Group: Hardware/Computers/Tablets

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(Remove content: the IRC channel doesn't exist anymore and John is not at the FSF anymore, and that was not done. Replace with text about tablets.)
 
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John's braindump:
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== Introduction ==
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Many tablets can run GNU/Linux distributions.
  
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The FSF wants to do something to make a completely free tablet a reality.
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Some big laptops can also be used as tablets. Once modified, these can boot with free software and [https://ryf.fsf.org/index.php/categories/laptops some might even have the RYF certification], depending on availability by vendors:
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* Thinkpad X60 Tablet
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* Thinkpad X200 Tablet
  
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An important step here is the video hardware. Some chipsets have free drivers, but rely on proprietary firmware. The FSF is considering a project to replace this proprietary firmware with free firmware.
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Some ARM tablets can also probably boot free software, but they would also need to be supported by FSDG compliant distributions. If the tablet is well supported in Linux and u-boot, that is usually easy to do if the distribution supports ARM. See the [https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/single-board-computers single-board-computers] article about more information on the system on a chip that can boot with free software. And the [[Group:Hardware/FSDG_distributions]] article has some information about ARM support of FSDG compliant distributions.
  
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1) We should choose a chipset that is very new, so that the product will still be useful for some time.
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[[Category:Hardware]]
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2) We should choose something that is used in many different products, if possible.
 
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3) We should choose something that is present in products that have the best chance of being fully free otherwise. If it has a USB port, it can get free wifi that way, for example.
 
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4) We should pursue better relations with manufacturers to get documentation at least, or in the best case to convince them based on our reverse engineering success to do the right thing from the beginning.
 
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We are chatting about the project in #fsf-tablet on irc.oftc.net.
 
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About Lima: https://fosdem.org/2013/schedule/event/operating_systems_open_arm_gpu/
 
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=== comparaison of chipsets ===
 
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==== Wifi ====
 
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==== SOC ====
 
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{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
 
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! SOC
 
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! GPU
 
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! Bootloader status
 
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! USB host possible with 500mA?
 
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! (mini)PCI(e) possible?
 
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|-
 
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! TI DM370(omap3 but higher speed)
 
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| powervr
 
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| good(free software unsigned possible)
 
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| ?
 
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| Seem not
 
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|}
 

Latest revision as of 20:05, 14 March 2023

Introduction

Many tablets can run GNU/Linux distributions.

Some big laptops can also be used as tablets. Once modified, these can boot with free software and some might even have the RYF certification, depending on availability by vendors:

  • Thinkpad X60 Tablet
  • Thinkpad X200 Tablet

Some ARM tablets can also probably boot free software, but they would also need to be supported by FSDG compliant distributions. If the tablet is well supported in Linux and u-boot, that is usually easy to do if the distribution supports ARM. See the single-board-computers article about more information on the system on a chip that can boot with free software. And the Group:Hardware/FSDG_distributions article has some information about ARM support of FSDG compliant distributions.

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