Liberated Computers

Free software-friendly laptops for students, journalists, teachers and developers.

Built for running GNU/Linux from ground up. Now - you won't need to use proprietary software or drivers anymore.

These laptops run Debian GNU/Linux (main), PureOS, Trisquel or any FSF-endorsed distribution out-of-the-box. They can also run Ubuntu and FreeBSD, if you like.

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LC220
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LCBox
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LC230

Features

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Free Software BIOS

All liberated computers are powered by Coreboot - the free/libre BIOS. Greater hardware control + more freedom to experiment + complete ownership.

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Atheros Wireless card

All computers are powered by dual-band Atheros wireless cards (ath9k) which work without any proprietary firmware.

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Solid-State Disks

All computers ship with a brand-new SSDs - reliability and performance out-of-the box. Available in multiple capacities and form-factors.

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No Intel ME!

We cripple the Intel Management Engine (ME) so that the Intel ME "malware" is ineffective on the computer. On the CPU that the LC230 uses, the Intel ME is active ONLY during the boot process and is effectively disabled once during normal operation of the computer.

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Pre-installed: A Free/Libre OS

Choosing a liberated computer gives you the unique ability to run a fully free operating system such as Debian GNU/Linux (main), PureOS, Trisquel and other FSF-approved free operating systems .

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Repairable + Expandable

Liberated Computers are extremely hackable. Almost all parts of the computers can be repaired or replaced. Spares are available. You can learn to (and are encouraged to) do most repairs yourself. And there are many ways to extend the functionality, life and function of your computer.

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LC230

Our most powerful and popular model for all use cases

  • Intel Core i5-3320M Processor
  • 12.5″ 1366×768 matte display
  • 8GB to 16GB DDR3 RAM
  • 120GB to 1TB 2.5" SATA3 SSD
  • 6-cell & 9-cell battery options
  • Island-style keyboard
  • Starting price: Rs 25,500 onwards
  • Buy now...

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LC220

The last thinkpad with a classic keyboard!

  • Intel Core i5-2520M (2nd Gen) Processor
  • 12.5″ 1366×768 matte display
  • 4GB or 8GB DDR3 RAM
  • 120GB to 1TB 2.5" SATA3 SSD
  • 6-cell battery
  • Classic thinkpad keyboard
  • Starting price: Rs 22,000 onwards

Out of stock right now! Please get in touch.

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LCBox

Small and Powerful developer station

  • Intel Core i7-4600U @ 2.10GHz (4th Gen)
  • 16GB RAM
  • 256GB M.2 SSD
  • Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek)
  • Wireless dual-band 802.11 b/g/n (Atheros)
  • Dual display outputs: DisplayPort and HDMI
  • Coreboot + UEFI (tianocore) firmware
  • Starting price: Rs 24,000 + GST

Coming Soon!

Frequently Asked Questions


Who should use these computers?

Anyone who wants an affordable, rugged computing platform which does not impose any restrictions on its user. In the past three years, more than 80 free software developers, teachers, students and business owners & entrepreneurs have purchased and used the Mostly Harmless Liberated Computer as their primary daily use computer.

What can these computers be used for?

  • Everyday computing
  • Software Development
  • Operating System research
  • BIOS research
  • Security research and testing
  • General purpose computer usage
... all using GNU/Linux and Free/Open Source Software exclusively.

How powerful are these computers?

These have a good 3rd Gen i5 or i7 CPUs and are powered by SSDs. This makes the laptops really responsive and quick. Whether you are running virtual machines or doing heavy development or running a server or compilcated graphics / rendering programs, the laptops have enough CPU power, RAM and quick disk I/O to support your work.

Are these new or refurbished / used computers?

Yes – these are refurbished Lenovo x230 Thinkpad laptops. We purchase them in good condition, clean them, flash Coreboot, replace the wireless card and install GNU/Linux for you.

These are tested and given to you in an excellent working condition and without any visual or technical defects.

Is it possible to have a bigger disk?

The laptops supports two disks. If the SSD that we provide you is an mSATA format SSD, then it is installed inside your laptop. There is an additional 2.5″ bay to install a regular hard disk or another SSD if you should want. You can easily do this yourself and we would be glad to show you how.

What is Coreboot? Do I really need it?

