- Obtaining Hardware for Free Software
This is an attempt to start with a database I could not find anywhere in the web yet. If you are planning to buy new hardware and you wish to use it with Free Software: Where do you buy it? What models will be supported? Where can you buy a Laptop without any proprietary software on it? How can you support vendors who are supportive to Free Software?
What I am trying to establish is a database of vendors who already did all the research for you and sell "freed" hardware. Please submit any info that might help. Thanks!
For this particular page, I want to re-emphasise: "The content of this wiki does not constitute a statement by FSFE." Some pages do not use the terminology we would like to see. Some of the vendors below seem to be not even aware of the freedoms we pursue, they are merely listed because they sell hardware with no software installed. There are others that do care about Free Software and they should be rewarded. Please join the Hardware_vendors/Discussion how we could establish a kind of ranking mechanism.
Contents
- General links
Tuxmobil They also maintain a collection of hardware vendors like this page.
Debian's list of vendors with pre-installed debian. The list was checked once and vendors that could be verified were added to the list below on this wiki page, but check the link for updates.
Focused on North America: linuxpreloaded.com since some vendors there ship worldwide. If they list a European vendor who is not listed here, please add!
Laptops
Note: If you want to go through the hassle of claiming windows tax refund, you can buy any supported hardware. Linux on Laptops, LinLap.com might be helpful to make a decision. Don't forget to report your experiences here! All 2011 MacBooks are compatible with GNU/Linux, but there is no way to get a Mac without Mac OS X.
Portable music players
Take a look at the list of Ogg Vorbis players.
The Rockbox project might have the firmware for the player of your choice.
Watch list
FreieComputer.ch Quality label for Free Software Hardware vendors (German, French, Italian) -- guido 2011-10-31 22:43:07
List held by linux user of free software friendly hardware vendors (Austria, Germany, Switzerland) Table (alphabetical order)
Vendor |
PCs |
Laptops |
Phones |
PDAs |
others |
country |
comment |
link verified YYYY-MM-DD |
|
|
|
|
x |
|
"CC (by-sa 2.5) licensed boards. Click on "Buy" for vendor list." |
2008-12-20 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
DE |
mini-pcs |
2011-09-28 |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
FR |
The shop now seems to be at hackable-devices.org |
2011-10-30 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
de |
|
2008-12-20 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
AT |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
US |
"modular hardware, their software is GPLv3 " |
2008-12-20 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
BE |
|
2011-03-03 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
AT |
If the system includes an OS it can be removed with a refund |
2010-12-20 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
DE |
|
2008-12-20 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
FR |
|
2008-12-20 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
GB |
|
2008-12-20 |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
Cameras - Imaging Solutions with Free Software and Open Hardware |
2009-09-14 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
In each section of the system configurator, there is also a link to "Shuttle Systems without operating system" |
2011-11-30 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
SE |
Ubuntu 8.04 offered on most systems |
2009-07-23 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
ES |
|
2010-12-06 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
x |
SE |
sells only Free Software related items, including books, routers, distributions and toys |
2009-10-23 |
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
2008-12-27 |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
FR |
Sells the Ben NanoNote and Milkymist One in Europe |
2011-10-30 |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
DE |
|
2008-12-27 |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
ES |
|
2008-12-27 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
x |
DE |
Shop = Linux-Laptop.de / sells pre-installed laptops without "windows tax", sells UMTS-Sticks und WLAN adapters, too |
2011-04-03 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
x |
DE |
Offers discount if you buy a Computer with only GNU/Linux. |
2011-10-23 |
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
DE |
|
2010-12-06 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
IT |
Mini PCs |
2009-01-01 |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
US |
|
2009-01-01 |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
DE |
|
2009-01-01 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
x |
CH |
PCs and laptops, compatible printers etc. |
2011-04-20 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
DE |
|
2009-01-11 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
FR |
HD-less mini PCs |
2009-01-11 |
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
UK |
Wlan cards |
2009-01-11 |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
FI |
|
2009-01-24 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
DE |
|
2009-02-02 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
FI |
|
2009-02-02 |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
IT |
|
2009-02-02 |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
Producers of the Milkymist One video synthesizer |
2011-10-30 |
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
NL |
miniserver |
2009-05-19 |
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
DE |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
A digital video recorder/player (licensing policy) |
2009-06-11 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
DE |
|
2009-10-23 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
DE |
Possible to leave out any software for most desktop models, some Laptops with GNU/Linux |
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
NL |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
with donations to KDE |
|
2010-02-02 |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
DE |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
2011-10-30 |
||
|
x |
|
|
|
DE |
|
2011-09-23 |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
NL |
Lemote reseller |
2011-10-30 |
|
|
|
x |
x |
|
DE |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
UK |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
x |
x |
|
x |
ES |
Sells the Ben NanoNote and Milkymist One in Europe |
2011-10-30 |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
DE |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
BE |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
They sell the Sharp Zaurus PDA and offer some IBM/Lenovos with Debian GNU/Linux pre-installed, but since you still have to pay the "windows tax", it's no difference to any other vendor besides the Debian installation. |
2010-06-04 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
IT |
|
2010-06-04 |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
mini-pcs |
2010-06-04 |