As we encounter increasingly closed products, users are limited to very specific alternatives if they want full access to their hardware. Not long ago we talked about Libreboot, an initiative that seeks to develop a free BIOS, and now we have the Libreboot T400, a laptop that has that BIOS integrated, and the corresponding certification from the FSF.
The Problem with Closed Hardware
Unfortunately, the market has once again shown that it feels much more comfortable following its own interests rather than determining what consumers want. Sandboxes turned into glass empires, interoperability is a myth, and companies' goal is nothing more than stealing users from each other through closed services. The hardware situation isn't much better, to say the least. Blobs are the order of the day, we have no idea what's inside an average firmware, and we don't even talk about repair schemes. The alternatives for users are few, but they are there, and one of them is the Libreboot T400 laptop.
The Libreboot T400: Free BIOS Inside
If the name sounds familiar, it's because this system has a copy of the Libreboot BIOS inside, completely free and open source. Libreboot support focuses mostly on Lenovo hardware, so the Libreboot T400 is nothing more than a refurbished ThinkPad T400. The Libreboot T400 has the Free Software Foundation certification, and alongside the Libreboot BIOS we find the Trisquel distro, derived from Ubuntu and free of any proprietary code.
Configurations and Pricing
Fortunately, the Libreboot T400 is available in several configurations. The general platform is based on an Intel Core Duo P8400 processor running at 2.26 GHz, a 14.1-inch screen, and Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, but its basic edition comes with 4 GB of RAM and a 160 GB hard drive, at a price of 498 euros. The most expensive option is just under 800 euros, but it doubles the RAM and replaces the hard drive with two 240 GB solid-state drives. Too pricey? In that case, you can buy the Libreboot X200, which has very similar hardware, at a slightly more accessible price (its base is 100 euros less).
