Do you still run Trisquel, even if...
Do you still run Trisquel, even if your hardware is unsupported without free software? Or do you choose another distribution?
As someone who has many computers (and computer hardware) laying around, a lot of my devices require proprietary software for proper functioning. However, I prefer the default look, feel, and setup of Trisquel so I keep it installed on all of my machines. Some are fully liberated (like the X200), some work almost flawlessly with just the need of a compatible wifi adapter, and some need both proprietary GPU and network card drivers to function properly.
I'm curious if anyone else decides to use Trisquel this way, or if they just opt for a less-libre solution since they're using proprietary software anyways. I prefer to keep my devices as free as possible, while also still being functional.
The reason why I use trisquel is to only use free software with ease. I will be getting an Atheros wifi dongle to plug into my machine to be able to use wifi with trisquel, but at the moment right now, I am still using my phone with usb tethering.
This is possible for older modern hardware where the GPU is still compatible and CPU microcode updates are not a concern. However for modern hardware the ISO will not even load because it cannot load the GPU.
I wanted to run a 100% free distribution but had an HP Omnibook 7 ai, made in 2025 supposedly top of the line. Long story short, a bios bug made it fail when I rebooted too often. So I made the dive and bought a librebooted X200 thinkpad, canoebooted it and ran Parabola on it. It runs just as fine as my modern laptop for all normal use cases. You do not need modern hardware.
Older thinkpads are just better laptops, they have better keyboards, better modularity, little to no backdoors once librebooted. Just take the dive modern hardware is not worth it, its a meme.
I agree that the older Thinkpads are better laptops. I have a newer Lenovo Legion laptop with nVidia GTX 1650 that is running Trisquel, just with proprietary graphics drivers. Installation was a little tricky requiring TTY boot and some Grub modifications to get display output to function correctly.
I feel like Trisquel is still the best option. If GPU drivers ever become liberated and functional then the proprietary code can be removed or OS reinstalled. Same as to if there's ever a more liberated BIOS, it can be upgraded if/when that happens.
I'd describe the X200 as a laptop that can run libre or relatively libre boot firmware and a libre OS, not as fully libre hardware, not as open silicon, and not as an FLOSS computer design.
The X200 is not "fully liberated". You can replace the stock BIOS with a libre BIOS/UEFI and run a libre operating system, but that only frees part of the boot and software stack, not the whole machine. The EC firmware remains proprietary and still depends on Lenovo's original firmware path rather than on a libre EC replacement. The CPU depends on proprietary microcode, and there are other firmware-bearing components in the system, including the optical drive in the dock and various motherboard devices, that are not liberated just because the main boot firmware was replaced.
The system also speaks x86, and x86 is not generally considered as a fully open ISA in the way open ISAs are. The existence of open-source emulators or "unofficial documentation" around x86 does not make the ISA itself open.
Unfortunately we do not live in a libre hardware world. We live in a market that rewards cheapness, secrecy, and convenience, then teaches users to call that normal. The real scandal, IMO, isn't that one two-decade-old ThinkPad falls short. It is that an old ThinkPad with a replaced BIOS still counts as unusually free. The other scandal is that many really open projects, litke the openPOWER (Raptor CS, TALOS II, Blackbird) project failed because too few people bought in. I call it a failure because there has been no follow-up to their 2017 POWER9 hardware, while today's x86 machines, and even x86 machines from that time, offer substantially (by many factors) better energy efficiency and performance. Both matter if you want to scale a product, and if you cannot scale it, few people will be able to use it, because prices will remain prohibitively high or engineers who develop real libre computer hardware will choose to spend their time on something else because there is no reward of doing so.
/thum
That is an excellent way of putting things. I had so much faith in the EOMA68 project. A lightweight, relatively affordable and modular computing device aiming for RYF certification. Meanwhile openPOWER was equivalent to purchasing a used car and completely out of reach for almost anyone interested in freedom.
Very well written, showing the whole dilemma in which all Free Software enthusiasts live with their hardware from a person who tried to help freedom-loving people as best he could with his experience and his company. Thank you very much for that!
Christoph
In some situations, I used my laptops without internet connections because the libre OS didn't support the wifi cards.
I don't normally use laptops away from home and I prefer to avoid wifi, so the lack of wifi support is inconvenient only when I'm homeless.
I had to replace my old laptop recently, and I wasn't willing to buy very old hardware so I gave up on free firmware. Other than firmware I don't have any proprietary software installed.
The lack of modern wifi chipsets that don't require proprietary firmware is a problem that probably won't be solved any time soon.
I am a translator!
I want to only use FSDG-compliant distros and not to add anything to them to make the computer work.
I bought a laptop from novacustom (I guess it is from clevo) perhaps 2 years ago with what was a modern intel CPU of the time. It works fine with Trisquel and I could put a wifi card that works without installing non-free firmware (bought it from Thinkpenguin). I was told that the UEFI installed by the vendor probably includes non-free firmware for the integrated intel GPU, but that is somehow transparent to me.
