Due to AMD/BlackMagic shenanigans, I had to drop Solus on my main work desktop machine.
However, this didn't stop continuing using it on my laptop. As my MIIX 320 netbook, just had an entire column of keys, stop working for no particular reasons (Checked the contacts under it, nothing there. Seems to be common), I've decided to go buy myself, a proper GNU+Linux supported laptops.
Since I've bought quite many things this end of the year, most purism/system76/starlabs/tuxedo computers weren't for me. So, I've decided to check out minifree - Ministry of Freedom builds, which I knew a long time ago from the Libreboot project which suggested it.
This UK company, propose refurbished Thinkpad's (Seems mostly mid-2010 ones, I suppose it should be plenty sufficient for me), with (Atleast, for that T400 model I've chosen) :
- Choice between UK or US keyboards (I may be French, but I'm used to typing on a US qwerty keyboard as I tend to type more in English than usual)
- A 4Core CPU mods with two Core 2 Quad Q9000 CPUs installed in.
- A FOSS BIOS implementation built-in (osboot, Libreboot, coreboot available) I've chosen the suggested, osboot as i've never managed to do that sort of upgrade. They assure it's simple to maintain and they'll gladly help you.
- AR5BXB112 WiFi cards, instead of AR5B95. For better support for the Linux-libre kernel for those who want it. (I don't particularly like Proprietary software, especially when i've just aknowledged it at the beginning of this post, but i do prefer using hardware supported to the very Libre core of the Linux kernel, so that i'm sure it will be fully supported. Already had encountered such stupid issues even here by the past).
- Your choice of the OS installed in my default. That's where the fun part comes. I know how to install OS distributions, distro-switched plenty of times, but I wanted to share it there, also to show that they had no issues accepting installing Solus onto my ordered machine.
Hi PoorPocketsMcNewHold,
As requested, I will install Solus with the Budgie desktop environment.
I shall also install a USA keyboard.
On Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:49:43 +0000
"RetroFreedom.com" info@minifree.org wrote:
= New customer order =
You have received an order from Goral Kévin.
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ORDER NUMBER: Should i censor my order number, or not ?
December 30, 2021
Libre T400 with 8GB RAM, 240GB SSD +Quad-core Q9000 and 16MB SPI flash
upgrade (#libret400) X 1 = £358.00
Subtotal: £358.00
Shipping: £60.00 via European Union
Payment method: Wire transfer / Bank transfer
(BACS/SWIFT/ACH/SEPA/etc)
Total: £418.00
Note: osboot
Solus, the Budgie version preferably (I could switch to an another DE
later on such base)
USA Keyboard
View order:
https://minifree.org/glugluglug/wp-admin/post.php?post=IllCensorItJustToBeSure&action=edit
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I'll keep you updated on that. Not only that, but I will be interested into checking if you people, had previous experiences, with osboot or any other FOSS BIOS firmware, Thinkpad's of that era (or if I can correct that MIIX 320, it can still be usefull 🙂).
PS :
