Group: Hardware/History/Laptops Comparison

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(Coreboot laptops (can be built fully libre) that are supported by Libreboot)
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== Introduction ==
 
== Introduction ==
 +
Nowadays, some laptops are able to run only free software.
  
== Good for freedom ==
+
This means that they are not "just" able to run 100% free software distributions: they go way beyond that.
  
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
+
What initialises the hardware before loading the operating system (like a fully free distribution) is software.
! Brand and Model
 
! Type
 
! Required and Optional Proprietary “BIOS Replacement” Components
 
! Required and Optional Proprietary Components for Peripherals
 
! Compatible BIOS Replacements
 
! Compatible 100% Free software distributions
 
! Availability
 
|-
 
! Lemote 8089D
 
| rowspan="2" | Netbook
 
| rowspan="2" | <span style="background:#6f6">None</span>
 
| rowspan="2" | <span style="background:#6f6">None</span>
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
* Pmon
 
* Grub2
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
* gNewsense
 
* [https://wiki.parabolagnulinux.org/MIPS_Installation Parabola]
 
| Out of stock
 
|-
 
! Lemote 8101B
 
| Last stock at [http://www.tekmote.nl/ Tekmote]
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
== Coreboot laptops (can be built fully libre) that are supported by Libreboot  ==
+
This software can have many names (BIOS, EFI, UEFI etc...).
  
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
+
Free software initialisation code, along with a 100% free operating system, and peripherals that work with free software can result in a 100% free system on some laptops.
! Brand and Model
 
! Type
 
! Required and Optional Proprietary “BIOS Replacement” Components
 
! Required and Optional Proprietary Components for Peripherals
 
! Compatible BIOS Replacements
 
! Compatible 100% Free software distributions
 
! Availability
 
|-
 
! Lenovo X60 / X60s / X60 Tablet
 
| light/compact Notebook
 
| rowspan="3" |
 
* The VGA option rom can be replaced<ref>It can be replaced by:
 
* Coreboot code, with text mode graphics support
 
* 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>
 
* CPU Microcode: most devices work without it<ref>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 bus you care about fixed in hardware: The more recent batches you get, the more erratas are fixed</ref>
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
* 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. Else glugglug already ships with the good cards.
 
| rowspan="2" |
 
* The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with Coreboot v4 ([http://www.coreboot.org/Board:lenovo/x60/Installation complicated procedure]) or its distribution [http://libreboot.org/ libreboot] ([http://libreboot.org/docs/#flashrom_lenovobios installation instructions])
 
| rowspan="3" |
 
* Trisquel 5.5 and newer
 
* Parabola
 
|
 
* Easy to find second hand, but very complicated and risky install procedure
 
* Can be bought already liberated at [http://shop.gluglug.org.uk/ glugglug]
 
|-
 
! Lenovo T60 (with Intel GPU)
 
| Notebook
 
| rowspan="2" |  Easy to find second hand
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Apple MacBook 2,1 / MacBook 1,1
 
| Notebook
 
|
 
* The default Wi-Fi card is an Atheros chipset which works fully with the Linux-libre kernel.
 
| The default non-free EFI firmware can be replaced with [http://libreboot.org/ libreboot], trough a [http://www.coreboot.org/Board:apple/macbook21#Flashing Very dangerous procedure]
 
|-
 
|}
 
=== Rereferences ===
 
<references/>
 
  
== Someone needs to write a free replacement for some parts ==
+
== Laptop that can be 100% free ==
 +
* [[/Freeable_laptops|Laptop that can be 100% free]]
  
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
+
== Other laptops ==
! Brand and Model
+
* [[/Common Laptops| Common laptops]]
! Type
+
* [[/Laptop requiring some work | Partially free laptops that require some work to be free]]
! Required and Optional Proprietary “BIOS Replacement” Components
+
* [[/Partially free laptops| Partially free laptops that would be really hard to free]]
! Required and Optional Proprietary Components for Peripherals
 
! Compatible BIOS Replacements
 
! Compatible 100 % Free software distributions
 
! Availability
 
|-
 
! Lemote Loongson 3A notebook
 
| Notebook
 
|
 
* <span style="background:#f99">ATI VGA BIOS/Option ROM required to have graphics, someone needs to write a free replacement for that.</span>
 
|
 
* Probably optional ATI microcode for the GPU '''(no acceleration without it)'''.
 
| Pmon
 
| None, gNewSense needs just a custom kernel
 
| Out of stock
 
|-
 
! Lenovo T60 (with ATI GPU)
 
| Notebook
 
|
 
* With Coreboot: <span style="background:#f99">ATI VGA BIOS/Option ROM required to have graphics</span> (can be used in headless mode, without graphics. Serial console and SSH).
 
