Making Free Software easy to use and commonly available

[Otto Kekäläinen]

Hello,

I just wanted to share two pieces of information that I hope everybody
who do FS advocacy would know:


1) If the target uses Windows and has no experience with Free
Software, give them a VALO-CD. See www.valo-cd.net for details (in
English)


2) If the person already uses some FS, and you want them to make a
strategic decision to always us FS, suggest them to buy a
pre-installed Linux-laptop. This way their experience is likely to be
happy and at the same time they contribute in the process of "voting
with their money" to show laptop manufacturers that Linux support is
important.

My own favorite is the Dell XPS 13, which comes with Ubuntu
preinstalled but you can replace the distro with your favorite as the
drivers are open and custom kernel is public at Launchpad.net. Details
at http://seravo.fi/2013/dell-xps-13-ubuntu-edition-first-impressions

A long and updated list of pre-installed laptops available is at
http://linuxpreloaded.com/

[Federico Bruni]

2013/9/28 Otto Kek?l?inen <otto at fsfe.org>

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
My own favorite is the Dell XPS 13, which comes with Ubuntu
preinstalled but you can replace the distro with your favorite as the
drivers are open and custom kernel is public at Launchpad.net. Details
at http://seravo.fi/2013/dell-xps-13-ubuntu-edition-first-impressions

It's the last laptop I bought :-)
I've installed Debian and it works great. You don't need the kernel at
Launchpad but you should use a recent kernel (3.4 or newer) which supports
Cypress pad.
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[Daniel Pocock]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
Hello,
I just wanted to share two pieces of information that I hope everybody
1) If the target uses Windows and has no experience with Free
Software, give them a VALO-CD. See www.valo-cd.net for details (in
English)
2) If the person already uses some FS, and you want them to make a
strategic decision to always us FS, suggest them to buy a
pre-installed Linux-laptop. This way their experience is likely to be
happy and at the same time they contribute in the process of "voting
with their money" to show laptop manufacturers that Linux support is
important.

These are good tips. One of the leading strategies that I've seen in
corporate sales (involving free and proprietary solutions) is to focus
on problems: what are the biggest problems facing the person or
business? They may not always be obvious IT problems either.

At one point, I was in the headquarters of a large international
corporation at a meeting of the IT heads from every business division.
Some prominent open source products had made it onto the agenda. Top of
the list was Firefox.

Basically, this is large group of some 30 people for whom time is in
very short supply. For them to get together and sacrifice even 10
minutes discussing a single topic only happens when there is a burning
problem that can't be ignored.

To cut to the chase, they didn't get together to discuss Firefox out of
sentimental reasons: they were discussing it because, like every big
corporation, they had a problem migrating web-apps from IE6 to IE8 as
there is no way a big company can just migrate all their in-house
web-apps in one day.

Many people had proposed Firefox as a solution and one argument was the
fact that it is easier to support concurrent installation of IE6+Firefox
than IE6+IE8. The proposed solution: staff would access the upgraded
apps with Firefox and legacy apps through IE6 over a period of
months/years while the migration work was completed.

So my advice would be: don't hope for every user to make a strategic
solution right away. Make a list of known problems, like IE6, privacy,
inconvenience managing license keys, proprietary vendors offering
support by 0900 number, and have a list of open source solutions next to
each problem. They may let you solve some of their problems first and
then when they see the pattern, they will think open source strategy was
their own conclusion.

For those aiming at a niche market, the problems are more bespoke.
There are also common problems across all industries that are probably
easily shared through a wiki or this list.

[Carsten Agger]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
Hello,
I just wanted to share two pieces of information that I hope everybody
1) If the target uses Windows and has no experience with Free
Software, give them a VALO-CD. See www.valo-cd.net for details (in
English)

This is a good initiative, and very useful. Back in 2010, I did a talk
at a seminar held by the Danish union HK on "Free Software for Microsoft
Windows" where I ended by handing out OpenDisc,
http://www.theopendisc.com/, a related project, but in English (and
currently not very active, it seems). The particpants were very happy
about receiving all that software and also started asking questions
about GNU/Linux systems and how to get them without my having to mention it.