I also use Trisquel on a T14s with the original Lenovo firmware. I did not have to install anything. I don't use wifi with it, I use a cellular connection via a GL-inet 4G router connected with a LAN cable.
Recently, I bought a T480s for my boyfriend, with the not so libre libreboot, and I chose this because it allows changing the wifi card for one that works with Trisquel, which I did (this time, bought a cheap one second hand). That laptop is from 2018, which I guess a number of people consider as "very old", but it is still much newer than an X200 or a T400.
I would still try to get a coreboot/libreboot intel me disabled device with ath9k wifi card if possible.
If you have to use a newer device, T480s is a good one for this purpose.
Well, it's too late for that. The T480s at least seems better than a lot of the computers recommended here, but I wanted newer hardware and hence decided to go with a newer Thinkpad (not brand new but a refurbished one from a couple of years ago).
The firmware situation sucks but I don't see it changing any time soon. Honestly I've been putting more of my energy into other causes such as animal rights activism which seems to be having an actual impact. When it comes to technology, I'm also more worried about the societal impact of AI (not that I'm against the technology as a whole) than proprietary firmware.
Am running Trisquel on:
i7 elitebook PRO HP: no wifi driver, no ethernet jack, no bluetooth driver, T10 Install worked only after overwriting Windows. Deferring upgrade because I want CTR-A that still selects entire bash scrollback buffer memory. Incorrect character mapping with foreign language since install.
i5 X250 Lenovo: nonexistent wifi. Bluetooth works. Dual boot T8 install, upgraded incrementally till T11. Deferring upgrade till OS backup is done requiring live session.
i3 Aspire acer: no wifi driver, no backlight adjustment driver, T9 Plasma USB install after failure to upgrade past T6. Triskel Plasma missing much needed character map.
2022 asus budget model died with T7, wifi worked however.
Had an acer aspire once, it was 10x less capable then the X200 thinkpad. Although mine had only 1GB of ram and one core, so could be that lol. Also pentium.
In the future, I think you might be able to upgrade your X250 thinkpad to have libreboot put on it and then you can put an ath9k wifi card in due to the wifi driver whitelist being removed so you can use any you want.
Don't just trust me on this though, ask Leah, in the future it might happen. Definitely X270 and X280 though.
I am running Trisquel 12 on a second-hand refurbished desktop. I did not modify the BIOS/UEFI system but I am using the Intel integrated graphics that came with the machine, and ethernet for networking. This is the fastest computer I ever used, and I can accept non-free microcode as long as it does not get updated. The longer it stays unchanged, the higher the chances of catching and mitigating vulnerabilities. This is only possible if the whole operating system is fully libre, drivers and firmware included.
I am still to gather reliable information about other peripherals like external drives. Some of them seem to have the ability to use some embedded non-free code. I am not sure what actually happens when I start my external HDD for archiving or backup purposes.
To me, this is a false dichotomy. Many years ago I chose to live in software freedom. Every decision made since then, such as what hardware to get, was made from that initial decision. So when I install Trisquel I don't have to choose between software freedom and working hardware: I can have both. Everyone can.
Having both limits your hardware truthfully.
Even using libreboot does too.
Coreboot/dasharo has much fewer limits as far as how new the processors can be.
This being said, RYF as you would call it is definitely worth having if possible.
I do think RYP makes more sense to seek though.
Respects Your Privacy another words, as in resisting software/hardware with anti-features especially backdoors!
But its good you at least resist as much proprietary crap as you do.
Did you wait to install Trisquel until after you bought new hardware?
> Everyone can.
I think this is easier said than done and it's becoming increasingly harder year after year. I'm curious, what is your personal, day-to-day recipe? Which hardware do you use for your computing needs?
The GNU Boot project has a list of compatible hardware:
https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuboot/docs/hardware/#desktops-amd-intel-x86
Do the desktops and workstations also have EC? This seems to get trickier at every step, one indeed needs a strong will to succeed in the computing freedom path.
The answer to the above question is in the FAQ page of the GNU Boot project:
"EC is present on nearly all laptops. Other devices use, depending on complexity, either EC or variant with firmware in Mask ROM - SuperIO."
https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuboot/faq.html#ec-embedded-controller-firmware
So that is indeed also a concern for desktops.
I've amassed floor-to-ceiling stacks of hardware, stockpiling Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2Ls, Asus KCMA-D8s, KGPE-D16s, KFSN4-DREs, ThinkPad X60s, X200s, and MacBook2,1s. I'm sitting on enough hardware to last multiple lifetimes. And now, I'm turning to look at RISC-V: https://jxself.org/trisquel-12.shtml
That is impressive to say the least, not sure how you have so much stuff though.
You planning to sell any of those?
I am curious what you plan to use them for if not.
