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Wouldn't it be awesome if there was a really good spec laptop that was designed to run perfectly with free software? This is an attempt to define the specs for that machine. If you are interested in news of the project (i.e. you'd like to know if such a laptop comes on the market and are a potential buyer) then please join here too:

• https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/free-software-laptop

Correction from Mark's blog, Openbios is not the new name for linuxbios. linuxbios is the framework, and openbios is the payload

Specifications

• Atheros wireless chipset using openhal(Atheros has no firmware, only very small bytecode, so it could be completely free. There are some chipsets that work with openhal and are completely free)[Atheros has the most powerful/best running wireless chipset from a technical perspective, not a free/libre perspective, but some of their chipsets function with free/libre madwifi-openhal]

• graphics chipset that will work with AMD motherboard/CPU combo, since only AMD works with linuxbios. Intel will NOT work with AMD based mobo/cpu because Intel won't tell us or give us documentation about how their motherboard/cpu works. At this time no Intel graphics can currently work with a free/libre laptop, it's not technically possible. Intel graphics only work when integrated into the northbridge on Intel motherboard/CPU combos. The only graphics that will work in this laptop must have a stand-alone card. since AMD uses Hypertransport. There is another AMD chip that translates between PCI/PCI-E and the Hypertransport. ATI is our only choice if freedom is in our interest.(sadly, yes I know) Intel graphics will NOT work with AMD based motherboard. and Intel motherboard/cpu will NOT work with linuxbios. So our AMD motherboard/CPU will use non-intel graphics. Any non-ATI graphics will need to use the orignial closed-source VGA BIOS when the graphics need to be inited. Open Graphics project maybe?

• ACPI that Just Works with Linux (suspend and hibernate)

• AMD motherboard/cpu[Turion?] (has to be AMD mobo/cpu. AMD is very helpful with documentation for linuxbios, Intel is very unhelpful and uncooperative with linuxbios. As a result Intel mobo/cpu just won't work)

• LinuxBIOS(faster boot time and more efficient than proprietary bios)
• 5 hour+ battery life (with Ubuntu 7.10 or later, tickless kernel)
• 1024x768 screen(or higher?) - smaller but better for battery life and mobility(should we use XO[OLPC] screen technology?)

• Bunny Ears like the XO for 2x the wireless radius( http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Image:Drawing75c1.jpg )

• Sealed rubber keys(more expensive), in case you spill beer on the laptop
• hybrid 2.5 inch eide drive with flash based storage, for minimal read/write times, and better battery life.

SIDE NOTE ABOUT INTEL GRAPHICS: AMD CPUs connect directly to RAM and they have a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperTransport Hypertransport] bus for talking with the rest of the hardware in the system. (PCI buses etc.) Intel CPUs don't connect directly to RAM yet - but they have a chip in between. This is called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northbridge_(computing) northbridge]. Intel graphics if present is always present inside the northbridge chip. Since AMD CPUs already include the logic that is in the northbridge (where Intel graphics is) there's no solution. If Intel really wants to help us, they can modify their graphics chipset, and add memory(since on an AMD board, they won't have direct access to RAM). It's definitely doable for Intel to have their graphics work on an AMD based board/cpu, they just have to want it. And since Intel is a big underdog compared to ATI/Nvidia, I imagine they'll want it.

Please feel free to flesh this out, specifying components that hit the "sweet spot" of battery life and mobility and are known to work with free software drivers. Please don't turn this into a "my dream laptop would have 5Ghz processor with 12 cores and 36 hours of battery life" exercise, let's try to outline something that an ODM in Taiwan could feasibly make today with at most one miracle required.

• LucaCappelletti:

  • 12inch
  • Slimmest ever done before.
  • Upto 1280x monitor and video card capabilities

  • No HardDisk

  • 60GB capable solid state disk
  • Fully dual core 64bit
  • Capable of good 3D to manage 3D desktops and compositing
  • 1GB RAM
  • Touchscreen
  • Wide area touchpad
  • Bluetooth
  • 1 USB

  • 1 FireWire

  • Dual WiFi to allow peer2peer Netsukuku like routing embedding the device into a new cooperative environment

  • 5 real hour battery life at 100% cpu
  • Fully covered of solar cells.
  • Camera on top of screen

  • Minimum 2+1 Bang&Olufsen high quality audio

  • Color ibook g3 case material and design to resist everything.
  • UMTS+HDSPA 3G network capability + SIM reader to access self mobile services.
  • Military/Industrial quality components inside (-50 ,+50 temperature degrees, antishock +/- 4G etc etc).