[Matthias Kirschner]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
2) If the person already uses some FS, and you want them to make a
strategic decision to always us FS, suggest them to buy a
pre-installed Linux-laptop. This way their experience is likely to be
happy and at the same time they contribute in the process of "voting
with their money" to show laptop manufacturers that Linux support is
important.
My own favorite is the Dell XPS 13, which comes with Ubuntu
preinstalled but you can replace the distro with your favorite as the
drivers are open and custom kernel is public at Launchpad.net. Details
at http://seravo.fi/2013/dell-xps-13-ubuntu-edition-first-impressions

Looks like the discussion continued in the blogs, without a follow-up
here. So make sure to read Hugo's
http://hroy.eu/posts/dell_xps13_first_impressions/ and Paul's
https://blogs.fsfe.org/pboddie/?p=490 articles about the laptop. Beside
Otto also had to update the page about the laptop:

We found out that the in the new laptop shipped to us this fall the
Intel wifi card has been replaced with an Atheros wifi card, which
unfortunately does not have a proper Linux driver, thus the connection
issues. It seems Dell has been aware of Atheros wifi card problems
since July as a thread in the Dell support forum shows, but still they
ship the ?downgraded? crappy model. With some tweaking, you may or may
not get the Atheros wifi model working.

As the whole point of buying a pre-installed Linux laptop is to get
hardware that is guaranteed to work with Linux, we can no longer
recommend this laptop. It is a shame. Our earlier Dell XPS 13 still
works perfectly as it has the Intel wifi card.

The other problem in this offer is Ubuntu itself. First because of
spying on the users by default (see Richard Stallman's "Ubuntu Spyware:
What to do?" <https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do>
or EFF's "Privacy in Ubuntu 12.10: Amazon Ads and Data Leaks"
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks>.
Second, as I assume you would also be interested to buy a machine with
GNU/Linux preinstalled instead of Microsoft Windows, although you will
afterwards choose another distribution, it helps to prefer offers with
distributions which do not include non-free software like Ubuntu does.
If the hardware works one of those distributios, it will also work with
another GNU/Linux distribution, which does not include non-free
software.

I am still a bit unsure what the better way is for the future (in the
past I already did both): buy a computer without an operating system and
install GNU/Linux distribution of my own choice. This way I do not
spent money on non-free Software (although some money might still go to
Microsoft, because the vendor has to pay them independant of how the
machine was sold to me). Other way I buy a laptop with GNU/Linux
preinstalled which includes non-free software. This way I pay money for
non-free software -- which I very much dislike -- but on the other hand
I show my demand for laptops with GNU/Linux preinstalled which makes it
easier for friends and family to buy hardware without my help which
includes much more Free Software and less non-free software, than if
they would if they buy a Microsoft Windows or Apple machine.

Best Regards,
Matthias

[Otto Kekäläinen]

Post by Matthias Kirschner
The other problem in this offer is Ubuntu itself. First because of
What to do?" <https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do>
or EFF's "Privacy in Ubuntu 12.10: Amazon Ads and Data Leaks"
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks>.

The Dell machine comes pre-installed with Ubuntu 12.04, which does not
have this Amazon lookup feature, and anyways I run Gnome 3 so pretty
much everybody I know who used to be Ubuntu fans have switched from
the Unity crap to something else: Gnome 3, KDE, Xfce, LXDE etc.. but
that is a different story.

Post by Matthias Kirschner
Second, as I assume you would also be interested to buy a machine with
GNU/Linux preinstalled instead of Microsoft Windows, although you will
afterwards choose another distribution, it helps to prefer offers with
distributions which do not include non-free software like Ubuntu does.
If the hardware works one of those distributios, it will also work with
another GNU/Linux distribution, which does not include non-free
software.

I haven't tried if I can run Trisquel on this, which would be the most
purest form of freedom, but also I don't think I fully understand the
issue either and I am not aware of which parts of standard Debian or
Ubuntu are actually non-free software like fsfe.org and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisquel claims.

Besides the normal Ubuntu repos, the Dell XPS 13 seems to have the
following extra repos for drivers

deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb http://opensource.dell.com/releases/sputnik/archive precise main
deb-src http://opensource.dell.com/releases/sputnik/archive precise main
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ precise-dell public
deb-src http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ precise-dell public
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/canonical-hwe-team/sputnik-kernel/ubuntu
precise main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/canonical-hwe-team/sputnik-kernel/ubuntu
precise main

These all have at least deb-src-lines also and nowhere does my system
say any restricted (non-free) drivers are in use, like it would say on
Ubuntu computers where Ubuntu detects hardware that needs non-free
drivers. But I don't have time to investigate this to the roots, but
feel free to look at the repos above and tell me if you find non-free
stuff.


Anyway I think Dell XPS 13 is great. It might not be perfect, but it
is still the best thing I've seen so far. It enables me to get a real
GNU/Linux system without unbearable cost or functional sacrifices. In
fact, it has functional advantages that makes it in the top range of
laptops available at the moment. Very cool.

Browsing through sites like http://linuxpreloaded.com/ or the FSF
directory I can find only one single laptop that is sold pre-installed
with Trisquel: https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/emperor-penguin-gnu-linux-notebook.
I am a customer of ThinkPenguin for other hardware and at least the
Fellow Tobias Platen has bought a laptop from there. They have at
least Spanish and Swedish(=Finnish) keyboards and ship
internationally. If their laptop is OK to you then that would be the
most freedom loving choice.

