Group: Hardware/TODO/DUPLICATE INFO/Freest
Work in progress
Looks like we need some things that are on wikipedia mediawiki [1] but not here or default in 1.12 [2] for this to look good. I'm copying a lot of syntax from this wikipedia article [3].
Specifically this syntax is not working:
Footnote / reference syntax
<ref name="coreboot-on-dbe61c-usb">http://wiki.thincan.org/DBE61#Caveats states that "USB boot is not possible without highly experimental code."</ref>
Example: [1]
Template syntax
{{yes}} {{no}} {{rh}}
Example: style="background: #90ff90; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-yes"|Yes
Please help
Please add to this list, and speak up if you see something that you know is non-free!
Desktops
Definition
These systems at minimum should have:
- The ability to work stand-alone - no reliance on other computers being available
- Libre boot firmware (BIOS)
- No components that can not be replaced by a person with a screwdriver that require drivers with binary blobs to function
- Usually wifi adapters and graphics adapters are the issues here - you can help with this if you are a hacker with appropriate skills...
- Not make an insane amount of noise or have a form factor that is aimed at the server market
Comparison: Basic properties
Release year | Approx System Price | Architecture | Boot firmware | Wifi chipset | Video chipset | Links | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BeagleBoard RevC2 | 2008 | $206.30 BeagleBoard + Power Supply + Case |
armel | u-boot | - | PowerVR(framebuffer can be used without proprietary driver,3d needs proprietary drivers) | todo |
ThinCan DBE61C-USB | 2005 | $395 (for a two-pack) |
i386 | coreboot "USB boot is not possible without highly experimental code." [4] |
- | todo | todo |
Comparison: Where purchaseable and lowest-cost shipping option
World | BE | CN | FR | US | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BeagleBoard RevC2 | Yes | $22 | |||
ThinCan DBE61C-USB | Yes | $125 |
Please use ISO Country Codes.
World indicates that there is at least one reseller that is willing to ship anywhere in the world as a standard part of their business.
Misc Notes
BeagleBoard RevC2
- 3D graphics require a binary blob, but you can just not use 3D graphics.
- Boot loader is u-boot. ROM source isn't open, but ROM is really ROM, in the chip, not flashable from software. There is a loader between the ROM and u-boot called x-loader, but it is based on u-boot and is free software.
- The Always Innovating Touch Book is basically a BeagleBoard in a (*really* :-) nice case.
- See IRC logs starting here for more...
- It's *really* tiny. The box is about the size of 2 packs of playing cards.
- http://kamejoko80.wikidot.com/news
- Kridner observed that the board's HDMI video port is not actually HDMI-compliant. However, he said it "works great" with low-cost HDMI-to-DVI adapters and ordinary LCD flat panel displays. "The splashscreen is 1280 x 1024, but the bottleneck is on the pixel clock, which has a 75MHz limitation. So right now we can do 720p — 1280 x 720 — at 30 frames per second," he said. [5] - This is good as HDMI is usually DRM-encumbered [6].
ThinCan DBE61C-USB
Really expensive shipping.
lshw output
Output from lshw.
BeagleBoard RevC2
TODO
ThinCan DBE61C-USB
TODO
Machines to evaluate when possible
- Lemote Fuloong Mini - not available outside of china to the general public as far as I know - might be possible to get if you are a hacker and contact them directly. Need someone who speaks a Chinese language to comment on price and availability within China (this info doesn't seem to be available in English).
- ThinCan DBE63 - should be available in Q2 or Q3 2009.