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I got interested in ARM desktop & laptop hardware while I was looking for more open solutions. Remarkably, the only modern hardware that is truly open top-down,

by nextos 10y ago

I got interested in ARM desktop & laptop hardware while I was looking for more open solutions. Remarkably, the only modern hardware that is truly open top-down, including firmware, are cheap Rockchip Chromebooks [1]. I'm also looking forward to POWER offerings, which might be more performant and thus suitable as workstations [2]. [1] https://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/c201.html https://libreboot.org/docs/hcl/c201.html [2] https://www.raptorengineering.com/TALOS/prerelease.php https://www.raptorengineering.com/TALOS/prerelease.php

new299 10y ago
In terms of this article, the RK3288 is a 32bit ARM7. I've also been looking at this. I think the Google Pixel C might be a good option, for a 64bit ARM laptop. I've seen some talk of running Ubuntu on it. But it uses the Nvidia TX1 which has good Ubuntu support on the TX1 Jetson.
- nextos 10y ago
  I thought the Pixel C bootloader was looked. Do you have any pointers to instructions on how to boot Ubuntu on this machine? The problem with ARM architectures is the lack of a standard boot system.
  - ashitlerferad 10y ago
    UEFI is the standard firmware these days, at least for ARM servers.
  - metafex 10y ago
    It is locked. There is a switch like with the Chromebooks, but to reach it you have to disassemble it. OTOH rooting and running custom kernels works. Not ideal but it works for some use-cases. edit: The Pixel C runs on Coreboot of course.
    - nextos 10y ago
      Yep, but has anyone successfully installed Linux (aside from ChromeOS, obviously)?
mwcampbell 10y ago
This is still 32-bit only, but you might be interested in the EOMA68 modular computing hardware campaign on Crowd Supply. [1] Since it's modular, at least we can potentially have a 64-bit computer card later, while re-using the micro-desktop and laptop housing. [1]: https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop
- TD-Linux 10y ago
  Or the Novena, also on CrowdSupply [1]. It's the closest to a "real" ARM computer as I've found. It has 4GB of RAM, SATA, and all the peripherals you'd expect for a laptop or low profile desktop. I've used it to design PCBs in KiCAD - second generation open hardware :) Though again, it's only 32bit, and while that works great for most purposes, it still leaves the OP's point valid. (I have one of the early 64-bit 8-core hikey 96boards mentioned, and I'd take the Novena over it any day) [1] https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena
keenerd 10y ago
I use an RK3288 as my main dev machine these days. It is faster than the 64 bit x86 thinkpad it replaced. Overall, pretty nice. Some of my experiences are summarized here: http://kmkeen.com/c100p-tweaks/ http://kmkeen.com/c100p-tweaks/

by nextos 10y ago

new299 10y ago

In terms of this article, the RK3288 is a 32bit ARM7. I've also been looking at this. I think the Google Pixel C might be a good option, for a 64bit ARM laptop. I've seen some talk of running Ubuntu on it. But it uses the Nvidia TX1 which has good Ubuntu support on the TX1 Jetson.

nextos 10y ago
I thought the Pixel C bootloader was looked. Do you have any pointers to instructions on how to boot Ubuntu on this machine? The problem with ARM architectures is the lack of a standard boot system.
- ashitlerferad 10y ago
  UEFI is the standard firmware these days, at least for ARM servers.
- metafex 10y ago
  It is locked. There is a switch like with the Chromebooks, but to reach it you have to disassemble it. OTOH rooting and running custom kernels works. Not ideal but it works for some use-cases. edit: The Pixel C runs on Coreboot of course.
  - nextos 10y ago
    Yep, but has anyone successfully installed Linux (aside from ChromeOS, obviously)?

mwcampbell 10y ago

This is still 32-bit only, but you might be interested in the EOMA68 modular computing hardware campaign on Crowd Supply. [1] Since it's modular, at least we can potentially have a 64-bit computer card later, while re-using the micro-desktop and laptop housing. [1]: https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop

TD-Linux 10y ago
Or the Novena, also on CrowdSupply [1]. It's the closest to a "real" ARM computer as I've found. It has 4GB of RAM, SATA, and all the peripherals you'd expect for a laptop or low profile desktop. I've used it to design PCBs in KiCAD - second generation open hardware :) Though again, it's only 32bit, and while that works great for most purposes, it still leaves the OP's point valid. (I have one of the early 64-bit 8-core hikey 96boards mentioned, and I'd take the Novena over it any day) [1] https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena

keenerd 10y ago

I use an RK3288 as my main dev machine these days. It is faster than the 64 bit x86 thinkpad it replaced. Overall, pretty nice. Some of my experiences are summarized here: http://kmkeen.com/c100p-tweaks/ http://kmkeen.com/c100p-tweaks/