• John Teddy: This free/libre laptops needs to have AMD motherboard/cpu and Intel graphics. Wireless needs to be debated more. I think a big problem will be Intel doesn't allow their graphics chipset to ship with non-intel motherboards. Intel is blatantly unhelpful with the linuxbios project. Intel wants to promote their EFI bios and they are proud of the DRM capabilities it has the potential for, and they tell the big media conglomorates this. As I see it, the underdogs in the market help us a lot more. ie, ralink or realtek for wireless chipset, and AMD for cpu, and Intel for graphics. But broadcom for wireless, or Intel for board/cpu, or ATI/Nvidia for graphics don't help much..because they dominate. The underdogs in the market have helped us more in history I think. But anyway, the main problem is.. AMD is very helpful with documentation for linuxbios but Intel isn't helpful at all. As a result, I don't think any Intel motherboards work well with linuxbios.( http://linuxbios.org/Supported_Motherboards ) But a lot of Opteron/X2 AMD sockets work well, the XO will be the first laptop in the world I know of, with a free/libre bios. But this free/libre laptop.. it can't have Intel motherboard. We just can't do that...they have been deliberately unhelpful to linuxbios people(check their -devel lists) AMD should be rewarded and the laptop should be AMD based, like turion. But AMD(ATI) should obviously not be rewarded, yes their old graphics chipsets have open documentation, but that's only because it has no value to them. They only give us the old crud they don't want anymore. The new Intel graphics like 965G are the most powerful and best working, and the free/libre drivers work great.(there is no documentation for memory registers etc for the chipset, but as you said.. work on bios/drivers first..firmware/bytecode/specs later) The problem is, Intel will not license their chipset to an AMD based board. I don't know if this violates anti-trust laws or something, but there exists no AMD boards I know of, that have Intel graphics chipset in them. And as for wireless, ralink and realtek are very very helpful(ask Theo from OBSD), but their technology kind of stinks compared to Atheros, atheros has the binary HAL to subjugate us though. Although they claim it's FCC regulations they're following.. But just last week, Matt Norwood and others from Software Freedom law center worked on this whitepaper .. http://www.softwarefreedom.org/news/2007/jul/06/sdr-paper/ "SFLC Releases White Paper on FCC's New Rules Relating to FOSS in Software-Defined Radio Devices" So now I belive Atheros doesn't need HAL to exist because of FCC, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone could get Atheros to read that whitepaper from SFLC anyway, AMD board(turion?) with Intel graphics, and Atheros wireless(best wireless chipset), the openhal madwifi branch is coming along very well, it works with many chipsets right now( svn checkout http://svn.madwifi.org/branches/madwifi-old-openhal madwifi-free ) That would be my ideal laptop. just my .02 So the one miracle should be openhal branch of madwifi svn working with the card in this laptop. Ultra portable is very important, and good wireless is also. and Atheros just makes the best hardware out there right now for wireless chipsets. We either need to convince Atheros via the SFLC whitepaper they don't need proprietary HAL, or we just need to write around HAL, openhal branch alread works with some chipsets to my knowledge. And as for Atheros chipset, there is no firmware, it's all in user-land. Atheros only has very minimal bytecode. And we should use Quanta as the ODM(they make a lot of thinkpads), since they gave XO(OLPC) such a good deal, we should reward them imho. And maybe take some ideas from XO, like bunny ears for 2x better wireless, and maybe rubber keyboard(more expensive than plastic) in case we spill some beer on the laptop or something.(it's mobile right, so we'll use it in the bar)..and maybe even the XO display technology, so this laptop can be used in direct sunlight. And the XO is using that cutting edge battery technology, that is safer and better... what about that compared to lithium ion. I mean Quanta is making all this stuff for the XO(OLPC) anyway, how hard would it be to make one for us? yes I know I wrote a lot, I have no life. peace(and yes, I have money..and I would gladly buy this laptop if it existed, I would even buy one for my girlfriend too)

• JonathanCarter: Laptops with 14.1" WXGA (1200x800) displays are a bit more useful while still being very battery-life-friendly. I would rather suggest this than a 1024x768 display, unless of course you want a 12" display. Mark, what kind of display size do you have in mind? Another consideration, would you rather want a single-core CPU that consumes less power (longer battery life), or a dual-core chip that gives better performance with a slight decrease in battery life?

