Is Think Penguin capable of making a computer that RMS can use?
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Poor ole Richard Stallman is stuck on his Yeelong netbook since no other totally free hardware existed at the time. Isn't it time for an upgrade and if so, wouldn't it be nice if he could use Trisquel?
So seeing that Think Penguin is a trusted company making libre hardware, is it possible to make a desktop or laptop that is so strictly free that even RMS can use? With him having a birthday recently and the GNU turning 30, it would be a great treat for him.
You could call it "The RMS" and offer it on thinkpenguin.com for customization and purchase. How does that sound?
I think that I've read here, that MIPS respects freedom, while x86 is merely free sw compatible. I'm not sure of the details, or what it means to RMS. Maybe one of our friends could explain?
There are three reasons for RMS to choose a MIPS CPU: it doesn't require
nonfree loadable microcode, he doesn't want to appear to endorse
supporting nonfree systems like Windows on it and there are existing
devices that use fully free boot firmware. (See the part about OLPC at
http://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html.)
I don't know what's missing on ARM except for devices with appropriately
chosen parts.
(Free hardware hackers might consider MIPS nonfree: there are patents
restricting making CPUs with compatible instruction sets.)
You know any good computer non-x86 with good graphics and free software compatible?
I would love to try another architecture.
I am a member!
A couple of days ago I bought a completely liberated Thinkpad x60 with coreboot, an atheros wireless chip with Trisquel GNU/Linux installed.
Now, on a purely technological standpoint, this would be absolutely free enough for rms (it's free as a lemote). However, I know he still wouldn't use it because he doesn't want to implicity endorse IBM/Lenovo who are apparently quite unethical in the business world.
Still, if you want a computer as free as the lemote, check these guys out:
http://shop.gluglug.org.uk/product/ibm-lenovo-thinkpad-x60-coreboot/
edit: maybe Chris should consider purchasing a whole lot of x60's and installing coreboot on them? This computer was pretty much an instant buy for me because at last I have a fully free computer with no malicious hardware or software. And I think a lot of people would buy one too.
Very interesting. Thank you!
I've been meaning to update my desktop and the first step is a motherboard that can run CoreBoot. There was one I found months ago that worked with an AMD CPU, but was discontinued and left me worried.
I'm not going to use it as a gaming PC, so I don't need blazing speed as long as I can code and edit videos on it using free software and open technologies.
This is why I started this thread. To see if there are companies out there that can make free hardware and making it an option.
Did someone tried this one ?
http://www.tekmote.nl/epages/61504599.sf/nl_NL/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61504599/Products/CFL-003-B
I don't know if the BIOS is also free like at Gluglug.
In that case, can't ThinkPenguin make a laptop with the exact same hardware, then coreboot will work, and it will be fully free.
What is wrong with Lemote Yeelong laptops?
The ones with the 2F CPU are small and slow (not everyone wants a
netbook, see http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/). Graphics is
especially slow. No free distro supports playing videos, while this is
possible with some software optimizations. (Not commenting the
availability issue: tekmote.nl still offers them.)
The one with 3A has a nonfree VGA ROM blob in its boot firmware and
requires nonfree microcode for graphics acceleration. There is also no
support in free distros yet, while it should be possible with slightly
better graphics than on the old ones. (Kernel patches for its support
are not upstreamed yet, maybe this will be solved in future; userspace
code for generic MIPSel works unless it's optimized for an older
Loongson CPU.) (The VGA ROM might be easy to replace: it's bytecode
with free interpreters in the kernel and X.Org drivers, and additional
x86 code that has a free replacement available using a nonfree
compiler.)
(There are two reasons for this freedom issue: NVIDIA declined to adapt
their fully nonfree drivers to run on MIPS and the Loongson 2H
southbridge with a Vivante GPU and free initialization code is not ready
yet.)
You are right, 9 inch screen is tiny.
I don't see why the companies can't make free drivers - They should make their money from selling the hardware. The only loss of money is money paid to them by NSA or whatever bad.
True! XD The only money they will not recieve is that of the NSA! Hahahaha...
Isn't the Loongson 3A Notebook reasonabaly good?
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