Unfrotunately the current thinkpenguin.com model isn't an ultrabook.
In general, the Finnish keyboard requirement alone narrows down the
options alot (I can't stop using ???, right?). I guess lot's of you
need Danish, German etc keyboards and Dell XPS 13 is a model that is
available in many countries with native keyboards. For me as a Finn I
can at the moment choose between Mac laptops, Windows laptops, a few
Ubuntu laptops and some Chrome laptops. Of these, I chose Ubuntu.

98 out of 100 Linux geeks I know - and also according to the two polls
I made at FOSDEM 2013 - don't by any kind of pre-installed Linux
machines, but they buy Windows laptops and Mac laptops and then
convert them into Linux machines, without supporting the pre-installed
Linux-industry in any way. This is the real problem we should seek to
change.

I am proud I've done something about this, advertised it, and helped
things go in the better direction. We don't live in a perfect world
yet, but we will eventually get there if we vote with our money and
persuade our fellow geeks and perhaps even others to vote with their
money.

Of those reading this thread - how many of you are currently running a
machine that did not come with any kind of Linux pre-installed?

[Michael Kesper]

Hi Otto, hi all,

Post by Otto Kekäläinen

Post by Matthias Kirschner
Second, as I assume you would also be interested to buy a machine with
GNU/Linux preinstalled instead of Microsoft Windows, although you will
afterwards choose another distribution, it helps to prefer offers with
distributions which do not include non-free software like Ubuntu does.
If the hardware works one of those distributios, it will also work with
another GNU/Linux distribution, which does not include non-free
software.

I haven't tried if I can run Trisquel on this, which would be the most
purest form of freedom, but also I don't think I fully understand the
issue either and I am not aware of which parts of standard Debian or
Ubuntu are actually non-free software like fsfe.org and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisquel claims.

Yeah it's not so easy and saying "Trisquel" sounds a lot like "Jehovah"
to me[0]. ;)
We run machines with CPUs featuring complex proprietary programs and
non-free BIOSes.

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
Anyway I think Dell XPS 13 is great. It might not be perfect, but it
is still the best thing I've seen so far. It enables me to get a real
GNU/Linux system without unbearable cost or functional sacrifices. In
fact, it has functional advantages that makes it in the top range of
laptops available at the moment. Very cool.

If the Dell comes with a bad WIFI, that should be one of the most easy
parts to change, right?

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
98 out of 100 Linux geeks I know - and also according to the two polls
I made at FOSDEM 2013 - don't by any kind of pre-installed Linux
machines, but they buy Windows laptops and Mac laptops and then
convert them into Linux machines, without supporting the pre-installed
Linux-industry in any way. This is the real problem we should seek to
change.

Yes, the preloaded "certified for Windows", "xyz recommends Microsoft"
is what we should attack.

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
Of those reading this thread - how many of you are currently running a
machine that did not come with any kind of Linux pre-installed?

No machine of mine came preinstalled with GNU/Linux (Android doesn't
count, right?).

There exist only very few laptops compatible with Coreboot:
http://www.coreboot.org/Supported_Motherboards#Laptops
The only modern ones are the two chromebooks.

Best wishes
Michael

[0] Clarification: It's meant as an expression of hypocrisy.

[Otto Kekäläinen]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
Anyway I think Dell XPS 13 is great. It might not be perfect, but it
is still the best thing I've seen so far. It enables me to get a real
GNU/Linux system without unbearable cost or functional sacrifices. In
fact, it has functional advantages that makes it in the top range of
laptops available at the moment. Very cool.

If the Dell comes with a bad WIFI, that should be one of the most easy parts
to change, right?

Just as a clarification: the one I bought in the spring is great, with
Intel wifi. The second one my collegue got this autum came with
atheros wifi, does not work. Don't buy unless Dell promises to deliver
a model with Intel wifi (as it still says in the tech specs at
dell.com).

[Andres]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
Of those reading this thread - how many of you are currently running a
machine that did not come with any kind of Linux pre-installed?

Acer aspire one zg5 ssd with linpus preinstalled. 6 years ago. Ran different flavours and now running trisquel mini (lxde) though I would like gnome3 again. I recently bought a ?30 battery and life went from 15min to >6hrs.


My sister in law had one with hdd with xp, it failed, so I installed ubuntu. Worked fine until a SMART diagnosed eminent failure. Gave me the laptop I swapped keyboard (I wanted spanish) and a friend repaired the hdd with I don't what tool (problably nonfree). It is now used in our workshps with trisquel mini for arduino projects.