• Nathan DBB: A small 1024x768 screen with all-Intel chips sounds like a Mobile Internet Device (MID). Example: Convertable [http://www.tweaktown.com/news/7768/index.html Fujitsu Lifebook U1010] (optional 7 hour battery) or Tablet Nokia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N800 N800] with a larger screen ([http://www.tmdisplay.com/tm_dsp/press/2007/07-03-20.html a WXGA 10" would be right] and its LED-lit at 300 cd/m2 under 3 watts). Just VNC in from a desktop to "code". It should have phone-quality mic & speakerphone. The U1010 uses the Intel 945GU chipset (like GMA 950, AFAIK), so it should run Ubuntu's desktop effects.

• QuentinHartman: I'd second that 1024x768 is a bit on the too small side if some level of general appeal is the goal. a 13.3" screen running at a higher resolution would be a good middle ground of usability and power consumption, especially if it were LED backlit. In terms of specs, the new Dell XPS M1330 would likely be a good baseline to measure against. Not too big, not too small.

• LvanderRee: I Agree too that 1024x768 is a little too small, but I think a 14" screen would be too big for a laptop you take with you everyday. I too would also opt for a screensize of 13.3" like in the Sony C- or SZ-series. An Intel graphics card would be fine, as long as compiz can really run smoothly with all features (inc. glass/blur effects).

• HansdeZwart: Would it be a good idea to try and have a decent built-in webcam that would be supported? Currently it can be quite hard to get that working.

• FlorianFaber: Magnesium case (good heat dissipation), 13.3" with LED backlight (light & bright), camera on top of the screen, bluetooth and UMTS/HSDPA builtin, Flash disc + HDD and less than 2kg. That's basically what I have extended my Sony S class laptop right now (except the metal casing) with tons of external gadgets. CPU performance is not a big issue (as long as it plays back full screen H264) - it simply hast to connect to everything everywhere without carrying more than 2kg.

• ["MichaelRHead"]: Hmm... I find I need at least 1000 vertical pixels to get enough lines of code on the screen when I'm working. A smaller (12-13") screen with high res (1400x1050 or 1680x1050) would fit my needs better. Also, it's critical (for me personally) for the laptop to have a thinkpad-style stick pointer. Touchpads are useless to me.

• IanBicking: If everyone else is anti-1024x768, just to give a bit of balance I am pro small screen, low resolution. It would be neat if it could have a large enough flash disk, with appropriate caching, so that I could do most of my activities without hitting the hard drive.

• VincenzoDiSomma: I wouldn't mind a multicard reader.

• ["MichaelRHead"]: Hey Ian, what's the benefit (for you) in having a low res monitor? I can see the argument for a small (in inches) display, but what's the point of low pixel count?
• Armand CORBEAUX : 12" display, external monitor and S-Video output, passive cooling (that's the miracle part), DVD-DL burner, bluetooth module (for mobile support, calendar/tasks/mails synchronisation) and ROHS certification (we must take care of Earth). Realtek as manufacturer for ethernet and audio chipset. A 56k modem (manufacturer?), 8 USB 2.0 on the back (supported by Intel chipset), firewire and IR ports (?), and external volume ajustement.
• John B.: I second the necessity for a thinkpad style stick pointer. I just cannot use a touchpad. Also don't limit to only Intel graphics. I currently use the open source radeon driver for my Mobility 7500 and it works flawlessly. You might also want to consider AMD chips as they run cooler/more efficient per my experience. I always loved thinkpad styling/layout, so check into Lenovo as an OEM.

• Superjan: a stunning look! The laptop should also look good when powerd-off, and it should be possible to recognize a ubuntu-user from a distance. No more mac-tax for those who want to have an nice-looking laptop

• Kaleo: I woul need a higher resolution to be able to work on it, at least 1400x1050. Trackpoint (thinkpad style stick pointer) is also a very important point which greatly enhances productivity.

