[HN Gopher] GNU+Linux laptops with Libreboot preinstalled, based...
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GNU+Linux laptops with Libreboot preinstalled, based on coreboot
Author : sacrosanct
Score : 98 points
Date : 2023-04-08 19:18 UTC (3 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (minifree.org)
(TXT) w3m dump (minifree.org)
| lousken wrote:
| Since I am daily driving Thinkpad E540 I can say I wouldn't buy a
| 10 year old device at this point.
|
| I maxed out mine, using i7 4702mq, 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, AC
| wifi and fullHD display. The machine doesn't feel slow for
| regular day to day tasks. However, the memory is getting close to
| being full (my AVG is 13GBs used) and the lack of USB-C is
| starting to really hurt my productivity. Using a docking station
| or a meeting room without pulling all the cables apart is getting
| quite annoying. Also the trackpad is really subpar. So at this
| point I am looking for an upgrade to Framework 16.
| neodypsis wrote:
| System76 is a good option if you want modern, performant hardware
| that runs Coreboot.
|
| - https://system76.com
|
| - https://github.com/system76/coreboot
| nilespotter wrote:
| [dead]
| manaskarekar wrote:
| Is there a way to get these machines:
|
| - without the branding in such large font? (I understand it's
| an important form of advertising for small companies). - with a
| touchpad that has actual physical buttons?
|
| Same questions for framework laptops if anyone knows.
| ISL wrote:
| A sticker or a "skin" might solve the first concern?
| therealshiva wrote:
| guys i'm curious... about security: some say intel has a
| backdoor, but there is this guy Nicola who says it's not true...
| if it's not true, why is the driver closed source, and why is it
| impossible to disable ME?
| r3trohack3r wrote:
| I love my Libreboot laptop. But haven't used it lately, because
| it's too fragile for my environment (I work in a swimming pool).
|
| Same gripe for Raspberry Pi based laptops.
|
| I would love to see a Toughbook based version that's water
| resistant.
| doublepg23 wrote:
| I love my x200 with Coreboot. Very fun to hack around on, though
| I usually use my Ryzen desktop or iPad Pro M1 for anything
| requiring cpu power.
| javchz wrote:
| I love my T440p, and as a Linux machine it's great. But full
| disclosure, it's not perfect, a few drawbacks to be aware of:
|
| * Batteries can be hard to find, and they last 6 hours at most.
|
| * No USB-C docking capabilities (but you can use the old dock
| that uses the weird port under the laptop). Weirdly enough you
| can mod it to charge with a USB-C PD cable instead of the
| thinkpad one.
|
| * The iGPU is slow by today's standards.
|
| * The keyboard is okay, but was a downgrade from the T420 (aka
| the old IBM layout).
|
| * VS the T430, you don't have a way to connect a plugable PCI-e
| port.
|
| * The default screen it's horrible (but can be upgraded to a nice
| IPS full hd panel for not that much).
|
| If you're okay with that, despite its age it's a great machine,
| the CPU it's ok for most tasks, and gives you a chance to have an
| amazing control in your system from OS to BIOS (or well, as close
| as you can get without digging the full rabbit hole that are
| firmwares for other components).
|
| I say if you only look for bang for the buck... this it's not a
| machine for you, but it's more if you want a OSS community backed
| laptop, this it's the one for you in case you don't like the
| framework laptops.
| ach_hm wrote:
| Would agree with that. Great Linux machine with that extra
| kilometer of freedom. With an upgraded CPU still powerful
| enough for 2023 and probably a few years to come. Probably one
| of the most powerful systems you can get with (nearly) free
| firmware and while not the best bang for the buck, probably the
| best bang for the buck for freedom that's available. I think
| all other systems with libre firmware are either way more
| expensive or less powerful ...
|
| Would add to your points:
|
| * Rather heavy for a laptop (at least for my taste).
|
| * Very upgradeable, much cool!
|
| * You probably want to upgrade the touchpad to get separate
| trackpoint buttons.
|
| * To flash the firmware yourself you need to get access to both
| BIOS chips. To get to the second BIOS chip you need to nearly
| completely disassemble the machine. While not necessarily
| difficult to do, their is a good chance you have PTSD from
| breaking plastic clips afterwards ...
| rozenmd wrote:
| Alternatively, get a T480: https://maxrozen.com/getting-your-
| own-good-enough-laptop-for...
| apengwin wrote:
| [flagged]
| WJW wrote:
| Yes we all know this. It does not matter in the slightest to
| any of the users of Linux.
| VagueMag wrote:
| Something about the greyed out text makes troll comments like
| this extra funny.
| lapinot wrote:
| I don't recall systemd -- perhaps the most important userspace
| component of most linux distros nowadays -- to be a gnu
| project.
| nathell wrote:
| https://www.gnu.org/gnu/incorrect-quotation.html
| neilv wrote:
| If you'd like to run a Coreboot/Libreboot laptop, which hardware
| you use, and whether you have someone do it for you, is probably
| influenced by how it needs to be flashed.
|
| Best case: The particular hardware supports software flashing
| from the start, with some easily-accessible enable switch or
| Vulcan nerve pinch boot mode.
|
| Medium case: You undo a few screws, and can get easy access with
| a SOIC test clip, and your ad hoc RasPi programming setup can do
| a good read or write within a few tries.
|
| Worst case: You not only have to desolder SMT, or use a flaky SPI
| programmer while the flash chip is in-circuit, but you have to
| pretty completely disassemble and reassemble a laptop.
| https://www.neilvandyke.org/coreboot/
|
| All cases might be trivial for an EE technician who does this
| frequently, but, for software person me, the fun quickly turned
| to headache. Knowing that, Minifree's prices might look very
| good.
|
| Note: After the initial flash, subsequent flashes (such as for
| updates, or your own experimenting) could be done purely by
| software, unless and until that's disabled. This might be less
| secure, but it could otherwise be very practical. But, even if
| you have easy subsequent flashes, if one of the flashes breaks
| the device, you might have to go back to an initial painful flash
| to fix it.
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(page generated 2023-04-08 23:00 UTC)