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The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

shop.gluglug.org.uk

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Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#41

Post by tracker1 »

ekianjo wrote: post #26
foodstances wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In contrast to the Purism machines the Gluglug uses second-hand, 7-year old hardware.

So what? Specs are not everything that counts.

I would think that power vs battery life would be pretty high on the list of priorities for technically inclined users. I current-gen core i3 (like the 5010U) packs quite a bit of performance vs. the power it requires.

For me, first and foremost are the parts that I interact with... namely the screen, keyboard and mouse. TBH, I have yet to try a laptop keyboard I like... I use a model-m style keyboard from Unicomp (103-key US), and all laptops and most other keyboards feel like sponges. I've yet to use a touchpad that's nearly as good as a macbook pro's, and their keyboard is better than most. The rMBP screen is pretty nice too. That said, there's certainly a price tag attached.

As to the software, I could care less mostly. I survive in windows, linux and osx on a daily basis, if I have a command prompt (bash) and most of the same tooling available (thankful for git extensions for windows bringing all the gfw/git/bash/ssh tools with it), I'm pretty happy. I have also started using an natural scrolling everywhere.

All of that said, it's nice to see open options that start under $1k in price, even if slightly older hardware. I'm not sure how good/easy Trisquel is to use, I know it's based with dpkg, but without apt/aptitude on top of it, may be difficult for most people to use in practice (I couldn't find reference to this, just a cursory look).

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#42

Post by tracker1 »

Sanddancer wrote: post #38
madez wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is a fair criticism. It correctly portraits the two options we have to spend our money on a new device: a) Very modern device and supporting the status quo or b) A slightly outdated device and supporting the market for devices that are more free

I'd argue that this is far from slightly outdated. Starting with RAM, four gigabytes of RAM may work for a barebones programmer machine, but once you want to start doing any sort of media work, like editing photos, video, etc, you start running into that wall real quickly. Even software development work is going to cause you to run into limitations. As the processor doesn't have an IOMMU, any vms you want to run will…

For me, the larger fallback would be the largest SSD options seems to be 120GB, if this is a SATA2/3 interface, which I would presume it would be nice to see a 250/500GB option for SSDs which are generally more of a boost for me than going above 8GB ram.

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#43

Post by Sanddancer »

rosser wrote: post #39
Sanddancer wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that this is far from slightly outdated. Starting with RAM, four gigabytes of RAM may work for a barebones programmer machine, but once you want to start doing any sort of media work, like editing photos, video, etc, you start running into that wall real quickly. Even software development work is going to cause you to run into limitations. As the processor doesn't have an IOMMU, any vms you want to run will…

Not everyone needs to do all of those things. In fact, I'd argue that very few people need to do all of them. So, yeah, it's a fraction of the machine the (not maxed out) 13" rMBP I'm typing at right now is. So? If "freedom" (as the term is used by the FSF and folks of similar ideologies) is your priority, you make some compromises. If not, some would argue, that's a compromise you're making, right there. The x200 al…

So I'm not allowed to discuss what these people are giving up in the name of "freedom"? That the fact that this is a refurbished machine from seven years ago shouldn't be brought up? That functionality was removed in order to, through some bizarre twist of logic, make the machine "more free"? Given that this is a machine that is built in the name of ideology, I would argue that questioning aspects of that ideology, and what is demanded to acheive their idea of purity, is more than fair game.

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#44

Post by madez »

tracker1 wrote: post #41
ekianjo wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what? Specs are not everything that counts.

I would think that power vs battery life would be pretty high on the list of priorities for technically inclined users. I current-gen core i3 (like the 5010U) packs quite a bit of performance vs. the power it requires. For me, first and foremost are the parts that I interact with... namely the screen, keyboard and mouse. TBH, I have yet to try a laptop keyboard I like... I use a model-m style keyboard from Unicomp (1…

    I know [Trisquel]'s based with dpkg, but without apt/aptitude on top of it
Trisquel is virtually a deblobbed and cleaned Ubuntu, so it does use apt/aptitude.