• JeffWaugh: A laptop exists that is very close to the specifications suggested here: the [http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d420 Dell D420] (and now, the slightly more modern [http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d430 Dell D430]). I'm extremely happy with mine (including the dock, which has a DVI port for the 24" screen on my desk), and will be bringing it along to Ubuntu Live. Given the existing relationship with Dell, perhaps the D4x0 series or the similarly delicious XPS m1330 (which is in Dell's "poweruser" range rather than "business") might be good candidates to negotiate from.

• DekeClinger: Reiterate the requirement for Thinkpad-style pointer. I also really really like having three mice buttons built into the machine as on the Thinkpad: X11 is much less useful without that third button.

• BenWilber: I am definitely interested in something ultra-mobile with excellent power management. 5 hours would be thrilling. Is this something that would run Gobuntu or Ubuntu Mobile?

• ChrisSmith: You guys are going to think I'm crazy, but I really want a 1920x1200 display. It seems like if you can go with the smaller displays, it isn't too hard to get a fairly Linux compatible system, even get something sold by a place that specializes in Linux laptops. But 1920x1200... that you can only get for the big guys, with only specific hardware, and Linux support is always dicey.

• TomasTtKrag: The closer to a Lenovo Thinkpad X60 the better. Stick pointer, small size and weight, great solidity, wireless b+g, bluetooth, decent docking solutions, 12" display etc. And all that with free drivers.

• Lemsto: I was reading all that's already asked up there, and i was thinking about 2 Laptops?! A "business" one (12" or 13,3" screen, no webcam, monocore cpu) and a "leisure" one ( 14" or 15" screen, good soundcard, webcam, dualcore cpu). And i'd like in both: 5 or 10Go Flash disk for / + HDD for /home, Bluetooth, Wifi, and a dock.

• DanTrevino: I disagree with the small screen/low res (1024x768). A good amount of screen real estate is always helpful. I'd personally trade a few minutes of batter for 1400x1050 or better, plus 3D support for my non-working hours.

• AgostinoRusso: 13.3" is a good compromise, better with LED backlight, res 1280×800 should also be a good compromise, weight less than 2kg, and battery life greater than 5hr under real usage, wireless 802.11b/g/n, multicard reader, built-in mic. Durable hinges, and power connector. Optional: built-in camera, bluetooth, HSPDA/3G. The Dell XPS M1330 should be a good starting point.

• WritingSama: I believe it's important for the laptop to at least support 720p HD, so a 1280x800 screen is a must. A webcam can be implemented at the top of the screen very cheaply nowadays. Intel is coming out with a new line of mobile GPU's that are much, much better than the GMA950 - if they follow suit with the GMA950 open source driver release, that might be a good choice. TV-out of some sort - S-Video at the least - is a good and useful feature. I'd also have to suggest a dual-core CPU and at least 1.5gb of RAM, because virtualization is becoming more and more important. Personally, I have to boot into windows to use decent voice recognition, as I have severe tendinitis. It's my only use for Windows anymore. Other OSes run just like native on a dual-core system, and that second core can make up for a lack of hardware video decoding capabilities. And about the Future section below -- as far as hardware codec support goes, there are tons of cheap hardware codec solutions for MPEG-4, mp3, etc...a custom internal USB-based interface or some such including some $3-50 codec chips could have a driver written for it relatively trivially. These codec chips are all about simplicity.

• Sveinung2: I want the OS, BIOS and all other firmware that can do as they want to the computers RAM to be Free software. If it is not possible to have Free firmware on devices like WiFI an IOMMU should be installed to prevent the unfree firmware from becoming a security/stability problem. I also suggest generalizing the spec to mention functionality under free software instead of vendors and standards. "ACPI that Just Works with Linux (suspend and hibernate)" for example should IMHO be "Suspend, hybernate, sensors and power control that Just Works with Linux using only Free software"

