Group: Hardware/Computers/Tablets/PineTab

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Introduction

This page research if it's possible to replace a Libreboot Thinkpad with a PineTab (and its detachable keyboard) and how much freedom issue the PineTab has.

Research

Nonfree firwmares:

  • Internal WiFi
  • More?

WiFi

Since there is an USB port, if it can provide 500mA an ath9k_htc WiFi dongle could be used.

Storage

  • flash chip?
  • 64GiB internal eMMC, removable (replaceable with 128GiB)
  • MicroSD
  • 1x M.2 slot with SATA and/or USB (optional? requires add-on?)

Status

TODO

Other differences with a Libreboot Thinkpad

Libreboot Thinkpad Pinebook PRO
Architecture
  • i686 on some laptops
  • x86_64 on others
  • ARM 64bit

See distribution compatibility for more infos.

Embedded controller firmware Nonfree

Handles:

  • The keyboard
  • The power up sequence (voltages, power rails)
  • WiFi / bluetooth power on/off
  • Battery charging
  • etc
 Unsure if it's free software.

probably handles similar things. Probably in the keyboard.

RAM 4G, 8G possible with specific RAM DIMMs. 2G soldered
Ethernet Integrated Through USB adapter
Display Mate, good enough for working. Mate? Glossy? , more recent / better?
Debug
  • UART in the dock on some laptops, or absent on other
  • It might be possible to add an UART through the express card connector
  • USB Debug (not very practical)
  • Reinstalling Libreboot can be time consuming on some laptops (~1day) while it can be really fast on other (minutes)[1].
  • TODO

References

  1. ↑ It of course depends on people's skills, flash programmer speeds and so on but it's not uncommon to spend ~8h to disassemble and reassemble a Thinkpad T400 when doing it the first time, while it probably takes less than 10 minutes for a Thinkpad X200. Doing that is needed to install Libreboot or reinstall it if the computer doesn't boot anymore.
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