[Fsf-Debian] How to build a free box was: few arguments to FSF

[Paul van der Vlis]

Op 10-08-12 13:21, Bryan Baldwin schreef:
> On 08/10/2012 11:15 PM, Paul van der Vlis wrote:
>> I know all about it, I sell computers with Debian pre-installed.
>> And I buy the hardware for it. And what I say: we need a
>> manufacturer who would make a "free" line.
> 
> Spin off: If there is not already someone out there right now doing
> it, lets get some people who are interested to sit down, identify the
> components that make up a box, and reckon the available hardware for
> each component that can run on 100% free software.

At the moment everything is integrated in the mainboard. You would have
to make a mainboard to get something with a good price. On most actual
mainboards you cannot use a free bios or free firmware for the
components (and some components needs nonfree drivers to do everything
they can, e.g. Nvidia).

I expect making a mainboard will cost a lot of money. And think about
laptops in many sizes, etc...  But I am interested, please contact me.

We need people with good connections in the hardware world. And we need
good fund-rising and selling ideas (maybe using a funding platform like
kickstarter?).

It's interesting to see what Lemote is doing (with money from the
Chinese government). They have some completely free machines, with a
MIPS processor and Debian pre-installed. But I am afraid you will miss
functionallity with MIPS, e.g. flash, wine, kvm. Not sure what more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemote

OLPC is doing interesting things with hardware:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child

With regards,
Paul van der Vlis.

-- 
Paul van der Vlis Linux systeembeheer, Groningen
http://www.vandervlis.nl