List of NO-OS and Open Source Laptop Manufacturers
Encyclopedia
This list includes:
- computer hardwareComputer hardwarePersonal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
that is open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
and; - proprietary hardwareProprietary hardwareProprietary hardware is computer hardware which is owned by the proprietor.Historically, most early computer hardware was designed as proprietary until the 1980s, when IBM PC changed this paradigm...
:- without an operating systemOperating systemAn operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
pre-installed; or, - with a free, open source operating system such as any Linux distributionLinux distributionA Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
(e.g. UbuntuUbuntu (operating system)Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
, etc.); BSD
- without an operating system
Asia
- AsusASUSASUSTeK Computer Incorporated is a multinational computer technology and consumer electronics product manufacturer headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Its product range includes motherboards, desktops, laptops, monitors, tablet PCs, servers and mobile phones...
- ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated (traditional Chinese: 華碩電腦股份有限公司; pinyin: Huáshuò Diànnaǒ Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī) is a multinational computer product manufacturer centered in Taiwan. Linux on ASUS Laptops (user experiences) - Lemote - Lemote (simplified Chinese: 江苏中科梦兰电子科技有限公司) is a computer company established as a joint venture between the Jiangsu Menglan Group and the Chinese Institute of Computing Technology. It develops and produces open source computing systems based on the Loongson CPU family and is most notably the supplier of Richard Stallman's laptop, a Lemote Yeeloong.
- IDA Systems - IDA 400 Notebook, India, see also Vendors, more commonly known around the world as Epson, is a JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese technology company and one of the world's largest manufacturers of computer printers, information and imaging related equipment. Headquartered in SuwaSuwa, Naganois a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city had an estimated population of 51,084 and a density of 468.40 persons per km². The total area of the city is 109.06 km²....
, NaganoNagano Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, Japan. The LX 9000 desktop is the only Epson computer available with Linux preloaded and supported.
Middle East
- Fit PC - Israel, low power consumption, Linux Mint and Microsoft Windows are options
Europe
- Abaco Computers Italian company with partially translated web site selling Linux notebooks and desktops
- ARLT no OS, Germany, see also Vendors
- Garlach44 - Italian web site, partially translated: Notebooks and Desktops preloaded only with GNU/Linux OSes, high customization of the products.
- Open PC greeniX in Germany (See also North America) Linux: “The first PC built by the community for the community”
- Qi Hardware Ben Nanonote (web site's data stored in Germany), not for “mass-market appeal. Part of that can be seen in the product's specifications, which are hardly top-of-the-line components for a laptop—or even a netbook—nowadays."
North America
- Hewlett-PackardHewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
Open Source and Linux from HP- HP 2133 Mini-Note PCHP 2133 Mini-Note PCThe HP 2133 Mini-Note PC is a full-function netbook aimed at the business and education markets. It is available with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, Windows Vista or Windows XP. Its retail price starts at US$499 for the Linux version with 4GB of flash memory. According to DigiTimes, the netbook is...
"Linux works well, but the Mini-Note lacks the simplicity of the Eee PC’s custom Linux shell."
- HP 2133 Mini-Note PC
- Open PC ThinkPenguin in the U.S. (See also Europe) Linux: “The first PC built by the community for the community”
Asia
- IDA Systems - open source mobile computing, India, see also Manufacturers
- IETech Corporation - no OS, Japan
- TenQ - Android, Linux wholesale Tenq P07 tablet, China
North America
- AVADirect - Ohio: Red Hat, Debian, CentOS, Fedora, Kubuntu
- ElphelElphelElphel is an open hardware and open source camera designed by Elphel Inc. primarily for scientific applications, though due to its both open hardware and open source camera software, FLOSS it can easily be customised for many different applications. Elphel Inc...
- Utah, GNU - LinuxCertified, Inc - Vendor selling preloaded Linux laptops. Customers can choose Linux OS of their choice from Fedora, Ubuntu, SUSE and RedHat.
- System76 - Their products are preloaded with Ubuntu as standard
- ThinkPenguin.com - Designed for free software users & the less technical masses; from Ubuntu to Trisquel amongst others: LinuxMint, Fedora, Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, etc.
- XoticPC - This vendor allows their customers to buy laptops without OS or alternatively pay extra for Windows(R) pre-installed.
- ZaReason - Small scale vendor of laptops and desktops, based in California but ship worldwide. They provide "no operating system" option as well as several variants of free Linux distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora.
Australia
- Pioneer Computers - 'Build your own' option allows the customization of laptops such that they can be purchased without an Operating SystemOperating systemAn operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, with Ubuntu pre-installed for no extra charge, or with Windows pre-installed for an extra charge that varies between the different distributions. They do not provide on their website the software license agreementSoftware license agreementA software license agreement is a contract between the "licensor" and purchaser of the right to use software. The license may define ways under which the copy can be used, in addition to the automatic rights of the buyer including the first sale doctrine and .Many form contracts are only contained...
for any pre-installed software for viewing by the customerCustomerA customer is usually used to refer to a current or potential buyer or user of the products of an individual or organization, called the supplier, seller, or vendor. This is typically through purchasing or renting goods or services...
before purchase.
Europe
- Ahtec - This vendor allows their customers to buy laptops without OS or alternatively pay extra for Windows(R) pre-installed. Ahtec mainly operates in Spain and The Netherlands.
- ARLT no OS, Germany, see also Manufacturers
- pcspecialist.co.uk All software is optional.
- Pointer Systems Pointer Systems sells laptops without OS via various computer shops in Belgium.
- Tuxbrain Copyleft hardware distributor and manufacturer, most of it hardware is soportd by free software.
See also
- List of free and open source software packages
- List of open source hardware projects
- Gratis versus LibreGratis versus LibreGratis versus libre is the distinction between two meanings of the English adjective "free"; namely, "for zero price" and "with little or no restriction"...
- Windows refundWindows refundThe "Windows refund" is a refund claimed by a user after purchasing a computer with the Microsoft Windows operating system pre-installed on it. The refund is issued by the computer manufacturer, or occasionally the retailer, for the copy of Microsoft Windows alone, rather than the whole computer...
Obtaining a refund on the preinstalled OEM version of windows which the customer does not use.