Group: Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Freeable laptops/Pinebook PRO
Contents
Introduction
This page research if it's possible to replace a Libreboot Thinkpad with a Pinebook PRO and how much freedom issue the Pinebook PRO has.
Research
Nonfree firwmares:
- Internal WiFi / Bluetooth [1] => Use another WiFi / Bluetooth adapter on another bus (USB, PCIe, etc).
- dptx.bin => External displays won't work?
- Video decoding offload? => Use the CPU instead
- Others?
WiFi
An adapter [2] exists to enable to connect NGFF A/E key WiFi cards.
=> TODO: Look if ath9k compatible cards exist in that form factor.
Alternatively it's possible to use external USB WiFi cards, but they will be limited to 2.4GHz and there is a tradeoff to make between the range and the key size.
=> TODO: look if it's possible to put the USB WiFi card inside the laptop.
Storage
- 128M flash chip: can be used for the bootloader[3]: This way you could encrypt fully the other storage which have internal nonfree firmwares.
- removable eMMC (64G or 128G available at the time of writing)
- MicroSD (SD3.0, MMC 4.5, up to 50MB/s)
- Adding an NVMe is also possible but this has some downsides:
- This occupies the PCIe connector. It might be a better idea to try to find a way to connect an ath9k compatible card on that connector.
- The NVMe has an internal nonfree firmware and probably has DMA access to your RAM
Other differences with a Libreboot Thinkpad
Libreboot Thinkpad | Pinebook PRO | |
---|---|---|
Architecture |
|
See distribution compatibility for more infos. |
Embedded controller firmware | Nonfree
Handles:
|
Probably Free software
probably handles similar things. |
RAM | 4G, 8G possible with specific RAM DIMMs. | 4G soldered |
Ethernet | Integrated | Through USB adapter |
Display | Mate, good enough for working. | Mate, more recent / better? |
Debug |
|
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