Although Rk3399 is also usable without proprietary blobs.
So if you can find devices with that and no non-free wifi, you could potentially use that as well.
Having a big house is the secret. No plans to sell, though. The stockpile is purely for my own use so I can avoid what I call "the PDP-10 problem", where hardware dies and you're forced onto newer, less free stuff because replacements don't exist. This stash acts as a ratchet for software freedom: It can't slide backward, it can only move forward.
I don't think though you will find much use in having so many backups. Most people only use one computer at a time.
Me? I use at most 3. But it sounds like you have a huge stockpile so... idk what your point is but more power to you I guess?
The bios for those could be considered free though, but what about the other firmwares including EC firmware.
I wonder if that is enough beneath the OS to mean much.
I tend to think if its not completely libre, its best to focus on privacy primarily.
Well, in any case I will be interested in seeing your response.
Going back to the original question:
"I think this is easier said than done and it's becoming increasingly harder year after year. I'm curious, what is your personal, day-to-day recipe? Which hardware do you use for your computing needs?"
For now the answer is to stockpile to make sure you never have to go back to less free hardware. So it is indeed going to get harder for those who have not been stockpiling, like probably most newcomers in software freedom. Is there a way one could contribute to support hardware that comes with more freedom, or at least as much as the ones you mentioned?
The ways I can think about off the top of my head are to talk to people about what you're doing and why; most don't even recognize software freedom as an issue. But it has to be framed in the right way, as one of ethics. Anything less can be out-argued. Tell the hardware makers what you're doing although I think we don't have enough influence to change anything which is why the first is probably more important. But it's not just getting more people caring at all costs but more people caring for the right reasons lest we set ourselves up for future failures. Identify appropriate hardware that can be used without the blobs or reverse engineer the blobs. Buy appropriate hardware from those that do sell it and are trying to do the right thing for software freedom. Maybe there are more ideas I'm not thinking of but I suspect that it would boil down into one of these somehow.
When you say the issue has to be framed as one of ethics, you mean that it's unethical to produce proprietary software, not that it's unethical to use proprietary software. Am I right?
If that is the case, I'm not sure how ethics could be a reason to avoid using proprietary software. I avoid proprietary software because I desire software freedom for myself, so of course when I explain why I care about this it's easy for others to say "I don't care about that," because it seems like a minor thing to most people.
Even though I agree that producing proprietary software is unethical, I don't think that is what motivates me to avoid nonfree software. I'm not sure how to completely describe my motivation, but I'm pretty sure it's a selfish one (i.e. for my own benefit, not in order to help others).
Well, you know I have said my main reason getting into the GNU/linux originally was security/privacy.
Or at least I thought that was it, but I see now, I just that I also hate anti-features in general as well.
Any restrictions that are built into the machine that allow unacceptable functionality I admit peeve me off.
I definitely agree its good to get rid of the blobs though even if they are minor though.
By minor of course I mean doing nothing shady but are still non-free.
Ethics might be the way to do what you are saying, i don't know.
This being said, I feel its also appropriate and effective to ask the question,
"what would a literal strongman, for example, hitler, stalin or similar, would do with all this antifeature crap?"
I mean a good portion of anti-features are to hurt privacy and security.
I saw someone make this argument on some website like a few years or more ago and it has been the way I try to make my point about more.
Governments in general though, shouldn't have this power even if they are currently ruled by good leaders.
Governments do change from time to time and who knows what evil people will get into power.
Because I am from usa though, I definitely feel like that's already happened since the mid 2010s.
I guess I think that should be one of those strong reasons to fight proprietary operating systems, since they usually do all those anti-feature crap. I mean 9 times out of 10 proprietary operating systems do that abuse more than any other with the exception being gaggle which is that and free software although the 2nd part is clearly being used for evil in that instance.
What do you think about that aspect, I mean the question above I asked.
I picked up the Trisquel batten about 6 years ago with Trisquel 8, after years of distro hopping. Ive never really had (or wanted) a super powerful laptop. I'm currently rocking Trisquel mini 12 on an Advent 5611 laptop. Despite only have 2GB RAM and a rusty 160GB HDD it ticks along quite nicely soon to celebrate its 20th birthday with just changing the wifi card!
Ive got a Thinkpad T60 that I performed open heart surgery on and installed Libreboot, upgraded the CPU for 64 but compatibilitym, swapped out the Wifi card and installed Trisquel 12 but rarely use that. I wonder how many modern laptops will last as long.
I have peeked over the garden fence but always seem to end up reinstalling Trisquel as I know it "just runs". Its thanks to the hard work of the maintainers I'm happy to donate when I can.
> and some need both proprietary GPU and network card drivers to function properly.
Once I decided using more free sofware became something I wanted to pursue, I sold the computer I had on which Trisquel could not run easily and bought a X220 on which Trisquel runs fine. It is a start towards a freer machine.