[Trisquel-users] via manufacturer emails on entirely free software mainboard

[svhaab]

This post is an extract from emails I had with via about free software  
mainboards.

I had noticed that via provides linux drivers for some of their mainboards.  
Without expecting any reaction from via, I wrote them an email asking why  
they do not manufacture an entirely free software mainboard?

To my surprice I got a reply from via. It was short. The via representative  
agreed he could not provide an entirely free software mainboard. But he  
added, I do not think any manufacturer can.
That shows how little attention they have on the subject. They do not even  
consider there a computer users who want a free software mainboard and cannot  
get it.

As a follow up I send another email containing further concrete questions.  
Again I had to resend the email several times before I got a returning email.

I wrote him that I wanted to know if via can build an entirely free software  
mainboard?
If via had tried to assert if there is a marked for entirely free software  
mainboard?

I wrote him that I do not care about mainboard performance. I would put free  
software support above performance.
Further I wrote him that without any statistical documentation, I would  
estimate a possible sale of something between hundred thousands and a couple  
of millions free software mainboards. Based on the millions of gnulinux users  
that know about the importance of free software.

I asked via to answer whether they cannot get all source code to manufacturer  
an entirely free software mainboard or they are being pressured to only sell  
mainboards with non free drivers? They latter I know they would never  
acknowledge.

In the answering via email the representative said, he now understands what  
kind of mainboard I want.
He writes there are no plans to make one. About why they do not make one, he  
asks me to understand that he is unable to answer.
I cannot determine if he just does not know. Or he knows why but for policy  
or business reasons cannot tell.

My conclusion is, he had no knowledge about the matter of an entirely free  
software mainboard or he is only a downstream person. He does not know what  
mainboards are underway is his company. He is told when they are ready. And  
he is then going to sell them.