Group: Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Freeable laptops
From LibrePlanet
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* 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 [http://download.intel.com/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 | + | * 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 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 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/> | * 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 instructions].<br/>Else [http:// | + | </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> |
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* Trisquel 5.5 and newer | * Trisquel 5.5 and newer | ||
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* 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:// | + | * Can be bought already liberated at [http://minifree.org/ minifree] |
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! | ! |
Revision as of 13:27, 3 January 2016
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 becasue some hardware(For instance the webcam) will not work.
Lemote
Brand and Model | Type | Hardware Requiring proprietary software | Compatible free BIOS Replacements | Compatible 100% Free software distributions | Availability |
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Lemote 8089D | Netbook |
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Out of stock |
Lemote 8101B | Last stock at Tekmote |
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 |
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light/compact Notebook |
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Notebook |
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Notebook |
References
-
↑ 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
- ↑ 2.02.1 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.
-
↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.