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| − | John's braindump:
| + | == Introduction == |
| | + | 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.
| + | 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: |
| | + | * Thinkpad X60 Tablet |
| | + | * Thinkpad X200 Tablet |
| | | | |
| − | 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.
| + | 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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| − | | |
| − | 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 may start with an eink reader, because it's much easier to do, it would be a big step, and it would build momentum toward doing a full tablet.
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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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| − | Recent enough chipsets/drivers that could be used are:
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| − | * ath9k (mini-pcie) if the SOC has a PCI lane
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| − | * ath9k-htc (USB) The think penguin version requires 500mA, no device will work with known Replicant tablets supporting only 100mA or 200mA: AR9271 itself needs ~200mA, Unex DNUA-93F (rebranded by Tehnoetic and Think Penguin?) can use 300mA
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| − | ==== SOC ====
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| − | {| class="wikitable" border="1"
| |
| − | ! Manufacturer
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| − | ! SOC
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| − | ! GPU
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| − | ! Bootloader status
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| − | ! USB host
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| − | ! (mini)PCI(e) possible?
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| − | ! Minimum quantity required
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| − | |-
| |
| − | ! Texas instruments
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| − | ! DM370(like omap3 but higher speed)
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| − | | <span style="background:red">Powervr</span>
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| − | | <span style="background:green">good (free software unsigned possible)</span>
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| − | | {{yes}}
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| − | | Seem not
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| − | | ?
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| − | |-
| |
| − | ! Texas instruments
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| − | ! omap4
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| − | | <span style="background:red">Powervr</span>
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| − | | <span style="background:green">good (free software unsigned possible)</span>
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| − | | {{yes}}
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| − | | Seem not
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| − | | ?
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Allwinner Tech
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| − | ! A31
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| − | | <span style="background:red">Powervr</span>
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| − | | <span style="background:green">good (free software unsigned possible)</span>
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| − | | {{yes}}
| |
| − | | ?
| |
| − | | ?
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Allwinner Tech
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| − | ! A10,A10s,A13,A20
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| − | | Mali
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| − | | <span style="background:yellow">good (free software unsigned possible, requires SD-card)</span>
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| − | | {{yes}}
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| − | | ?
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| − | | ?
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Samsung
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| − | ! Exynos 3 Single -> Exynos 5 dual
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| − | | Mali
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| − | | <span style="background:red">bad (part of it is software, non-free and signed on all known devices)</span>
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| − | | {{yes}}
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| − | | ?
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| − | | ?
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Samsung
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| − | ! Exynos 5 Octa
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| − | | <span style="background:red">Powervr</span>
| |
| − | | ?
| |
| − | | ?
| |
| − | | ?
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| − | | ?
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Freescale
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| − | ! I.MX6
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| − | | <span style="background:yellow">Vivante, partially supported by etna_viv; VPU with nonfree firmware</span>
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| − | | unknown, was good on previous versions of the chip
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| − | | {{yes}}
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| − | | {{yes}}
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| − | | ?
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| − | |-
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| − | ! Ingenic
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| − | ! JZ4760
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| − | | Vivante GC200
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| − | | Free
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| − | | Yes
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| − | | ?
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| − | | 1
| |
| − | |}
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| − | | |
| − | == see also ==
| |
| − | * [[Group:Hardware/Processors]]
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| | | | |
| | [[Category:Hardware]] | | [[Category:Hardware]] |
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.
