Group: Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Freeable laptops

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(Laptops supported by libreboot: some pannels aren't supported yet)
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* The VGA option rom can be replaced<ref>It can be replaced by:
+
* The VGA option rom can be replaced on some laptops<ref>It can be replaced by:
* Coreboot code, with text mode graphics support
+
* Coreboot code, with text mode graphics support, be sure to check the display compatibility.
 
* SeaBIOS's option rom that gives VGA compatibility
 
* 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)
 
Both are probably needed, and coreboot changes will land soon in Libreboot, at the time of writing (August 2014)

Revision as of 03:27, 30 October 2014

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 Required and Optional Proprietary “BIOS Replacement” Components Required and Optional Proprietary Components for Peripherals Compatible free BIOS Replacements Compatible 100% Free software distributions Availability
Lemote 8089D Netbook None None
  • Pmon
  • Grub2
Out of stock
Lemote 8101B Last stock at Tekmote

Laptops supported by libreboot

Brand and Model Type Required and Optional Proprietary “BIOS Replacement” Components Required and Optional Proprietary Components for Peripherals Compatible free BIOS Replacements Compatible 100% Free software distributions Availability
Lenovo X60 / X60s / X60 Tablet light/compact Notebook
  • The VGA option rom can be replaced on some laptops[1]
  • CPU Microcode: most devices work without it[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 gluglug already ships with the good cards.
  • The default non-free BIOS can be replaced with libreboot, though very dangerous and very complicated [3]instructions.
  • Else gluglug laptops ship already flashed, and once the non-free BIOS has been replaced, reflashing is way easier but still dangerous.[4]
  • Trisquel 5.5 and newer
  • Parabola
  • Easy to find second hand, but very complicated and risky install procedure
  • Can be bought already liberated at gluglug
Lenovo T60 (with Intel GPU) Notebook
  • 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.
  • Webcam needs non-free firmware.

References

  1. It can be replaced by:
    • Coreboot code, with text mode graphics support, be sure to check the display compatibility.
    • 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)
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. If your MacBook has the right flash chip, flashing it 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.