This page is an in-progress reworking of the Hardware_vendors page. The objective is to cover different kinds of devices separately and also to cover emergent open hardware products.
If you are planning to buy new hardware and you wish to use it with Free Software, where do you buy it? Which of any given vendor's models are supported? Where can you buy a laptop without any proprietary software on it? How can you support vendors who are themselves supportive to Free Software?
This page attempts to provide guidance on vendors who already did the hard work of ensuring that their hardware works with Free Software. Please submit any info that might help. Thanks!
The content of this page does not constitute a statement by FSFE.
Some pages do not use the terminology we would like to see. Some of the vendors listed do not seem to be aware of the freedoms we pursue, but are merely listed because they sell hardware with no software installed. There are other vendors 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.
Below, vendors of different categories of devices are listed separately. Since interested parties are often looking for a particular kind of device, it makes sense to group them primarily by form factor even if some vendors sell more than one kind of device.
Contents
Personal Computer Systems
On this page, personal computer (PC) systems encompass desktop systems, laptops/notebooks and netbooks. Traditionally, complete systems have been sold by vendors with bundled software, which in the vast majority of cases has been the proprietary Microsoft Windows operating system software, typically in combination with additional applications software, trial software, "adware", and so on. This phenomenon of having Windows pre-installed is known as the "Windows Tax", since purchasers typically have no choice as to whether they receive such software when buying a computer and are thus obliged to make a purchase that gives money to Microsoft regardless of their wishes.
Although Microsoft appear to be obliged to offer what is known colloquially as the Windows Tax refund, the experience is less than optimal and may involve the vendor concerned and Microsoft disclaiming responsibility unless pressure is applied, potentially through legal avenues. Thus, by avoiding products with bundled proprietary software, one can hopefully acquire a computer with an appropriate specification without rewarding anticompetitive business practices.
Vendor |
Desktops |
Laptops |
Netbooks |
Country |
Comment |
Link verified |
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DE |
Mini-PCs |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
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2008-12-20 |
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AT |
If the system includes an OS it can be removed with a refund; OS appears optional on some netbooks |
2010-12-20 |
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SE |
Ubuntu 8.04 offered on most systems |
2012-01-08 |
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ES |
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2012-01-08 |
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SE |
Sells only Free Software related items, including books, routers, distributions and toys, computers on request |
2012-01-08 |
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FR |
Sells the Ben NanoNote, Milkymist One and Lemote Fuloong Mini-PC in Europe |
2012-01-08 |
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EU |
In each section of the system configurator, there is a link to "Shuttle Systems without operating system" |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
Shop at Linux-Laptop.de selling pre-installed laptops without "windows tax", sells UMTS-Sticks and WLAN adapters, too |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
Offers discount if you buy a computer with only GNU/Linux. |
2012-01-08 |
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IT |
Mini-PCs |
2012-01-08 |
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US |
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2012-01-08 |
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DE |
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2009-01-01 |
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CH |
Desktops, laptops and netbooks, compatible printers etc. |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
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2012-01-08 |
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FR |
HD-less Mini-PCs |
2012-01-08 |
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UK |
Also WLAN cards |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
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2012-01-08 |
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FI |
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2012-01-08 |
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IT |
Mini-PCs |
2012-01-08 |
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NL |
Mini-server and laptops/netbooks |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
Sells laptops without OS |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
Webshop seems not to be operational |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
Possible to leave out any software for most desktop models, some laptops with GNU/Linux |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
Makes donations to KDE |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
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2012-01-08 |
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NL |
Lemote reseller |
2012-01-08 |
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ES |
Efika MX Smarttop (Mini-PC); also sells the Ben NanoNote and Milkymist One in Europe |
2012-01-08 |
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DE |
All-in-one Mini-PC and notebooks |
2012-01-08 |
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BE |
Ubuntu pre-installed |
2012-01-08 |
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IT |
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2012-01-08 |
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FR |
Mini-PCs |
2012-01-08 |
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!