Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched!

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Zelphir Kaltstahl
Offline
Joined: 11/11/2019

Hello Leah,

congratulations to the re-opening!

Of course I had to check out the X200 immediately. Might buy one for a
friend.

There is one thing I noticed: In the product description for the X200
there is a text mentioning the disk specification of the laptop. It
would be great to also have that at the bottom of the shop in the laptop
specifications, for completeness sake.

Best wishes,
Zelphir

On 11/12/20 11:35 AM, name at domain wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting Libreboot
> laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free as in
> freedom (name at domain)
> 2. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
> 3. Re: update to 9.0 with libreboot, now computer won't boot
> into GUI (name at domain)
> 4. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
> 5. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
> 6. Re: Back-up (name at domain)
> 7. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
> 8. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
> 9. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
> 10. Re: RetroFreedom webshop launched! Freedom-respecting
> Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure, private. Free
> as in freedom (name at domain)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:51:16 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Hi everyone :)
>
> My name is Leah Rowe, and I'm the founder of the Libreboot project. I have an
> important announcement regarding my company selling Libreboot and Trisquel
> preinstalled laptops endorsed by the Free Software Foundation. The company is
> now called RetroFreedom.
>
> On 10 November 2020, the webshop re-opened. It had shut down earlier in the
> year, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, as did many other businesses
> around the world. The newly launched webshop is here:
>
> https://retrofreedom.com/
>
> I decided that after all these years, I wanted a fresh new brand. That's when
> I came up with the new name! "Retro" is cool, especially when it's
> RetroFreedom!
>
> I sell high quality, freedom-respecting laptops. The laptops come
> pre-installed with Libreboot, alongside Trisquel GNU+Linux. Together with
> libre WiFi support using ath9k-compatible modules, this makes them the most
> free-as-in-freedom laptops available. The Free Software Foundation has
> endorsed by company in the past, but it was offline for a while, until it
> re-launched 2 days ago. They had removed me from their list while I was
> offline; today, I have contacted them seeking re-endorsement.
>
> You all know what Trisquel is if you're on this forum ;)
>
> Libreboot is a fully free BIOS replacement, endorsed by the FSF. Generically,
> it is "free boot firmware". Boot firmware is the low-level initialization
> software that runs when you turn on your computer, initializing all of the
> hardware so that you can use an operating system such as Trisquel GNU+Linux.
> Libreboot systems are quite unique in this regard, because most other
> computers out there have proprietary boot firmware. Our systems are 100% Free
> Software at the low level.
>
> Our great leader, Richard Stallman, uses a Libreboot laptop himself!
>
> In fact, according to recent Trisquel 9 release announcement, Trisquel
> development servers are provided by the FSF, and are KGPE-D16 machines
> running Libreboot! The FSF also hosts https://gnu.org/ and https://fsf.org/
> on Libreboot D16 servers.
>
> Fundamental changes have been made to the business, so that it operates with
> complete efficiency. This has been done to cope with high order demand, so
> that I can supply laptops reliably, to more people! You can read about it
> here:
>
> https://retrofreedom.com/company-relaunched/
>
> To summarize, what are these changes?
>
> Well, most Libreboot sellers build their laptops to order, usually after an
> order is placed, then they pack the laptops ready to ship. This is because
> many of them will provide multiple options such as 2nd batteries, different
> RAM, SSD and so on. In some cases, this complexity can cause those companies
> to delay in shipping (sometimes weeks, in extreme cases months) if there are
> too many orders. My business used to fall under this category.
>
> Essentially, the change that I've made is this:
>
> * Laptops are now pre-packed and ready to ship, before they go on sale. When
> you buy from RetroFreedom, the laptop is guaranteed to ship on the next
> business day, or on the same business day if payment is received early in the
> day. I use only the high quality UPS shipping services; they've always done
> right by me, and I stand by UPS!
>
> * On the ordering system, a laptop is only considered to be "in stock" if
> it's packed, ready to ship to a customer that buys it. This 100% avoids the
> risk of supply problems when people buy.
>
> In other words, let's say I have 100 laptops in my lab, but 0 of them are
> packed, then the laptop is listed as out of stock on the website!
>
> * Because of this, simplifications were made: laptops now only come in 1
> configuration (with 4G RAM and 250G HDD) but with lots of things included
> that were previously optional add-ons: such as docking station, 2nd battery,
> CD/DVD RW drive, extra power cables (US, EU and UK). All of these are now
> included by default, for a reasonable and affordable price. I tried to strike