• JacobPadilla: I second the need for at least 720P, and 1280x800 at 14 in. would be perfect for me. This really isn't free software related though is it? At any rate, I recommended it to Dell Idea Storm back in February [http://www.dellideastorm.com/people/jacobpadilla/articles] (some developer from OLPC was my only commenter). Speaking of OLPC / XO-1, this thing should be standard so that if some weirdo wanted to install Windows/OpenBSD/Solaris/OS2 Warp on it then they could (but Ubuntu will run better of course). You can't do that with XO-1, it's not proprietary but it's not industry standard either. So needs to be industry standard. After all, one major goal should be to promote development of drivers that should be usable on other laptops. Intel's Santa Rosa seems to be getting pretty close to being mostly free, although it would be nice to get as low level as having LinuxBios on there. Tracking with Bernie below me, HDMI would be great in that it outputs both video and audio, plus it's smaller than a DVI or VGA port. 5 USB ports may be overkill and a Firewire port would be pretty key if we'd like media types to adopt this thing. Also, 1920x1080 is pretty worthless without modern hardware MPEG2 and MPEG4 acceleration in drivers. Intel X3100 definitely has the juice to do that but I doubt it's in the current drivers. Finally, If this thing is to support community software I can't stress enough how strongly I feel the proceeds it generates should benefit free software communities. Funding better-video-driver evangelism would be a great place to start! Of course the folks at FFmpeg need to be included somehow so that libavcodec has some kind of documented/easily programmable facility for drivers to work with. Trackpoint gets my vote too. I'm the user of a beautiful Thinkpad T23 that (video drivers aside) is still up to snuff for me to do most things and it only has a Trackpoint. Love it! In summary:

  • Santa Rosa
  • X3100
  • Industry Standard
  • Use proceeds to fund development of drivers and codecs
  • libavcodec
  • Firewire
  • ULV Core 2 Duos (I just added that one)

  Another idea would be to partner with a company, like AMD, that doesn't have good open source support and market the laptop as a sort of non-profit development kit.

• BerniePallek: Since mankind has finally settled on a "true HD" format (1920x1080), why not make that a standard mode in the video controller for the laptop, and provide a quality output connector (HDMI?), so the laptop can easily be used with HDTVs? At the very least, I think the widescreen concept is here to stay (and honestly, isn't the "80-column limit" archaic?) so it would be cool to use a 16:9 or other well-known aspect ratio (and 1280x720 sounds great -- and very technically affordable -- for a built-in laptop screen) to reduce scaling/sizing issues. *shrug* Now, about USB... oh man, if only everyone would play by the rules, but corners will be cut. I've had very bad luck with hubs, and it's clear that not all devices work smoothly when hubs enter the picture, so let's call external hubs a failure and simply provide a decent number of ports (5?), each with a fully independent host controller (again, to counter the corner-cutting by device makers). Finally, chalk up one more vote for the trackpoint-style input device -- it's compact, fast, accurate, reliable, and those who don't like it just need more practice.

• Toma4: If we're talking about new hardware, you could make a special onboard section of RAM/ROM that could house the kernel and all its juicy free drivers, leaving more RAM for you and me to play with, possibly speeding it up using a better system bus? Mind you, thats ALOT of work. But, possible. the Free/Open motherboard. Just a pipe dream.

• wdsl: Display: 13,3", 1280*720 LED-Backlight, Using sunlight to use it outside;Connections: 5x USB (2right, 2x back, 1 left), Bluetooth, Wlan (802.11g/n), 1-2x GBitLan, HDMI+VGA out, stereo out/in with mechanical control.Components: energy efficient CPU/GPU + Chipset, 1-2GB RAM, 64GB Flashdisk, DVD-DL Writer;other: less than 2kg, 5 hour battery life,keyboard with lighting letters, Trackpoint, touchpad with 3 Buttons and marked Scrollareas

• PeterVanderKlippe: Is there any chance of a transflective screen? They are great for battery life and visibility outdoors. Oh, and if we can get this to be as upgradable as possible. 1-2 ExpressCard Slots, Lots of USB (at least 4), Mini-pci Wlan, DVI out, Bluetooth. I know everyone is voting for a 13-14" 1280*720 screen, but here is a vote for a 15" 1920x1080 screen. As soon as we have resolution independent GUI bits this will be the best choice. Oh, and please 2 full ram slots.

• AaronWhitehouse: The difficulty here is evident on this page already. Current Linux users are predominantly technophiles and each is very demanding and very particular about what they like. It will be very difficult to satisfy those that want a performance desktop-replacement, an ultra-mobile and an economic balanced option with the same machine. One approach, of course, would be to offer a range of machines. The most important requirements from your list from the freedom point of view is the full driver, OpenBIOS and ACPI support. Specifying the rest will mean that the project constantly argues about "important specs". It is also true that a range of machines already meet most of those requirements (with the exception of the BIOS) - even my old Dell Inspiron 510m. Perhaps a better approach is to get together with FSF, LSB, other distributions, the Linux Foundation etc. etc. and put some weight behind a "Fully Free Laptop" badge. More importantly, an good index/database of manufacturers that sell compliant machines. It could tie in to the HWDB, Ubuntu list of "Preferred Vendors" and LaptopTesting systems that are already in place. That would allow the focus to be on the freedom, rather than making hardware trade-offs. Version 1 could focus on drivers being free and move forward as outlined in your "Future" section. I think it is a great idea, and wish you luck, but I think you may end up trying to satisfy everyone and satisfying none.