Acer aspiresone zg5 are available on ebay for ?1. Only thing that does not work is battery. Only thing nonfree is bios according to h-node.

?does anybody know of an holistic tool that repairs broken blocks? Free software?

[Mauricio Nascimento]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen
I am proud I've done something about this, advertised it, and helped
things go in the better direction. We don't live in a perfect world
yet, but we will eventually get there if we vote with our money and
persuade our fellow geeks and perhaps even others to vote with their
money.

Indeed, at least buying a laptop without an OS or with linux
pre-installed.
After you showed me your laptop at ECM, I am looking for a
replacement of mine.
Probably I will buy one from System76
(https://www.system76.com/home/), don't know which model yet.

Cheers,

Mauricio

[Besnik Bleta]

Post by Otto Kekäläinen

Post by Matthias Kirschner
The other problem in this offer is Ubuntu itself. First because of
What to do?" <https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do>
or EFF's "Privacy in Ubuntu 12.10: Amazon Ads and Data Leaks"
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks>.

The Dell machine comes pre-installed with Ubuntu 12.04, which does not
have this Amazon lookup feature, and anyways I run Gnome 3 so pretty
much everybody I know who used to be Ubuntu fans have switched from
the Unity crap to something else: Gnome 3, KDE, Xfce, LXDE etc.. but
that is a different story.

Post by Matthias Kirschner
Second, as I assume you would also be interested to buy a machine with
GNU/Linux preinstalled instead of Microsoft Windows, although you will
afterwards choose another distribution, it helps to prefer offers with
distributions which do not include non-free software like Ubuntu does.
If the hardware works one of those distributios, it will also work with
another GNU/Linux distribution, which does not include non-free
software.

I haven't tried if I can run Trisquel on this, which would be the most
purest form of freedom, but also I don't think I fully understand the
issue either and I am not aware of which parts of standard Debian or
Ubuntu are actually non-free software like fsfe.org and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisquel claims.
Besides the normal Ubuntu repos, the Dell XPS 13 seems to have the
following extra repos for drivers
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb http://opensource.dell.com/releases/sputnik/archive precise main
deb-src http://opensource.dell.com/releases/sputnik/archive precise main
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ precise-dell public
deb-src http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ precise-dell public
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/canonical-hwe-team/sputnik-kernel/ubuntu
precise main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/canonical-hwe-team/sputnik-kernel/ubuntu
precise main
These all have at least deb-src-lines also and nowhere does my system
say any restricted (non-free) drivers are in use, like it would say on
Ubuntu computers where Ubuntu detects hardware that needs non-free
drivers. But I don't have time to investigate this to the roots, but
feel free to look at the repos above and tell me if you find non-free
stuff.
Anyway I think Dell XPS 13 is great. It might not be perfect, but it
is still the best thing I've seen so far. It enables me to get a real
GNU/Linux system without unbearable cost or functional sacrifices. In
fact, it has functional advantages that makes it in the top range of
laptops available at the moment. Very cool.
Browsing through sites like http://linuxpreloaded.com/ or the FSF
directory I can find only one single laptop that is sold pre-installed
with Trisquel: https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/emperor-penguin-gnu-linux-notebook.
I am a customer of ThinkPenguin for other hardware and at least the
Fellow Tobias Platen has bought a laptop from there. They have at
least Spanish and Swedish(=Finnish) keyboards and ship
internationally. If their laptop is OK to you then that would be the
most freedom loving choice.
Unfrotunately the current thinkpenguin.com model isn't an ultrabook.
In general, the Finnish keyboard requirement alone narrows down the
options alot (I can't stop using ???, right?). I guess lot's of you
need Danish, German etc keyboards and Dell XPS 13 is a model that is
available in many countries with native keyboards. For me as a Finn I
can at the moment choose between Mac laptops, Windows laptops, a few
Ubuntu laptops and some Chrome laptops. Of these, I chose Ubuntu.
98 out of 100 Linux geeks I know - and also according to the two polls
I made at FOSDEM 2013 - don't by any kind of pre-installed Linux
machines, but they buy Windows laptops and Mac laptops and then
convert them into Linux machines, without supporting the pre-installed
Linux-industry in any way. This is the real problem we should seek to
change.
I am proud I've done something about this, advertised it, and helped
things go in the better direction. We don't live in a perfect world
yet, but we will eventually get there if we vote with our money and
persuade our fellow geeks and perhaps even others to vote with their
money.
Of those reading this thread - how many of you are currently running a
machine that did not come with any kind of Linux pre-installed?

For the records, my 2006 HP laptop didn't have any GNU/Linux
pre-installed. My main box has always been a custom built. Both run
GNU/Linux.

cheers
Besnik