Group: Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Freeable laptops

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(undo X200 addition for now (the wiki format confuses me))
m (Link is dead so wayback linked)
 
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* The ones that can be run with completely Free Software, but didn't get certified because, at the time they were produced, the certification didn't exist yet.
 
* The ones that can be run with completely Free Software, but didn't get certified because, at the time they were produced, the certification didn't exist yet.
 
* The ones that are [https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/criteria RYF] certified
 
* The ones that are [https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/criteria RYF] certified
* The ones that can be run with completely Free Software, but that cannot be certified becasue some hardware(For instance the webcam) will not work.
+
* The ones that can be run with completely Free Software, but that cannot be certified because some hardware (for instance the webcam) will not work.
 +
 
 +
A user cannot free a laptop if nonfree software is required to boot. If more work is needed, the laptops need to be moved to [[Group:Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Laptops_with_fatal_flaws]] instead.
  
 
== Lemote ==
 
== Lemote ==
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| rowspan="2" | Netbook
 
| rowspan="2" | Netbook
 
| rowspan="2" |  
 
| rowspan="2" |  
* <span style="background:#6f6">None</span>
+
* <span style="background:#AFA">None</span>
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
* Pmon
 
* Pmon
 
* Grub2
 
* Grub2
 
| rowspan="2" |  
 
| rowspan="2" |  
* gNewsense
+
* <s>gNewsense</s> [https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html Gnewsense is unmaintained]
* [https://wiki.parabolagnulinux.org/MIPS_Installation Parabola]
+
* <s>[https://wiki.parabolagnulinux.org/MIPS_Installation Parabola]</s>: Support stopped.
 
| Out of stock
 
| Out of stock
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Lemote 8101B
 
! Lemote 8101B
| Last stock at [http://www.tekmote.nl/ Tekmote]
+
| Out of stock
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|}
 
|}
  
== Laptops supported by libreboot ==
+
== Laptops supported by Libreboot ==
<div style="border: 1px solid black;background-color:#E00000;padding:10px;">Be sure to check the compatibility of the laptop at [http://libreboot.org/docs/index.html#supported_list The libreboot website]: some laptops models have extra requirements(such as a specific GPU or display)</div>
+
<div style="border: 1px solid black;background-color:#FFFFDD;padding:10px;">Be sure to check the compatibility of the laptop at [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#supported_list The Libreboot website]: some laptops models have extra requirements (such as a specific GPU or display).</div>
 
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
 
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
 
! Brand and Model
 
! Brand and Model
Line 43: Line 45:
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
!
 
!
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/index.html#supported_x60_list Lenovo X60 / X60s]
+
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#supported_x60_list Lenovo X60 / X60s]
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/index.html#supported_x60t_list Lenovo X60 Tablet]
+
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#supported_x60t_list Lenovo X60 Tablet]
 +
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/x200.html Lenovo X200]
 
| light/compact Notebook
 
| light/compact Notebook
 
| rowspan="2" |  
 
| rowspan="2" |  
 
* The VGA option rom can be replaced<ref name="vga-optionrom">It can be replaced by:
 
* The VGA option rom can be replaced<ref name="vga-optionrom">It can be replaced by:
* Coreboot code, with text mode graphics support
+
* Coreboot code, with text mode or framebuffer graphics support
 
* SeaBIOS's option rom that gives VGA compatibility
 
* SeaBIOS's option rom that gives VGA compatibility
Both are probably needed, and coreboot changes will land soon in Libreboot, at the time of writing (August 2014)
 
 
</ref>
 
</ref>
* CPU Microcode: most devices work without it<ref name="cpu-microcode">Some of the impact of not updating the microcode can be found in Intel's CPU erratas, like the [http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/SPECUPDT/30922214.pdf Core Solo/Duo erratas].
+
* CPU Microcode: most devices work without it<ref name="cpu-microcode">Some of the impact of not updating the microcode can be found in Intel's CPU erratas, like the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170215070813if_/http://download.intel.com:80/design/mobile/SPECUPDT/30922214.pdf Core Solo/Duo erratas].
 
