Re: [Tails-dev] Reviewed laptops?

Delete this message

Reply to this message
Author: Chris
Date:  
To: The Tails public development discussion list
Subject: Re: [Tails-dev] Reviewed laptops?
Try 2.

On 03/15/2013 04:33 AM, sajolida@??? wrote:
> On 13/03/13 22:41, Jacob Appelbaum wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I was discussing laptop choices for use with tails today; I wasn't able
>> to find an easy reference for laptops that people suggest for use with
>> Tails.


There may not be one. You can get laptops at ThinkPenguin that work
perfectly with Tails. There are few laptops on the market with proper
GNU/Linux support. Most distributions work around the issue by including
non-free drivers/firmware. ThinkPenguin hardware is not dependent on
these proprietary components and will work with most distributions well
across the board. The GNU/Linux developers can fix bugs, make
improvements, etc. There is no reliance on the manufacturer or designer
for updated drivers.

Tails will work out of the box with all ThinkPenguin hardware.

> There isn't such a list. The only list that is maintained by Tails is a
> blacklist of hardware with known issues:
>
> https://tails.boum.org/support/known_issues/
>
>> It would be nice to have a list of laptops, especially cheap netbooks,
>> that work flawlessly with Tails
> It could be easier to look for a list of laptops that work flawlessly
> with Debian and has at least 1GB of RAM. Then they should work with Tails.
>
> The other day I used Tails on a Acer Aspire One D270 that you can find
> for less than 250 EUR. But maybe you're thinking of even cheaper notebooks.
>
>> as a bonus, it would be nice to note
>> which laptops have a built-in microphone and/or webcam.

ThinkPenguin laptops have built-in microphones and webcams. I can
confirm the 15.6" model can have the microphone and webcam removed. The
microphone can't be reinstalled as it is built-in to the motherboard. At
least not easily.

>> I think such
>> hardware features make a given laptop into a tempting surveillance
>> device post-exploitation. It would be nice to have a collection of
>> laptops that even if exploited would only give an attacker a small
>> amount of (persistent or in memory) data.


ThinkPenguin's systems are very much hitting the mass market. They use
1366x768 resolution screens which is the most common today. There is
also a large community of GNU/Linux and in particular free software
users. Trisquel for example is a completely free distribution promoted
by the free software foundation. ThinkPenguin and Trisquel are teamed up
to ensure great hardware support for that distribution in particular.
ThinkPenguin is working with the free software foundation as well on
various initiatives. There are also a lot of free software people using
ThinkPenguin's laptops specifically so you will "blend in" perfectly.
It doesn't matter if your in Europe, the United States, Canada, or
Australia. There is a significant user base in all three regions.

* Note: I am involved with ThinkPenguin.

>
>
> _______________________________________________
> tails-dev mailing list
> tails-dev@???
> https://mailman.boum.org/listinfo/tails-dev