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- <!DOCTYPE html>
- <html>
- <head>
- <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></meta>
- <title>How do you build a computer like mine?</title>
- </head>
- <body>
- <h2>Motivation</h2>
- <p>To build a free (as in freedom, not free <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biryani">Biryani</a>) computer
- running completely on freedom respecting software without any prorpietary binary blobs.</p>
- <h2>Hardware</h2>
- <p>
- A Libreboot X200s bought from <a
- href="https://www.flashedtech.com/product-page/libreboot-x200s-notebook-8gb-ram-256ssd">here</a>.
- The proprietor of Flashed Tech, Jordan Smith was generous enough to upgrade me to 512 GB SSD for a delay in order
- processing. Jordan helped me in building the machine from bottom up, just the way I wanted it.
- Also, shipped it through USPS to India. It took weeks to reach India and stayed at the Customs office here.
- The Customs officer here in Bangalore was asking me to pay a bribe (indirectly) to release my laptop.
- The Customs officer had questions such as -
- <ul>
- <li>"Why are you importing a laptop from US when there are plenty available here in India?", </li>
- <li>"How do you know Jordan Smith?", </li>
- <li>"Why are you paying a 30% custom duty + 18% tax on the already purchased product?",</li>
- <li>"Why can't you buy a cheaper machine instead?",</li>
- <li>"You look like an honest hardworking person/student to me, why do you pay so much customs to the Government? instead we could settle for something lesser"</li>
- </ul>
- It was like an interrogation (obviously, for solicitation). As if I had committed a crime under the Law of the Land,
- just to buy a laptop from another country (which everyone is anyway doing when they buy through an Indian shop here).
- I did somehow manage (well, I had to pretend that I was recording the conversation and then might make it public. The customs officer felt a little
- threatened by that) to get the laptop released by not paying any bribe but, by making legal customs payment with receipt.
- I had to go all the way to the Post office which is about 10 miles away from my place to get this all done.
- Also, the parcel wasn't delivered to my home but I had to pick it up directly from the Post office.
- It took about a month to reach my hands since I placed the order!
- I have been using it for about a year now and it works just fine.
- There are other <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/laptops">models and vendors</a> too, whom you may buy from.
- <h3>Peripherals</h3>
- I use two external displays (<a
- href="https://images10.newegg.com/UploadFilesForNewegg/itemintelligence/dell/dell_u2412m_User_s_20Guide_en_us1400443493597.pdf">Dell
- U2412M</a>) with the above machine which are connect to an <a
- href="https://store.vikings.net/libre-friendly-hardware/ultrabase">Ultrabase X200 docking station</a>. Having a
- docking station helps in connecting
- more number of USB devices, provides for additional battery charging capability, has own speakers, and a SATA drive
- bay that could be used for DVD/CD or an additional hard disk.
- The in-built LCD display for the Libreboot has been removed completely in the setup I have. It's just the keyboard and the laptop base. Inspiration to do so -
- <a href="https://typewriterrevolution.com/">The typewriter</a>.
- Well, they are hard to find these days. Also, my Libreboot doesn't become a typewriter just by removing the LCD display because it still lacks the paper input.
- The essence of the typewriter (to me) lies in its keys and tactile feedback. I felt the Libreboot X200s keyboard reminded me of that vaguely. Therefore, I made a headless (as in laptop without its own display)
- unit for laptop,
- but with external displays for usage. Going headless makes it less portable, but I chose aesthetics and nostalgia over portability.
- These displays are connected to Ultrabase X200 docking station using VGA and Display port cables. One display is in
- vertical and
- the other in horizontal mode.
- The vertical mode is usually used for running GUI applications and horizontal mode runs an integrated development
- environment.
- Other peripheral devices include a Dell KB216t USB keyboard, an USB mouse and a Logitech C270 HD camera with
- microphone. These peripherals are additional to make the system more convenient for usage. They are mere addons except for the camera which is needed for video
- conferencing and video recording.
- All the peripherals work with free driver softwares and do not need any proprietary binaries to be installed.
- </p>
- <h2>Software</h2>
- <p>
- <h3>Firmware</h3>
- Uses <a href="https://libreboot.org/">Libreboot</a> BIOS. Proprietary BIOS and <a
- href="https://libreboot.org/faq.html#intelme">Intel management engine (ME)</a> have been me removed.
- <h3>Operating System</h3>
- <a href="https://trisquel.info/">Trisquel 8.0 - A fully free GNU/Linux operating system.</a>
- <h3>Networking</h3>
- Usage of Wired Ethernet to connect to internet using Tor as described in this <a
- href="http://www.upubuntu.com/2012/10/how-to-configure-your-computer-to-use.html?m=1">article</a>.
- The commands in the article work well with Trisquel 8. Any application can be made to run over Tor from command line.
- I use wired ethernet for networking as it supports 1Gbps bandwidth (instead of wireless).
- <h3>Desktop environment</h3>
- I use the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MATE_(software)">Mate</a> desktop environment for most of my work.
- I also have <a href="https://www.gnome.org/">GNOME</a> which can be selected before logging in.
- </p>
- <h3>Web Browser</h3>
- <a href="https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/abrowser-help">Abrowser</a> 78.0.2 with <a
- href="https://www.gnu.org/software/librejs/">GNU LibreJS</a>,
- <a href="https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere">HTTPS Everywhere</a>, <a
- href="https://mybrowseraddon.com/tor-button.html">Onion browser button</a> and Third-party request blocker addons.
- <h3>Email</h3>
- <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Icedove">Icedove</a> email client with <a href="https://www.enigmail.net/index.php/en/">Enigmail</a> addon.
- <br/>
- <br/>
- <h3>A headless Libreboot X200s with external displays</h3>
- <img src="../img/2020Setup.jpg" height="500px" width="700px" alt="2020 computer setup"></img>
- <p>Photo created using <a href="https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Cheese">Cheese</a> application for GNOME</p>
- <p>
- <h3>Want to read more? Subscribe to my weekly writings.</h3>
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- <p>Copyright © 2020, Girish M <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><img
- alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="../img/cc.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed
- under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons
- Attribution 4.0 International License</a>. The source for this web-page can be found <a
- href="https://notabug.org/girishm/girishm.nfshost.com/src/master/assets/writings/MyComputer.html">here</a>
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