[sf-lug] Fwd: Why buy a Libreboot X200 laptop?

[Bobbie Sellers]

On 07/30/2015 07:47 AM, maestro wrote:
> This is from last Feb. ...
> Any positive feedback?...
>
> Mr. Stockford,
> You & I have had conversations about BIOS in the distant past I'd like to
> hear your input...
>
> Ms. Sellers,
> You struggle with hardware compatibility issues regularly (it seems).
> This may be attractive to you...

     Well your understanding of my problems is not quite correct.
But the LibreBook X200 while a step toward easier use is rather
backward on hardware specifications.  Particularly on the display
screen resolution but also on ram capacity and processor.
     I on the other hand want something a bit more powerful and with
at least 16 GiB of ram and higher than usual resolution in the
display.

     Basically i have problems because I try out a lot of different 
distributions on my notebook.   Some distros seem to have the capability 
of affecting my hardware like shutting off the WiFi.
But because I have had problems I have learned and you have
taught me some ways of dealing with the network card
that is not working.

     As for BIOS versus U/EFI it should be re-programmable to use the
the freeware version or even the Protean OS but reading the services
the installation of the Libreboot software is limited to the Lenovo
products and not all of them.   Protean OS is a fall back, very small 
that fits in the rom but the system comes with Trisquel GNU/Linux
which is pretty closed mouth about its components.
GUGLUG does include source for all its alteration on the hard disk/SSD.

	If you needed repairs you would have to send the X200
Librebook internationally to get your work done,

     So the Libreboot X200 notebook is a refurbished Lenovo
You can read more about the process at Linux Weekly News.
<https://lwn.net/Articles/631697/>

or at Phoronix.
<http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Libreboot-X200-Gluglug>

     bliss
>
> Interesting in the article 'they' make no mention of phones present day or
> future.
>
> Anyone have one of these X200's?
>
>
> Message ends.
> _________________
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Free Software Foundation <info at fsf.org>
> Date: Thursday, February 5, 2015
> Subject: Why buy a Libreboot X200 laptop?
> To: free software supporter <maestro415 at gmail.com>
>
>
> <
> https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/nB2JbvN-wogU-_kldijp9IkNa_RAnOizs1CgEPsTYDmjqADXOgm1Rs4VRS9ivGK_nUdUyNlEp56ycOl9PkXTP4tUrNc=s0-d-e1-ft#https://static.fsf.org/common/img/logo-new.png
> Here are three reasons to purchase the Libreboot X200 sold by Gluglug, the
> latest product to be awarded Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification:
>
> The FSF's RYF certification mark means that this laptop meets the FSF's
> standards in regard to users' freedom, control over the product, and
> privacy. This is only the second laptop to achieve RYF certification, the
> first being the Libreboot X60.
>
> The Libreboot X200 offers many improvements over the Libreboot X60,
> including a faster CPU, faster graphics, 64-bit GNU/Linux support (on all
> models), support for more RAM, higher screen resolution, and more. Not to
> mention it comes installed with the FSF-endorsed Trisquel GNU/Linux distro
> and the GNOME desktop.
>
> This is the first laptop sold in which Intel's Management Engine (ME) and
> Active Management Technology (AMT) have been completely removed and
> replaced with free firmware, including Libreboot and GNU GRUB 2!
>
> The FSF has previously written about Intel's ME and AMT, calling attention
> to how this proprietary software introduces a fundamental security flaw—a
> back door—into a person's machine, allowing a perpetrator to remotely
> access the computer over a network. It enables powering the computer on and
> off, configuring and upgrading the BIOS, wiping the hard drives,
> reinstalling the operating system, and more. While there is a BIOS option
> to ostensibly disable AMT, because the BIOS itself is proprietary, the user
> has no means to verify whether it is actually sufficient. Further, the
> functionality provided by the ME/AMT could be a useful security and
> recovery measure, but only if the user has control over the software and
> the ability to install modified versions of it. Perhaps worst of all, as
> Francis Rowe, founder of Gluglug, told me, "On most systems the ME is
> extremely difficult to remove, and nearly impossible to replace." But
> fortunately for us, he also said, "The Libreboot X200 is the first system
> where it has actually been removed, permanently."
>
> This is a huge accomplishment, but unfortunately, it is not known if the
> Libreboot developers' efforts to remove the ME and AMT from this device
> will be applicable to newer Intel-based laptops. It is a wretched state of
> affairs when users can't uninstall proprietary software and replace it with
> free software simply because a hardware maker wishes to make it difficult
> to do so. That's why we are calling on Intel to work with us to enable
> removal of ME and AMT for users who don't want it on their machines!
>
> Personally, I find it incredibly frustrating to think that free software
> developers may have to invest even more time and energy figuring out how to
> remove proprietary firmware without rendering the hardware nonfunctional. I
> know that hackers like Francis and the Libreboot team, and the many
> contributors to the upstream Coreboot project, would rather create new
> features and functionality in free software than spend their time figuring
> out how to remove proprietary software and gain control of the basic
> functionality of their computers. But I am also thankful that Gluglug and
> Libreboot have stepped up to do this work and have made it easy for me to
> purchase a laptop that respects my freedom.
>
> To learn more about the Respects Your Freedom hardware certification,
> including details on the certification of the Libreboot X200, visit
> http://www.fsf.org/ryf. If you know of a hardware seller out there that you
> think can achieve RYF certification, then please let us know by emailing
> licensing at fsf.org.
>
> Joshua Gay
> Licensing & Compliance Manager
>
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