> the correct balance in this, both in terms of price and including as much
> value for money as possible.
>
> The mantra is this: quality over quantity! I take my time with each laptop,
> and make sure each one is perfect before I pack it. Then, and only then, does
> it go on the website. My previous operation attempted quality AND quantity. I
> think I made the right call, in making these changes to the business.
>
> In a few weeks, I plan to offer 8G RAM + 480G SSD upgrade "kits" where the
> SSD already has Trisquel pre-installed, and the RAM guaranteed to be
> compatible with whatever Libreboot laptop it is. Replacing the RAM and
> HDD/SSD on a Libreboot laptop is very easy (just a few screws removed) and
> full picture+video instructions will be provided. Just install the RAM and
> the SSD (Trisquel will already be installed) and start using your computer!
> Therefore if you order a laptop today, but want more RAM and an SSD later on,
> you can purchase it separately.
>
> * Misc items such as USB flash drives have been removed from the webshop. The
> shop now only focuses on high-value items such as laptops.
>
> All of these simplifications mean that the company now operates 100%
> efficiently. My mother often says that I'm a genius, but that I lack common
> sense; it was she who told me I should change my operation in this way, when
> she visited me recently! I've always been an engineer running a business, not
> a business person trying to be an engineer. In fact, since launch on 10
> November 2020, I've sold 5 laptops already (today is 12 November). 3 were
> sold and shipped yesterday (11 November); the other 2 were sold today (12
> November), and have shipping labels on them waiting for UPS to collect :)
>
> I decided to "test the waters" for 2 days, so to speak, before announcing on
> Trisquel forums, to test out my new business operation for real. On 10
> November, I announced only on my twitter and on IRC. I made all these huge
> changes to the way I operate, but I didn't know how it would actually turn
> out. Well, it turned out just fine! Better than I hoped, in fact.
>
> So I'm pleased to announce, that I am back in business! I'm proud to be a
> part of the Free Software community, and I will do my utmost to advance it in
> every way. The Libreboot laptops are only a small part of what I do :)
>
> You can contact me, using the contact information on RetroFreedom.com and I
> am also @n4of7 on twitter.
>
> Happy hacking!
>
> Yours,
> Leah Rowe.
>
> PS: Full disclosure, in the interest of maximum honesty, since I anticipate
> that people whom the message is for below may respond on this thread:
>
> As some of you may know, due to the inefficiencies of the old way my business
> operated, and due to an overwhelming surge in demand in late 2019, my company
> ran into some supply issues in late 2019. I ended up having to refund a lot
> of people, and I shut the company down for a while. I briefly re-opened at
> the start of 2020, fully ready to resume business, but then the covid
> pandemic hit which further halted my company, as it did with many other small
> businesses around the world.
>
> These factors combined are the main reasons I shut down the company, and I
> spent time to recover it. I decided to revive the company for 2 reasons: I've
> noticed that a lot of people now are going back to work, despite covid and 2:
> covid vaccines have recently been announced in the media, so I'm anticipating
> that things are going back to normal soon. That, and it's christmas season.
> What better time to re-launch!
>
> I'll cut right to the point: after I launched 2 days ago, someone contacted
> me privately, to tell me that their orders from before the company shut down
> were never shipped. They agreed to have their laptop shipped. One other
> person also contacted me, in the same situation, and today I refunded him.
>
> If you are a person such as this, and I never shipped or refunded your order
> earlier this year before the company shut down, please tell me! Send me an
> email, using the information on the website. I will gladly either ship your
> laptop (I have a lot in stock) or refund you (money is good right now, and
> quite stable. I've set aside a budget specifically for such contingencies, so
> don't be afraid to ask). I wish to tie up all such remaining loose ends, to
> do right by anyone whom I accidentally left out. I apologize in advance if
> this applies to you.
>
>
>
>
> And now, I would like to sing a song. Sing it with me!
>
>
> Join us now and flash free firmware!
> You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free!
>
> Join us now and flash free firmware!
> You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free!
>
> NSA can spy on all of us.
> That is true, hackers, that is true.
> But! They cannot touch our firmware!
> That is good, hackers, that is good.
>
> When we have enough free firmware, at our call,
> hackers, at our call...
> we'll kick out the management engine evermore,
> hackers, evermore!
>
> Join us now and flash free firmware!
> You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free!
>
> Join us now and flash free firmware!
> You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free!
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:08:14 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Congrats by the comeback of the truly pure and honest laptop road!
>
> However, I have a few questions:
>
> 1.- Does this laptops have a wizard that let me choose the language and
> set-up the user and the computer name, alongside the language?
> 2.- I'm a huge fan of the Latin American keyboard distribution, but I
> understand the insanely low demand of this keyboard for small OEM assemblers
> (even in laptops). Do you have laptops with ISO-based keyboard distribution
> like UK-English or Spanish?
> 3.- Which SSD drive will put in the laptops? Single NAND type or 3D NAND?
> 2.5" SATA or mini M.2 ones?
>
> Anyway, I'm seriously happy with the revival of your store.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:22:53 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] update to 9.0 with libreboot, now
> computer won't boot into GUI
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Well, I seriously don't know about it, but @libreleah is actually working
> woth Trisquel 9 and Libreboot. So she can help you in this kind of interest.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:52:26 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Awesome news ! I am always on the lookout for places to buy a Libreboot
> system from. Hopefully around March/April I can give you some business.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:53:14 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Hi eliotime3000,
>
> First of all, thank you for your support! I will answer your questions:
>
> 1) I ship laptops with English language. However, Trisquel has a handy dandy
> guide on the website for changing language*.
>
> As for username and password, instructions are provided with each order, on a
> printed welcome pack. A default user name and password is already set, but
> the instructions guide you on changing them both.
>
> * https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/switch-languages
>
> 2) Generally speaking, my laptops come with UK keyboards. Occasionally I will
> install custom keyboards if I happen to have them (e.g. if I import laptops
> from another country), but I typically only have UK keyboards.
>
> However, the keyboards are very easy to replace. It's just a few screws and
> the keyboard+palmrest come off. You can often find ThinkPad keyboards on
> auction sites, so you can source it separately and install it yourself. I'm
> happy to provide you with instructions on how to do this.
>
> 3) At present, I don't supply SSDs. I plan to, in a few weeks.
>
> Typically for SSDs, I will use the best SSD available for the most reasonable
> price, so actual specifications will vary. What I can tell you is that they
> are all 7mm 2.5" SATA drives. I believe most of the SSDs that I would
> purchase however are SLC type. As far as I'm aware, these offer the higher
> number of maximum write cycles, and they offer decent performance.
>
> That was how I did it in the past, but I think when I offer the SSDs later, I
> will choose a specific brand and model of SSD. This way, I will be able to
> offer exact specifications. At present, I can't provide these specifications.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:54:18 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] Back-up
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> As for software I use Back In Time to backup data as well as a manual
> copy/paste for small stuff. I use Timeshift for system settings. I also take
> clone images using Redo Backup.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 07:43:01 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> I would like to clarify: the laptops come with the recently released Trisquel
> 9 pre-installed.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 10:57:40 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> :o/
>
> WHY do companies use the Trisquel forum for their commercials, this is about
> the operating system Trisquel. Would an operator please remove spam and
> remind OP of the rules here?
>
>
> Just in case this commercial stays up I want to warn about this company
> Minifree. Just look at the OP's erratic behaviour here in forum (I followed
> with disgust). It has bad rep for a good reason and OP seems to think change
> the name to retrofreedom fools us. Minifree didn't shut down because of
> Corona, it shut down because Leah had drug and mental problems as she claimed
> herself publicly. Many people from from my hometoen in Bologna died because
> of corona and some friends too, shame someone uses it for their own selfish
> purposes. I'm really upset. Bugiardo una volta, bugiardo per sempre!
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 11:23:08 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> I didn't read the whole novel but I wish you good luck.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 11:32:04 +0100 (CET)
> From: name at domain
> To: name at domain
> Subject: Re: [Trisquel-users] RetroFreedom webshop launched!
> Freedom-respecting Libreboot laptops with Trisquel GNU+Linux. Secure,
> private. Free as in freedom
> Message-ID:
> <name at domain>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Thanks Thomas! I wish the same to you. We all have to look after ourselves in
> these crazy times.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Trisquel-users mailing list
> name at domain
> https://listas.trisquel.info/mailman/listinfo/trisquel-users
>
>
> End of Trisquel-users Digest, Vol 137, Issue 12
> ***********************************************

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