“coreboot is an extended firmware platform that delivers a lightning fast and secure boot experience on modern computers and embedded systems. As an Open Source project it provides auditability and maximum control over technology.”

  • https://www.coreboot.org/
  • https://www.coreboot.org/users.html
Simply put – using Coreboot as your BIOS truly liberates your laptop. You are free to use any wireless card you want (not just those whitlelisted by the manufacturer). You can study and modify the source code of the BIOS and you can customise it as well. It also enables you to have a more secure boot environment for your computer and operating system.

Which parts of the laptop can be repaired, replaced or extended?

  • CPU Fan and heat-sink: In case you face CPU over-heating issues, you can clean the CPU cooling fan and re-apply the thermal paste on your CPU heat-sink. You can even buy a new fan + heat-sink combo to replace your existing one.
  • Keyboard, touchpad and wrist-rest: The keyboard, touchpad and wrist-rest are three separate parts and based on where you face an issue, a new (or refubished) unit can be sourced and replaced. The keyboard keys also support limited repairs in case a keycap is detached or not set properly after a fall or heavy use.
  • Chassis, display bezel and bottom case: It is possible to source spares for the laptop chassis, bottom case and display bezel in case they are broken or damaged as a result of a fall.
  • Battery : Lenovo original (as well as compatible) batteries (6-cell and 9-cell) are generally available and easy to source - both new and refurbished. This will allow you to extend the amount of power backup available to you when you're not plugged in.
  • Storage : In case you want more storage and the 2.5" SSD is not sufficient, you can add a mSATA SSD into the laptop and have more storage available for yourself. The maximum capacity of mSATA SSDs is usually 512GB but you might be able to procure high capacities too.
  • ExpressCard peripherals : In case you need extra USB3 ports or a smart card reader, you can add these via the ExpressCard slot on the left side of your laptop.

What is the typical battery backup that the laptop provides?

It differs based on the battery capacity and usage. With a 9-cell battery with 100% capacity (ie. a new battery), one can easily get around 6 to 7 hours of battery backup. With a new 6-cell battery, it goes down to about 4 hours.

With a used battery, it ranges between 2 to 4 hours.

During testing, the battery is fully drained and then charged fully to test the backup and capacity. Many times, even the used batteries are in excellent condition and provide reasonable battery backup.

Why should I care about blob-less wireless cards?

When you use wireless cards made by many manufacturers such as Intel, you are forced to use binary firmware (the so-called blobs) to activate and use your card. This firmware is proprietary software and it greatly restricts what you can do with your wireless network card and computer. By using blob-less wireless cards, you are freed from this restriction of using proprietary software. Firmware required for Atheros wireless cards is freely available and licensed under free software licenses. Free operating systems such as PureOS and Debian can use it without requiring any extra work on your part.

Can I have a better screen or a more modern CPU?

At the moment it is not possible to upgrade the CPUs of the mhx230 laptops. Also – Coreboot is not supported on any mainstream laptops beyond the 3rd Gen Intel CPUs. However, you could consider the Librem line of laptops from Purism in case you need a Coreboot computer with a more modern CPU: https://puri.sm/products/librem-13/ Regarding the screen, there is a hack possible. Using a special board made by “nitrocaster”, it is now possible to upgrade the screens for the x230 laptops to Full HD. Do mail us in case you want to evaluate your options for this.

Do you provide warranty or support?

We test and provide certified, working laptop units to you. In case you face any technical issues with the hardware, we will be glad to offer you support, repairs or replacement – as the situation might demand. Having said that, the hardware is extremely easy to maintain by yourself. We would love to help you learn to use, modify and fix your own computer. We believe that doing so makes computer users independent and free from vendors. All knowledge, tools and techniques required to extend or fix your laptop are available without restrictions.

Can I run any other operating system on this?

Yes – you can. However, we can only help you with and encourage you to use GNU/Linux. Using proprietary operating systems does not serve the purpose of having a free computing platform and are untested and unsupported by us. You can use any GNU/Linux operating system such as Debian, PureOS, Ubuntu, Fedora, Archlinux, Trisquel, Parabola and so many more. You can also install and use FreeBSD or OpenBSD on these laptops.

Enquire about "Liberated Computers"