* CPU microcode: usually optional, like X60
 
|
 
* The default Wi-Fi card is from Intel and requires non-free firmware, replace that card.
 
|
 
* The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with Coreboot v4 ([http://www.coreboot.org/Board:lenovo/x60/Installation complicated procedure])
 
* Probably optional ATI microcode for the GPU '''(no acceleration without it)'''.
 
|
 
* Trisquel 5.5 and newer
 
* Parabola
 
| Easy to find second hand
 
|-
 
! Lenovo X201
 
| Small notebook
 
|
 
* ME.bin: runs on another CPU, the Management Engine, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Active_Management_Technology very hard to replace and dangerous]
 
* VGA ROM: like for X60
 
* CPU microcode?
 
|
 
* The default Wi-Fi card is from Intel and requires non-free firmware, replace it.
 
|
 
* The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with Coreboot v4 (warning: [http://www.coreboot.org/Board:lenovo/x201#Flashing complicated procedure])
 
|
 
* Trisquel 5.5 and 6.0 ?
 
* Parabola ?
 
| Second hand
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
== Bad for freedom ==
+
== Incomplete information ==
 +
* [[/Laptop to evaluate | Laptops that needs to be evaluated]]
  
== Unsorted <!--TODO (needs to be sorted)-->==
+
{{featured resource|month=September|year=2014}}
  
{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
+
[[Category:Hardware]]
! Brand and Model
+
[[Category:Laptops]]
! Type
 
! Required and Optional Proprietary “BIOS Replacement” Components
 
! Required and Optional Proprietary Components for Peripherals
 
! Compatible BIOS Replacements
 
! Compatible 100 % Free software distributions
 
! Availability
 
|-
 
! OLPC XO-1
 
| Small notebook
 
|
 
* VSA (LGPL) cannot be built with free software yet.
 
|
 
* Internal Wi-Fi card requires non-free firmware.
 
|
 
* Free BIOS replacement (which one?).
 
|
 
* ?
 
|-
 
! Chromebook Pixel
 
| Thin notebook
 
|
 
* MRC.bin: RAM controller initialization, runs on the main CPU.
 
* ME.bin: runs on another CPU, the Management Engine, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Active_Management_Technology very hard to replace and dangerous].
 
* Optional non-free VGA BIOS (has a free replacement in Coreboot).
 
* CPU microcode?
 
|
 
* <span style="background:#6f6">None</span>
 
|
 
* Coreboot with uboot as payload by default.
 
|
 
* ?
 
|
 
* Available new.
 
* Available in USA, UK, and probably other countries.
 
|-
 
! Samsung Series 3 Chromebook
 
| Thin notebook
 
|
 
* Required BL1: proprietary and signed.
 
|
 
* Wi-Fi needs non-free firmware (issues [https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=315225] [https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=270166] show it uses the mwifiex_sdio driver), same chip provides Bluetooth probably also requiring non-free firmware.
 
|
 
* Coreboot?
 
* Uboot.
 
|
 
* ?
 
|
 
* Available new…
 
* …in which countries?
 
|}
 
 
 
<!--== TODO ==
 
 
 
* Add other Coreboot Chromebooks
 
* Add gdium-->
 
 
 
{{featured resource|month=September|year=2014}}
 

Revision as of 03:01, 25 April 2015

Introduction

Nowadays, some laptops are able to run only free software.

This means that they are not "just" able to run 100% free software distributions: they go way beyond that.

What initialises the hardware before loading the operating system (like a fully free distribution) is software.

This software can have many names (BIOS, EFI, UEFI etc...).

Free software initialisation code, along with a 100% free operating system, and peripherals that work with free software can result in a 100% free system on some laptops.

Laptop that can be 100% free

Other laptops

Incomplete information

This page was a featured resource in September 2014.