• DonSmith: While I definately agree that linux users are demanding, other companies seem to service their customers with only 1 or two product entries (Apple for example only has 2 general laptop models, then scales based on screen size/drive space/processor/memory). My dream would be pretty simple, a 13.3" tablet with dvd burner, 1394, 3 usbs, a card reader, external display, ethernet, wifi, bluetooth, and a camera. This may seem extravagant, but hp has a low end model that meets 90% of the requirements. It uses AMD instead of intel, which cuts cost, but if switched to intel would probably meet all the driver requirements except for bios, which from what I understand, amd is leading in. Even with amd, the only thing that jumps out is the geforce, which nouveau already drives, albiet slowly.

• VladCodrea: Wireless cards that don't require downloadable firmware are already available. Examples include [http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com some cards by RaLink]. Dialup modem: back in 2001 IBM released a Thinkpad dialup modem with a completely Free/Open Source driver called [http://www.linux.com/base/ldp/howto/ACP-Modem/index.html ACP Modem (Mwave)]. [http://LinuxBIOS.org LinuxBIOS] is actively being developed, and the main OpenBIOS developer (Stephen Reinauer) now spends his time working on LinuxBIOS, so LinuxBIOS is preferrable to OpenBIOS.

• StuartLangridge: me personally, I don't care about how many pixels are on the screen. I'd like to see a power supply with a thin lead and no (or a very small) power brick; current laptop power supplies are huge and take up lots of room in a bag (other than the Apple ones, which is the model for what I'm talking about). A built-in camera (a la the Vaios) would be nice for conferencing. Bluetooth and wifi supported out of the box by free drivers, as mentioned. (I've [http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/131 made some notes] before about what I'd like to see in a laptop.) Basically, the very existence of a laptop supported by and supplied with Gobuntu will be such a marvellous change that the details of exactly what hardware specs it has can be hashed out later.

• SAAAllen: Screen resolution to me would be last on the list - 1024x768 is fine as long as the graphics chip is capable of antialiasing and resampling to eliminate any low-resolution artefacts. Afterall, this is GNU/Linux, and I have an older desktop PC running Compiz-Fusion smoothly to the specs of P4 1.7GHz / 256MB DDR / 20GB HDD / Intel945GM onboard graphics. Fine, I admit it; it is the only desktop PC I have since F/OSS can push the hardware limits further than I ever could have expected, and I *don't* need to upgrade anything for years to experience hardware accelerated effects written for a modern society. That's what I would expect this laptop to do, prove that it's not the small system capabilities that makes a slow system - but a bloated, patent-lawsuit-ridden, poorly-designed operating system (which GNU/Linux is not, ofcourse). Networking? Definately. WiFi and Bluetooth are almost mandatory these days, but just make sure they can be switched off - even if a network stream can be sniffed out somewhere.

• TyraelTLK: Integrated Smart Card Reader. To login, sign, encrypt with GnuPG smart card like the FSFE Fellowship Card (ehy! What about an "Ubuntu Card"?).

  http://www.fsfe.org/en/card http://www.fsfe.org/en/fellows/tyrael/fsfe_card_complete_how_to_ubuntu_feisty CardMan 4040 PCMCIA http://omnikey.aaitg.com/index.php?id=products&tx_okprod_pi1[product]=27

• AlanPope: [http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/jsp/productPage.do?service=UK&PRODUCT_ID=122147&toshibaShop=false This Toshiba Portege M400] has the Intel 945 video (so compiz works) and Intel 3945ABG wifi, a 12" screen running at a very useful 1400x1050, GPRS, SD card reader, 3xUSB, 1xfirewire, bluetooth and finger print reader. It's also a tablet. Battery life is a little sucky, but you can add a second one in the slim media bay. It's not a massive laptop so it doesn't have a lot of room for a battery.