A good way to avoid the issues described there is to have a CPU that has the bugs you care about fixed in hardware: The more recent batches you get, the more erratas are fixed.</ref>
 
A good way to avoid the issues described there is to have a CPU that has the bugs you care about fixed in hardware: The more recent batches you get, the more erratas are fixed.</ref>
* Some default Wi-Fi Card are from Intel and require non-free firmware. If you buy the laptop second hand and have an Intel card, replace it.<br/>Else gluglug already ships with the good cards.
+
* Some default Wi-Fi Card are from Intel and require non-free peripheral software. If you buy the laptop second hand and have an Intel card, replace it.<br/>Else Minifree already ships with the good cards.
 
| rowspan="2" |  
 
| rowspan="2" |  
* The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with [http://libreboot.org/ libreboot], though very dangerous and very complicated <ref>There is a big risk of breaking the laptop: Some time ago, lots of users tried and broke it, they couldn't buy the laptop already flashed, so they tried it. They broke it because the instructions to switch from the original BIOS to free BIOS replacements are complicated.<br/>
+
* The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with [http://libreboot.org/ Libreboot], though very simplified <ref>There is a big risk of breaking the laptop: Some time ago, lots of users tried and broke it, they couldn't buy the laptop already flashed, so they tried it. They broke it because the instructions to switch from the original BIOS to free BIOS replacements are complicated.<br/>
 
That's due to some restrictions of the original BIOS, which tries to prevent easy reflashing.<br/>
 
That's due to some restrictions of the original BIOS, which tries to prevent easy reflashing.<br/>
</ref> [http://libreboot.org/docs/install/index.html#flashrom_lenovobios instructions].<br/>Else [http://shop.gluglug.org.uk/ gluglug] laptops ship already flashed, and once the non-free BIOS has been replaced, reflashing is way easier (no disassembly required).<ref>Once the free BIOS replacement is flashed, reflashing is easy, but still dangerous: if the free BIOS replacement doesn't work, then the user has to disassemble the laptop and reflash with an external flash programmer to recover.</ref>
+
</ref> [http://libreboot.org/docs/install/index.html instructions].<br/>Else [http://minifree.org/ minifree] laptops ship already flashed, and once the non-free BIOS has been replaced, reflashing is way easier (no disassembly required).<ref>Once the free BIOS replacement is flashed, reflashing is easy, but still dangerous: if the free BIOS replacement doesn't work, then the user has to disassemble the laptop and reflash with an external flash programmer to recover.</ref>
 
| rowspan="3" |  
 
| rowspan="3" |  
 
* Trisquel 5.5 and newer
 
* Trisquel 5.5 and newer
 
* Parabola
 
* Parabola
 +
* Most GNU/Linux distros will work
 
|
 
|
 
* Easy to find second hand, but very complicated and risky install procedure
 
* Easy to find second hand, but very complicated and risky install procedure
* Can be bought already liberated at [http://shop.gluglug.org.uk/ gluglug]
+
* Can be bought already liberated at [http://minifree.org/ minifree]
 
|-
 
|-
 
!
 
!
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/index.html#supported_t60_list Lenovo T60]
+
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#supported_t60_list Lenovo T60]
 +
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/r400.html Lenovo R400]
 +
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/t400.html Lenovo T400]
 
| Notebook
 
| Notebook
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
| rowspan="2" |
Line 73: Line 78:
 
|-
 
|-
 
!
 
!
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/index.html#macbook21 Apple MacBook 2,1]
+
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#macbook21 Apple MacBook 2,1]
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/index.html#macbook11 MacBook 1,1]
+
* [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#macbook11 MacBook 1,1]
 
| Notebook
 
| Notebook
 
|  
 
|  
 
* The VGA option rom can be replaced<ref name="vga-optionrom"></ref>
 
* The VGA option rom can be replaced<ref name="vga-optionrom"></ref>
 
* CPU Microcode: most devices work without it<ref name="cpu-microcode"></ref>
 
* CPU Microcode: most devices work without it<ref name="cpu-microcode"></ref>
* <span style="background:#6f6">The default Wi-Fi card is an Atheros chipset which works fully with the Linux-libre kernel.</span>
+
* <span style="background:#AFA">The default Wi-Fi card is an Atheros chipset which works fully with Linux-libre.</span>
* The webcam needs a non-free firmware.
+
* The webcam needs a non-free peripheral software.
 
