Oh nice thanks!

Sadly not!

Hey! You can also post this to !beatles@sopuli.xyz if you fancy :)

Beatles

Cheers! Fwiw, here’s a list of compatible desktops from the libreboot website:

• Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L motherboard
• Acer G43T-AM3
• Intel D510MO and D410PT motherboards
• Apple iMac 5,2
• HP Elite 8200 SFF (HP 6200 Pro Business probably works too)

Does this require fiddling with software?

Depends. Libreboot replaces your processor’s firmware with fully libre software. Most importantly, it gets rid of Intel Management Engine, which is a firmware-level spyware that all modern laptops have. Almost all laptops are stuck with this firmware – the sole exception are ~10 machines, mostly Toshiba, from 2008-2012ish. With these, you can completely eliminate the Intel ME by flashing your firmware with libreboot.

Now, in most cases, this requires tinkering with hardware. If you’re lucky, you can find a ThinkPad model that you can flash without having to gut the whole machine first. So in most cases (to my understanding), librebooting a machine is heavy on having to disassemble your laptop.

Does it work out of the box?

If by ‘out of the box’ you mean ‘works without issue once installed’, then yes. Once you’ve done the fiddling and set everything up, you don’t even have to think of libreboot again.

Some motherboard bios will give overclocking(OC) options. Does Libreboot give OC options, RAID drivers, or boot security options (encrypted OS)?

This is mostly beyond my expertise, but I recommend going through libreboot’s extremely informative official website.

If i wanted to take my current Franken-desktop and switch out the BIOS/UEFI and keep the OS, could this do it gracefully?

Almost definitely no. Libreboot only works on a select few devices, all of which have been out of production for about a decade (usually more). It’s a great option if you’re 1) Willing to tinker, AND 2) Either have one of the compatible models lying around, OR 3) Are willing to find one off of eBay auctions or local marketplaces.

You can find the list of compatible laptops on the libreboot website – if you’re lucky, maybe you have/can find one of these. If not, I’m not fully sure this has been of much help to you :')

The main appeal of libreboot is that you can truly create a 100% libre laptop with it. No blobs, no proprietary software, no invasive surveillance even at the firmware level.

Could you share any particular points that made you switch? I’m currently on Manjaro and I was thinking of switching to Fedora. But now I’ve started hearing good things about Debian…not sure how to proceed!

What’s this?

Oh interesting! Last I checked Njalla was Bitcoin/Ethereum only but glad they accept XMR now. I run a 1984 VPS so can confirm that they accept XMR. I prefer them as they’re cheaper than Njalla (only a little bit still)

I believe it can but don’t take my word for it

Great. I don’t know enough to use either but I think I’m going to try lean on podman from the get go. In any case, I know that all podman commands are exactly identical to Docker, such that you can replace, say, docker compose with podman compose and move on with ease.

Do you think Podman is ready to take over Docker? My understanding is that Podman is Docker without the root requirement.

Does this only work from a browser, or can one do it via the apps e.g. Jerboa, as well?

Hey, I’d strongly recommend using njal.la or 1984.is to get a VPS and run your own instance from it. Both services are organisationally designed to fend off DMCA and other takedown notices. Like literally, the Njalla creator has a whole page where he mockingly replies to such requests.

Njalla is based in Sweden, 1984 in Iceland. Both accept anonymous crypto payments, but only 1984 accepts Monero.

More generally, I’d recommend these two services to anyone interested in running an instance catered to “risky” topics like piracy.

The basic mistake I see us all make is assume that Spez has any emotional attachment to Reddit (let alone anything close to how attached we are to it). He doesn’t.

Once you realize that he’s 100% in it for the money and is utterly uncaring about Reddit’s users (i.e. you), you’ll realize that he couldn’t give less of a shit about actually addressing our concerns.

This will also make you immune to any PR sanitising lies him and his team spout, as all such lies hinge on your willingness to give him some benefit of the doubt. We shouldn’t.

Half life 2 + Episodes One and Two, Portal, Civ 5. All fantastic games, completely unmonetized (except for the upfront price of course) and each with impeccable storylines (receipt Civ of course).

I just hope Valve make another game like HL2 or Portal sometime in the future. I’ll buy it without second thought.

Just a question for Android users. What if you create a Work Profile and ringfence this surveillance app to that profile only? Could that be a potential workaround it this passes through?

Any good recommendations for FOSS keyboards with Swype-like functionality? Literally the only thing keeping me attached to GBoard…