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:

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	-	todo	PowerVR(framebuffer can be used without proprietary driver,3d needs proprietary drivers)
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.

See Also

• Hardware Devices that Support GNU/Linux

http://wiki.thincan.org/DBE61#Caveats states that "USB boot is not possible without highly experimental code."