|
 
|
* The default non-free EFI firmware can be replaced with [http://libreboot.org/ libreboot], trough a dangerous <ref>If your MacBook has the right flash chip, flashing it is easy, but still dangerous: if the free BIOS replacement doesn't work, then the user has to disassemble the laptop and reflash with an external flash programmer to recover.</ref> [http://www.coreboot.org/Board:apple/macbook21#Flashing procedure]
+
* The default non-free EFI software can be replaced with [http://libreboot.org/ Libreboot], trough a simplified <ref>If your MacBook has the right flash chip, flashing it is easy: if the free BIOS replacement doesn't work, then the user has to disassemble the laptop and reflash with an external flash programmer to recover.</ref> [http://www.coreboot.org/Board:apple/macbook21#Flashing procedure]
 
|-
 
|-
 +
|}
 +
 +
== ARM Laptops ==
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
 +
! Brand and Model
 +
! Type
 +
! Hardware Requiring proprietary software
 +
! Availability
 +
|-
 +
| EOMA68 Laptop Housing
 +
| DIY Kit
 +
| None
 +
| Not yet
 +
|-
 +
| KOSAGI Novena
 +
| DIY Kit
 +
| VPU ?
 +
| Mainboard only
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
 +
[[Category:Laptops]]

Latest revision as of 11:51, 10 June 2024

Introduction

This page is a comparison of laptops that can be run with completely Free Software. It applies to the following laptops:

  • The ones that can be run with completely Free Software, but didn't get certified because, at the time they were produced, the certification didn't exist yet.
  • The ones that are RYF certified
  • The ones that can be run with completely Free Software, but that cannot be certified because some hardware (for instance the webcam) will not work.

A user cannot free a laptop if nonfree software is required to boot. If more work is needed, the laptops need to be moved to Group:Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Laptops_with_fatal_flaws instead.

Lemote

Brand and Model Type Hardware Requiring proprietary software Compatible free BIOS Replacements Compatible 100% Free software distributions Availability
Lemote 8089D Netbook
  • None
  • Pmon
  • Grub2
Out of stock
Lemote 8101B Out of stock

Laptops supported by Libreboot

Be sure to check the compatibility of the laptop at The Libreboot website: some laptops models have extra requirements (such as a specific GPU or display).
Brand and Model Type Hardware Requiring proprietary software Compatible free BIOS Replacements Compatible 100% Free software distributions Availability
light/compact Notebook
  • The VGA option rom can be replaced[1]
  • CPU Microcode: most devices work without it[2]
  • Some default Wi-Fi Card are from Intel and require non-free peripheral software. If you buy the laptop second hand and have an Intel card, replace it.
    Else Minifree already ships with the good cards.
  • The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with Libreboot, though very simplified [3]instructions.
    Else minifree laptops ship already flashed, and once the non-free BIOS has been replaced, reflashing is way easier (no disassembly required).[4]
  • Trisquel 5.5 and newer
  • Parabola
  • Most GNU/Linux distros will work
  • Easy to find second hand, but very complicated and risky install procedure
  • Can be bought already liberated at minifree
Notebook
  • Easy to find second hand
Notebook
  • The VGA option rom can be replaced[1]
  • CPU Microcode: most devices work without it[2]
  • The default Wi-Fi card is an Atheros chipset which works fully with Linux-libre.
  • The webcam needs a non-free peripheral software.

ARM Laptops

Brand and Model Type Hardware Requiring proprietary software Availability
EOMA68 Laptop Housing DIY Kit None Not yet
KOSAGI Novena DIY Kit VPU ? Mainboard only

References

  1. 1.01.1 It can be replaced by:
    • Coreboot code, with text mode or framebuffer graphics support
    • SeaBIOS's option rom that gives VGA compatibility
  2. 2.02.1 Some of the impact of not updating the microcode can be found in Intel's CPU erratas, like the Core Solo/Duo erratas. A good way to avoid the issues described there is to have a CPU that has the bugs you care about fixed in hardware: The more recent batches you get, the more erratas are fixed.
  3. There is a big risk of breaking the laptop: Some time ago, lots of users tried and broke it, they couldn't buy the laptop already flashed, so they tried it. They broke it because the instructions to switch from the original BIOS to free BIOS replacements are complicated.
    That's due to some restrictions of the original BIOS, which tries to prevent easy reflashing.
  4. Once the free BIOS replacement is flashed, reflashing is easy, but still dangerous: if the free BIOS replacement doesn't work, then the user has to disassemble the laptop and reflash with an external flash programmer to recover.
  5. If your MacBook has the right flash chip, flashing it is easy: if the free BIOS replacement doesn't work, then the user has to disassemble the laptop and reflash with an external flash programmer to recover.