Group:Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Freeable laptops/Pinebook PRO

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
• dptx.bin
• Video decoding offload?
• Others?

WiFi

An adapter 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 probably be used for the bootloader: This way you could encrypt fully the other storage which require 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 a nonfree firmware and probably has DMA access to your RAM

Other differences with a Libreboot Thinkpad

	Libreboot Thinkpad	Pinebook PRO
Architecture	i686 on some laptops x86_64 on others	ARM 64bit
Embedded controller firmware	Nonfree Handles: The keyboard The power up sequence (voltages, power rails) WiFi / bluetooth power on/off Battery charging etc	Probably Free software probably handles similar things.
RAM	4G, 8G possible with specific RAM DIMMs.	4G soldered
Ethernet	Integrated	Through USB adapter
Debug	UART in the dock on some laptops, or absent on other It might be possible to add an UART through the express card connector USB Debug (not very practical) Reinstalling Libreboot can be time consuming on some laptops	External UART connector (multiplexed with sound?) TODO: What is the SOC/device boot order?