Revision of Hardware Type and Software Freedom from Sun, 10/19/2014 - 01:21
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Hardware Categories
Every piece of hardware falls into one of three categories.
a) Free
Anyone may audit/study all aspects of the hardware, share/modify designs, and manufacture.
Freedom-respecting hardware works with free software.
Examples: Gluglug's modified Thinkpad X60 notebook computers, Thinkpenguin's USB wireless adapters (specifically the TPE-N150USB and TPE-N150USBL) and Aleph Objects, Inc. Lulzbot 3D printers.
b) Proprietary, and compatible with free-software
Freedom-compatible hardware has some non-free component(s). It's freedom-friendly (also called "freedom-compatible") so long as it works with free software, even if it does contain non-free parts.
Users can use the this kind of hardware with GNU systems. But the non-free component will undermine one or more of users' software freedoms.
Most hardware falls under this category.
Example: Many HP printers can interface with GNU using the free HPLIP drivers but the printer firmware on the device is non-free.
Example: The boot firmware for many computers is proprietary; but the operating system and drivers it loads are free.
Here are some issues to watch out for:
c) Proprietary, and not compatible with free software
Proprietary hardware (also called "non-free hardware") will only work with proprietary software.
Examples: Most Wireless cards that are not from Atheros, GPS systems, AMD graphics etc. If it doesn't work on any Free GNU/Linux distribution such as Trisquel or on Replicant; the free Android, it is almost certain that it is proprietary.
Michał Masłowski distinguishes the categories of hardware here:
http://trisquel.info/en/forum/amd-ati-graphic-cards-only-chipset-matters-not-brand-and-version
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