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#45

Post by rosser »

Sanddancer wrote: post #43
rosser wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone needs to do all of those things. In fact, I'd argue that very few people need to do all of them. So, yeah, it's a fraction of the machine the (not maxed out) 13" rMBP I'm typing at right now is. So? If "freedom" (as the term is used by the FSF and folks of similar ideologies) is your priority, you make some compromises. If not, some would argue, that's a compromise you're making, right there. The x200 al…

So I'm not allowed to discuss what these people are giving up in the name of "freedom"? That the fact that this is a refurbished machine from seven years ago shouldn't be brought up? That functionality was removed in order to, through some bizarre twist of logic, make the machine "more free"? Given that this is a machine that is built in the name of ideology, I would argue that questioning aspects of that ideology, a…

You're perfectly free to discuss it. Your posts read more like telling people they're wrong in finding these machines suitable for their purposes than just discussing the tradeoffs they're making. Even this comment, with clearly un-biased turns of phrase like "bizarre twist of logic" and "their idea of purity" conveys a conviction on your part that these people aren't merely wrong, but deluded.

Tone down your dismissal of other people's needs and use-cases, and we can have a discussion.

Remember, RMS uses a Libreboot-based x60, which is even less machine than the x200 under discussion here. Are you going to tell him he's wrong, too?

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#47

Post by ekianjo »

tracker1 wrote: post #41
ekianjo wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what? Specs are not everything that counts.

I would think that power vs battery life would be pretty high on the list of priorities for technically inclined users. I current-gen core i3 (like the 5010U) packs quite a bit of performance vs. the power it requires. For me, first and foremost are the parts that I interact with... namely the screen, keyboard and mouse. TBH, I have yet to try a laptop keyboard I like... I use a model-m style keyboard from Unicomp (1…

> As to the software, I could care less mostly.

This offering is essentially for people who care about the software more than anything else. So this is probably not for you.

> priorities for technically inclined users.

There are a bunch of very different people who can claim to be technically inclined. Let's stop generalizations.

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#48

Post by alfiedotwtf »

rosser wrote: post #31
alfiedotwtf wrote: post #27

I want something like this, but for a phone. The Freerunner was the closest thing to an open phone, but the call quality made it unusable (speaker hissing and other noises).

The Neo900 project is the successor to the Freerunner/OpenMoko, and might be worth checking out. They're still in development, but it has a few pretty compelling features (including and particularly, firewalling the baseband from the rest of the system). https://neo900.org/

Yeah, It's definitely on my radar. I had an N900 and it was awesome. The only reason why I ditched it was that it didn't work on all the spectrums I needed.

The Neo900 looks awesome, and has the upgraded radio. It really does tick all boxes, except the one that says "in stock" :)

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#49

Post by alfiedotwtf »

madez wrote: post #28
alfiedotwtf wrote: post #27

I want something like this, but for a phone. The Freerunner was the closest thing to an open phone, but the call quality made it unusable (speaker hissing and other noises).

May I suggest cosidering Replicant[1]? https://www.replicant.us/

I've looked at Replicant too, however I'm really not an Android fan. I long for a Debian phone... the Ubuntu phone does looks interesting too. But FWIW - stock Debian or die.

Re: The Gluglug – GNU/Linux laptop with libreboot firmware

#50

Post by verusfossa »

voltagex_ wrote: post #40
verusfossa wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using a C720 Chromebook with custom SeaBios firmware and running Linux. While not a beast, a Haswell i3 with 4GB isn't bad at the ~$300 price point. Throw in a 128GB ssd and it's good to go. It's been my daily driver as I'm unfortunately content with 'open enough' given the market. http://www.amazon.com/Acer-C720-3404-11-6-Inch-Chromebook-Gr... https://johnlewis.ie/custom-chromebook-firmware/faq/

Do you have any idea whether there's a model with more RAM? I'm sick of my X1 Carbon but 4GB of RAM hasn't been enough. Edit: The Chromebook Pixel might do but it's not particularly Free.

Looks like 4GB is it unless you want to shell out for a Pixel. http://prodct.info/chromebooks/#f&

Edit: Chart seems somewhat up to date at least, best I could find.

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