With the Linux Vendor Firmware Service serving more than 135 million downloads for Linux users updating their system and device firmware, LVFS has been working to get more hardware vendors to contribute either engineering resources or directly contributing annual dues as sponsors. Framework Computer is now the first one to have executed an agreement under these new sponsorship efforts.
Red Hat in employing lead developer Richard Hughes has contributed the most to LVFS/Fwupd’s success, the Linux Foundation has also hosted the project since it has shifted into their umbrella, AMD’s Mario Limonciello is among the significant contributors, and now Framework Computer is a new sponsor to the project.
I mean, when the political stance of the supported company is “I would literally murder you of I could” the politics become kinda relevant 🥲
Is that some hyperbole? Or is there a source to that? I’m out of the loop*, so apologies for my ignorance.
Yes, it’s hyperbole.
Framework gave money or laptops to a bunch of different Linux projects and has generally been very active in the Linux community.
One of the laptops they gave out went to DDH, who in addition to having a project that in reality is little more than an Arch script, also posts a lot of alt-right drivel online.
Most famously him moaning about London being too full of immigrants - something made even more ironic given that he himself is an immigrant to the UK. Clearly he meant non-white immigrants.
It’s unknown how much Framework knew about his unsavoury opinions, and plenty of other projects they’ve supported have been very progressive, so it doesn’t seem like they’re choosing to support only people who align with a specific political stance.
A lot of people are frustrated with their response to the criticism - that they’re a small team that don’t want to wade into the politics of each project they donate a laptop to. Which I kind of understand, but I also understand being miffed at them for sending a laptop to a super hateful person then shrugging their shoulders and saying “look, we don’t want to be political or have to research the personal opinions of people in the community”.
Personally I think it’s more of a fuckup and PR misstep rather than endorsing any particular world-view.
Yes… But sadly no? First example that comes to mind, you can check “dhh blog” on the internet (🤮) and if you read enough you will get to see the kind of person he is… You can also check this about Hyprland: https://drewdevault.com/2023/09/17/Hyprland-toxicity.html
So what are you buying instead?
Honestly, when my current laptop dies, I will just get a used cheap thinkpad just like anybody else or even SSD any trash-going relic. If you want some alternative, someone commented this that looked interesting: https://mntre.com/reform.html
Although it comes with obvious limitations: https://forum.fairphone.com/t/is-the-mnt-reform-the-best-repairable-laptop-available/113321
Unless I am mistaken Lenovo has at least all of the ethical issues of Framework if not more. What would make a used Lenovo better than a used Framework?
Fair point. Mostly price, you can get one for like 100€. I also feel like the used market is more fair than buying new, so there’s that.