamen - thanks for sharing all these extra details with us! It’s starting to feel like Christmas again, already!

[lll]

@Terry

starting to feel like Christmas

Let’s not expect it before next Christmas (a life lesson from the B3 )

[dontreraxaroundbrax]

PineTab V uses RISC-V open source architecture, and is a battery powered mobile device, there are many battery powered RISCV laptops on the market right now too. Probably less chance of the CPU being HW level backdoored if the architecture is open sourced (RISC-V), where ARM is licensed and closed source.

Heard any word what day this month the Slate will be available for pre-order?

[Mycenius]

Just for fun I created a new thread with a couple of unofficial polls on the open_slate Tablet:

1. How will you mostly plan to use the tablet?
2. How would you mostly prefer to do your network/internet connectivity, if at all?

How Will You Use open_slate And Preferred Connectivity

I thought for some fun we could do a couple of quick polls on general use case types for the open_slate, so just out of interest, and totally unofficial: First - In general terms how do you expect, or would you plan to, use the device as? Choose the combination that would best represent 98%+ of your likely use… poll

[george]

Probably the PineTab’s is closer but don’t expect the power of the mature ARM architecture and a big tech corporation like Mediatek.