• Stephen: Working in laptop repair, the single biggest point of failure for a laptop is the power socket - every second hardware repair is due to the pin in it breaking, or the socket snapping off the motherboard. Apple has the right idea with this one - say what you like about their new connector, it won't break!

• NatTuck: I don't see any sense in demanding everything + a pony. If a reasonably light laptop with current-generation hardware that works with Gobuntu & OpenBIOS becomes available at a reasonable price, I'll most likely get one. When I say "works", that definitely does include stuff like suspend and hibernate.

• MariusGedminas: a ThinkPad-style keyboard, please. Don't mangle the right Shift, Ctrl, Alt keys. With a trackpoint and 3 mouse buttons, of course.

• IronHide: InstantOn! Regardless of the specs after powering on it should take one to the "desktop" already without going thru those pesky BIOS POST tests. Should definitely use solid state technology for saving data on "disks". With no moving parts it'll be faster and less prone to hard disk crashes. Those who are old enough to have owned and use an Apple ][ knows what I'm talking about after the power on (AppleDOS cursor blinking and waiting for your next command).

• MatsWichmann: if it could be "anything on the market now" it would be something like the compact Sony TX series (current "best" is known as the VGN-TXN29N/L in the US if someone wants to search), but there looks to be a lot of hardware that won't run open drivers. Compact means expensive, too. This is actually dropped here only to ask what we're going to do with the ever-more-prevalent "security devices" like biometric (e.g. fingerprint) readers, every laptop I look at that has this stuff has no Linux support available for it. Since we can't get away from patented media formats, I'm liking the concept of hardware decoding, where the "license" becomes part of the cost of the hardware (see Future section below).

• Oleg: Good idea, but is it possible at this time FULLY free software only laptop? What about AMD Turion X2 based laptop with linux/OpenBIOS and Nvidia Video Card e.g Geforce 7800go at the first step? (In the future, when possible, replaced with the Video Card with open drivers).
• DJ Losch: As far as batteries go, there are hi-cap batteries (8 cell batteries), extended cell batteries (9-12 cells), bay batteries (4-6 cells, which slide in and out of the bay used for the optical drive), and slice batteries (4-6 cells, which plugs into the docking base port). A laptop that supports an extended cell, bay, and slice battery could have 17-24 cells. While it would be rather heavy, it would also have a 15+ hour battery life. Then just make sure that the discharge order is slice, bay, main battery, and you're good to go. The future of computing no longer uses optical disks, and many people can go without them most of the time.

• AzraelNightwalker: I'd like a keyboard that has a normal (Desktop PC like) keys layout, which's most important part for me is the layout of Ins, Del, Home, End, PgUp and PgDown - I really hate when these keys are aligned vertically. When you switch often between a laptop and a desktop PC you'll feel that. These keys shoud be aligned like this:

(Ins) (Home) (PgUp)
(Del) (End)  (PgDn)

Many HP Compaq and IBM/Lenovo laptops have this keyboard layout.

Future!

Some things are not feasible right now, because as far as we know there is no work under way to achieve them. But they would be useful to have on the roadmap for future versions of this page.

• free software firmware - full code, with rights to modify and redistribute
  • (["AmirEAharoni"]) I don't know about other kinds of hardware, but wireless cards from Ralink should be free enough. I am not an expert, but according to FSF they are already better than Intel in this regard. Currently Ralink comes mostly in PCMCIA cards, though.
• hardware codec support with patent licenses included - if we can find hardware that does the codec magic then we can have the laptop play media anywhere in the world using only free software to enable the hardware

  • (BerniePallek) This is a very promising idea. I can imagine some kind of hybrid DSP+FPGA/PLD+flash ASIC that allows simultaneous/independent feeding of up to n streams of encoded data in one end, to get n decoded data out the other, unburdening the CPU. Modern PCs are ready for a standard "multimedia helper chip", with a simple, but solid API. (In case you hadn't already connected the dots, this is the "miracle" part).

• CheeseSandwich: This is a bit out there, but I've read of those nifty new micro-turbine power generators, which are in the prototype stage IIRC, and can generate power in the 10W-20W range. Imagine the day when we can insert lighter fluid into our laptop & get 24+ hrs of use out of it.

Undefined

• Some sort of 3G network access
• Memory stick / SD card support?