Post AR7nAmLmxdeNWR2wBE by jas@fosstodon.org
(DIR) More posts by jas@fosstodon.org
(DIR) Post #AR6UE8HlllkLm1fQhc by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-23T07:44:48Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Laptop buy advice?I've been using my Lenovo X201 since 2010: https://blog.josefsson.org/2010/10/25/debian-on-lenovo-x201/In 2015 I had an urge to replace it with something newer, but my process collapsed:https://blog.josefsson.org/2015/02/24/laptop-buying-advice/https://blog.josefsson.org/2015/03/25/laptop-indecision/https://blog.josefsson.org/2015/05/11/laptop-decision-fatigue/Today I can better articulate what I desire: less proprietary software. In particular, the BIOS, Embedded Controller (EC), WiFi, Intel ME stands out as problematic in my X201. Otherwise it still works as I want.Advice?
(DIR) Post #AR6UE8wtIsdjpYuGnY by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-23T08:29:56Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Vendors I am now aware of:- Lenovo -- yes I still consider it a possible upgrade path to chose a libreboot-enabled Lenovo laptop. It solves BIOS and Wifi, but not EC nor ME unless I downgrade CPU compared to my 12+ year old X201.- Starlabs https://starlabs.systems/- System76 https://system76.com/- Purism https://puri.sm/- Apple - Macbooks- NovaCustom https://configurelaptop.eu/- Tuxedo https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en- Chromebooks - solves BIOS and EC?- Pinebook Pro - https://www.pine64.org/pinebook-pro/
(DIR) Post #AR6UE9iOSGdaCt8Cq8 by zeh@mstdn.io
2022-12-10T16:00:05Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@jas I'm also looking at new laptop options and want to follow the discussion here. Frontrunner for me until now is the tuxedo infinitybook pro 14 (https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-InfinityBook-Pro-14-Gen7.tuxedo), but it's expensive. Didn't know about NovaCustom, they seem very interesting!
(DIR) Post #AR6UE9yhTdgJ1SlEG0 by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-23T07:51:31Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Requirements:- 9-14" screen- Swedish keyboard layout- Trackpad, WiFi, USB, external screen connector- Preferrably RJ45 (I still work in data centres)- Easy to acquire on the market in Sweden- As little proprietary software as possible- Runs an OS following the GNU FSDG criteria: https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html- Preferrably as light as possibleNon-Requirements:- Price doesn't matter- CPU architecture doesn't matterOther critieras I should consider? I will revise these until I'm happy.
(DIR) Post #AR6UEAB6jVbddwZ8b2 by zleap@qoto.org
2022-12-29T15:56:25Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@zeh @jas Ade Malsasa Akbar @ademalsasa Posted a list of laptops that come with GNU / Linux pre installed.
(DIR) Post #AR6UEBTZuJyVfWDP1c by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-25T09:49:22Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Pinebook Pro ISO is out of stock. Seems highly relevant, so I'll track it for the future but is thus not an option now.
(DIR) Post #AR6UECvGWriU9gB1ou by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-23T08:43:14Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
I realized I didn't mention non-free CPU microcode as a problem, and I should include it in my list of proprietary things to avoid when possible. So my ideal improvement of my current X201 would be:- free BIOS- free EC- no Intel ME, or AMD's equivalent- no reliance on CPU microcode- free WiFi driver (this should be easy: just use a Atheros chipset)I realize I may not solve all issues, but improving any single one of these would be an improvement compared to my current setup.
(DIR) Post #AR6UEDGBH6RlCXxjQ8 by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-25T15:18:37Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I looked at Tuxedo and they make x86 laptops but don't seem to have even coreboot nor libre EC so they aren't an option either.
(DIR) Post #AR6UEDbnyhkCHc507s by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-25T09:13:35Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Evaluation of system76 Lemur Pro: open coreboot and ec, wifi appears to be intel ax200 which requires non-free blobs. 12h gen i7-1255U that scores 13565 on cpu benchmark which is nice. Lightweight at 1.15kg. No RJ45 though. However, there seems to be no international keyboard options? So I guess system76 is not an option for me.
(DIR) Post #AR6UEEPmyrj6mdSv2G by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-25T15:42:26Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Starlabs Starbook is shipping within "5-6 weeks" which means next year. Libre BIOS and EC, international keyboard. Dasharo coreboot looks professional. Wifi is AX210 which requires blobs, alas. Good performance with Intel 1260P (cpu benchmark 17054) or 5800U (benchmark 18767), up to 2TB and 64GB. No RJ45. CPU microcode an issue with Intel, not sure about AMD? ME disabled by default. This is still an option for me.
(DIR) Post #AR6UEEV6f5yp37xAK8 by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-11-25T15:55:32Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
NovaCustom NV41: coreboot BIOS and libre EC, similar to Starlabs it uses Dasharo coreboot. Many keyboard layouts. Only Intel WiFi with blobs, no Atheros option. Appears similar to Starlabs Starbook with 1260P, and up to 2TB disk and 64GB RAM. Has RJ45, yay! CPU microcode and disabled Intel ME, alas. Definitely an option.
(DIR) Post #AR7nAmLmxdeNWR2wBE by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-12-10T20:14:24Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@zeh Tuxedo has been recomended by others, and they look generally nice but does not seem to offer coreboot BIOS which is something I wanted. Good luck finding your laptop!
(DIR) Post #AR7nAmy4fIH7RAxVr6 by comrad@mastodon.social
2022-12-29T14:57:41Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@jasThey do offer coreboot: https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Infos/Help-Support/Frequently-asked-questions/Coreboot-on-TUXEDO-Computers-devices.tuxedo#@zeh
(DIR) Post #AR7nAnYwSDlXHWCxJw by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-12-29T16:07:43Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@comrad @zeh Doesn’t that page actually suggest that they do NOT use coreboot? It says they are interested in it, but I see no announcement of them actually selling a laptop with coreboot.
(DIR) Post #AR7nAo0EojbGeAykro by comrad@mastodon.social
2022-12-29T18:45:24Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@jasHm yeah they didnt update the page. Have a look: https://twitter.com/TUXEDOComputers/status/1303998007369707520@zeh
(DIR) Post #AR7nAoNHR421ndl9ma by zeh@mstdn.io
2022-12-29T20:55:42Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@comrad That's from sep 2020 and it's a different machine, the infinitybook S14@jas
(DIR) Post #AR7nAoovmG9LBOhEsi by comrad@mastodon.social
2022-12-29T22:26:27Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@zehThat post yes. But they have others too. Maybe @tuxedocomputers can help here?@jas
(DIR) Post #AR7nApE6GgHaRSTL72 by tuxedocomputers@linuxrocks.online
2022-12-30T07:03:00Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@comrad @zeh @jas Hi, we are interested in and dedicated to Coreboot as a better way to boot a computer with more control for you instead of e.g. Intel. The state of our development in that direction can be seen at https://docs.dasharo.com/variants/tuxedo_ibs15/releases/. We would love to be able to get this to market faster for more devices, but sometimes things get in the way or take precedence. We are working on it.
(DIR) Post #AR7rlhT0TqequJHdRo by jas@fosstodon.org
2022-12-30T07:54:34Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@tuxedocomputers @comrad @zeh Thank you for supporting coreboot for Tuxedo laptops! Is it accurate to summarize the situation that Tuxedo IBS15 Gen6 runs Dasharo coreboot, however that laptop is no longer being sold, and no other laptop that is sold comes with coreboot?