I've been burned too many times kick-starting things, but a tablet that supports Yocto Linux is pretty sweet. I've worked on building Yocto-based operating systems for embedded products in my last two jobs and that's an incredibly powerful amount of flexibility.
Looks cool. If this product line is still around next time I upgrade, I'll look into these again and see if they ended up being well received.
I recently got one of the 2-in-1 models that's basically a laptop with a 360 degree hinge from a more mainstream manufacturer. A detachable keyboard version like open_slate or Surface would probably be better, but it works fine. I was originally looking at traditional laptops and tablets, but I started seeing videos about these types of devices, and saw people were able to get Linux on them with stylus support and everything. I realized that for my preferences and use cases, this form factor was by far the obvious choice. I didn't know much about these 2-in-1s before, but now that I've used one, it seems to me like this is the future of productivity/content consumption devices the same way that dockable handhelds like the Switch/Steam Deck feel like the future of gaming devices. It's the marriage of two types of device in a way that makes both better instead of just felling like a "jack of all trades, master of none".
The big question is what size to make these things. Mine is 14 inches, which is a perfect laptop size but a huge tablet. These open_slates and Framework's version are 12 inches, which is both a pretty big tablet and a pretty small laptop.
Surface Go 1
Thinkpad X12 Gen 1
Surface Go 2
Surface Pro 7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
I got the Thinkpad and the Surface Pro because I thought I'd appreciate the extra power and the slightly bigger size over the rest of the tablets which are 10", but I ended-up not liking them because of the size. The power was acceptable, though not significantly better than either of the Surface Go's because all of them were fanless.
Ultimately, between the Thinkpad and the Pro, I went back to the Go 2, because a 10" keyboard is perfectly useable for regular PC tasks, it had enough power for older games and to run most simple applications and they were a great size for actually using as a tablet. I often like to play stuff like Heroes of Might and Magic in tablet format, as well as read magazines or guides for games in tablet mode and the 10" form factor is perfect for that; I can hold it with one hand and scroll, the screen is a reasonable size and it's even mostly comfortable to laydown and hold up or hold on my side.
The 12" just never felt great. They felt like too much of a compromise to me. Too large and uncomfortable to use strictly as a tablet, but using them as a laptop felt stupid because (at the time) I had a Thinkpad X1 Nano which was only a hair bigger, offered more power and a better keyboard/mouse experience. Even now, I have a big old 16" Thinkpad P1 Gen 4 and at 4lbs, it's about twice the weight of a Surface Pro, but still feels very portable and is significantly more powerful, so again I think, "Why am I not just using my proper laptop?"
The Samsung Android tablet has taken some getting used to, but it's grown on me quite a bit. I've actually stopped using my Surface Go 2 and am considering selling it because the Samsung is significantly better in terms of screen and speakers. It has sufficient enough power to play some Android games such as Civ 6, unlike the Surface Go and it still has access to Heroes of Might and Magic. Plus can emulate DOS, as well as a lot of older consoles (Dreamcast Typing of the Dead plays great. Can you tell I'm mostly game focused?) with ease and the battery life, while obviously worn, is quite good.
I do dislike how Android is pretty locked down and I need to use hacks to get to some of my files deep in the OS, but obviously you don't seem too concerned with Android given you're interested in Linux.
Anyway, all that said, 10" is absolutely where it's at for me and it feels like a perfect compliment and travel companion to my Steam Deck for when I want more intensive games, but still want the opportunity to use a proper keyboard for stuff like this post (I am using the Samsung Tab to type this. Though irritatingly, no spellcheck with the Samsung keyboard attachment), as well as have the versatility to use it how I like to use tablets.
bitwyze | 16 hours ago
I've been burned too many times kick-starting things, but a tablet that supports Yocto Linux is pretty sweet. I've worked on building Yocto-based operating systems for embedded products in my last two jobs and that's an incredibly powerful amount of flexibility.
EmperorPenguin | 13 hours ago
Looks cool. If this product line is still around next time I upgrade, I'll look into these again and see if they ended up being well received.
I recently got one of the 2-in-1 models that's basically a laptop with a 360 degree hinge from a more mainstream manufacturer. A detachable keyboard version like open_slate or Surface would probably be better, but it works fine. I was originally looking at traditional laptops and tablets, but I started seeing videos about these types of devices, and saw people were able to get Linux on them with stylus support and everything. I realized that for my preferences and use cases, this form factor was by far the obvious choice. I didn't know much about these 2-in-1s before, but now that I've used one, it seems to me like this is the future of productivity/content consumption devices the same way that dockable handhelds like the Switch/Steam Deck feel like the future of gaming devices. It's the marriage of two types of device in a way that makes both better instead of just felling like a "jack of all trades, master of none".
The big question is what size to make these things. Mine is 14 inches, which is a perfect laptop size but a huge tablet. These open_slates and Framework's version are 12 inches, which is both a pretty big tablet and a pretty small laptop.
BeardyHat | 4 hours ago
I've had a few of these 2-in-1's, including:
Surface Go 1
Thinkpad X12 Gen 1
Surface Go 2
Surface Pro 7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
I got the Thinkpad and the Surface Pro because I thought I'd appreciate the extra power and the slightly bigger size over the rest of the tablets which are 10", but I ended-up not liking them because of the size. The power was acceptable, though not significantly better than either of the Surface Go's because all of them were fanless.
Ultimately, between the Thinkpad and the Pro, I went back to the Go 2, because a 10" keyboard is perfectly useable for regular PC tasks, it had enough power for older games and to run most simple applications and they were a great size for actually using as a tablet. I often like to play stuff like Heroes of Might and Magic in tablet format, as well as read magazines or guides for games in tablet mode and the 10" form factor is perfect for that; I can hold it with one hand and scroll, the screen is a reasonable size and it's even mostly comfortable to laydown and hold up or hold on my side.
The 12" just never felt great. They felt like too much of a compromise to me. Too large and uncomfortable to use strictly as a tablet, but using them as a laptop felt stupid because (at the time) I had a Thinkpad X1 Nano which was only a hair bigger, offered more power and a better keyboard/mouse experience. Even now, I have a big old 16" Thinkpad P1 Gen 4 and at 4lbs, it's about twice the weight of a Surface Pro, but still feels very portable and is significantly more powerful, so again I think, "Why am I not just using my proper laptop?"
The Samsung Android tablet has taken some getting used to, but it's grown on me quite a bit. I've actually stopped using my Surface Go 2 and am considering selling it because the Samsung is significantly better in terms of screen and speakers. It has sufficient enough power to play some Android games such as Civ 6, unlike the Surface Go and it still has access to Heroes of Might and Magic. Plus can emulate DOS, as well as a lot of older consoles (Dreamcast Typing of the Dead plays great. Can you tell I'm mostly game focused?) with ease and the battery life, while obviously worn, is quite good.
I do dislike how Android is pretty locked down and I need to use hacks to get to some of my files deep in the OS, but obviously you don't seem too concerned with Android given you're interested in Linux.
Anyway, all that said, 10" is absolutely where it's at for me and it feels like a perfect compliment and travel companion to my Steam Deck for when I want more intensive games, but still want the opportunity to use a proper keyboard for stuff like this post (I am using the Samsung Tab to type this. Though irritatingly, no spellcheck with the Samsung keyboard attachment), as well as have the versatility to use it how I like to use tablets.
[OP] moocow1452 | 19 hours ago
Indiegogo page: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/braxtechnologies/open_slate
YouTube trailer: https://youtu.be/dyEYum3cIQQ
Specs: https://community.braxtech.net/t/open-slate-megathread/4041