crowdfunding open printer, can it become a free software device?
https://www.crowdsupply.com/open-tools/open-printer
It says the printer will use a raspberry pi zero w and have wifi 802.11ac support, maybe it is the wifi which the raspberry pi in question comes with. A raspberry pi zero w and wifi 802.11ac requires non free software in order to work. So the question is if the open printer has such a level of modularity that you can swap the raspberry pi zero w computer with a free software computer? Can you name suitable candidates?
Thank you.
I am a member!
I hear the BeagleBone Black is free software friendly. There may be newer versions of it; I don't know. Then you could use the free software Wi-Fi chip instead.
To be honest, I just assume printers run whatever proprietary junk they're going to run. They have a mind of their own, so to speak. I treat them like an appliance that I send files to.
That said, it would be great to have a free software printer. But I won't hold my breath.
> BeagleBone Black
olimex a20-olinuxino-lime2 might be an option.
Probably still better than using an HP printer though on a freedom level and for sure a security level.