Revision of MacBook from Sat, 04/25/2015 - 04:04
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==Wait, what?==
Even though Apple is one of the least free-software-friendly companies out there, some old versions of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook MacBook laptop] can, ironically, be freer than most other notebooks on the market. While it is '''strongly discouraged''' that you support Apple's proprietary lock-in and walled garden policies, this guide can be useful if you already have this notebook or if you buy a used one.
The MacBook can be made freer than most because [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook#Model_specifications versions 1,1 and 2,1] of Apple's MacBook employ the same i945 chipset used in ThinkPad notebooks, which means the MacBook is one of the few computers on which the free BIOS replacement [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coreboot#LIBREBOOT Libreboot] can run.
==Flashing Libreboot on a MacBook==
Libreboot's website [http://www.libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#supported_list explains] how to flash the Libreboot BIOS on a MacBook. Before installing Libreboot, you will need to [[Install Trisquel|replace OS X with Trisquel]].
==Performance==
So far, only documentation for the 2,1 model+libreboot+Trisquel has surfaced. According to a [https://trisquel.info/en/forum/librebooted-macbook-21 Trisquel Forum blog post] and an h-node [https://h-node.org/notebooks/view/en/1135/MacBook-2-1---Mac-F4208CAA entry]:
*WiFi and ethernet: works
*Video card: works
*DVD drive: works
*Infrared remote: works
*Touchpad: you need at least kernel version 3.15 for the touchpad to be pleasant to use. For previous kernels, see a [http://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#macbook21 Xorg configuration] to make it more usable.
*Webcam (iSight): does not work, as it requires a non-free firmware blob
*Battery: lasts only a couple of hours compared to the 6+ hours from a libreboot x60s bought from Gluglug
*Heat: it runs quite hot, but not as hot as it used to be on earlier versions of libreboot. The fan is also somewhat loud; maybe this can be fixed a bit by using an energy management program like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerTOP PowerTOP]
*Speakers: significantly better in comparison to ThinkPad x60s
*Hardware acceleration: 2D works; 3D probably not (3D Unity, for example, [https://trisquel.info/en/forum/librebooted-macbook-21#comment-68885 causes many problems]). HTML5 and HD videos can be played seamlessly, but newer games requiring 3D probably won't work
*Note: it seems that libreboot has problems turning the laptop on. If you release the power button too early or too late, you're greeted with a constant spam of text "--MORE--Unknown key 0xff detected". When this happens, turn the computer off from the power switch and then try booting again.
