Corebooted Lenovo T440p vs. laptops from NovaCustoms
As stated in another post, NovaCustom are testing blobless wifi cards for their corebooted computers (https://trisquel.info/en/forum/coreboot-computers-novacustom#comment-171391).
From a freedom perspective, what will be the biggest difference(s) between these corebooted computers from NovaCustom and e.g. a corebooted Lenovo T440p, if that works out ?
T440p has Memory Reference Code blob (which has a libre replacement: https://libreboot.org/news/libreboot202303xx.html#libre-mrc-replacement) and Management Engine. Dasharo uses Firmware Support Package.
Edit: Libre Haswell MRC is now provided by Libreboot: https://trisquel.info/en/forum/libreboot-20230319-released
Thanks, but can you elaborate?
1.a) Does that mean, that there are (just) two freedom issues with the T440p, i.e. the MRC blob and ME?
1.b) Does the edit mean, that the MRC freedom issue is not there any more, and hence the only freedom issue with the T440p is ME?
2.a) Are these issues not present on the NovaCustom computers?
2.b) Are there not other, i.e. any, freedom issues with the NovaCustom computers?
(my question is about the difference between the two types of computers)
1a. For Respect Your Freedom, only the trimmed ME blob is a hindrance (MRC in Libreboot is now free)
1b. For RYF, yes
2a. They are
2b. Wifi/Bluetooth won't work (easy fix), and https://libreboot.org/faq.html#what-other-firmware-exists-outside-of-libreboot
I can say that after being so impressed with how easy it is to update Dasharo on my MSI board that my next laptop probably will be a Nova Custom. Didn't have to touch a terminal at all which was nice. Don't know if normal coreboot can say that.
The blobless wifi have been tested and are now an option for people looking to purchase a Novacustom. It at least showed up when I went to configure a NV41. Great news ! More options is always better.