The Road to Production
Open Hardware – EOMA68 Laptop
Lead Image © lightwise, 123RF.com
Despite challenges, hardship, and delays, the EOMA68 laptop project is set to test its first PCBs. Through this learning curve, Leighton, the project's developer, has laid the groundwork for other open source hardware pioneers.
In 2016, I wrote an article about Luke Leighton's [1] crowdfunding campaign to build a modular, recyclable computer (Figure 1). Three years, and dozens of updates later, the project is about to test its first printed circuit boards (PCBs), and production appears just around the corner (Figure 2). Behind this milestone is a complicated story of changing specifications, the challenges of production in China and Taiwan, personal hardship, and delays; all of which illustrates the challenges that new manufacturers face when bringing open hardware to release.
Figure 1: Luke Leighton has been working towards a module computer for seven years.
Figure 2: Three years after a successful crowdfunding campaign, the project is testing its PCBs.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Mint 22.3 Now Available with New Tools
Linux Mint 22.3 has been released with a pair of new tools for system admins and some pretty cool new features.
-
New Linux Malware Targets Cloud-Based Linux Installations
VoidLink, a new Linux malware, should be of real concern because of its stealth and customization.
-
Say Goodbye to Middle-Mouse Paste
Both Gnome and Firefox have proposed getting rid of a long-time favorite Linux feature.
-
Manjaro 26.0 Primary Desktop Environments Default to Wayland
If you want to stick with X.Org, you'll be limited to the desktop environments you can choose.
-
Mozilla Plans to AI-ify Firefox
With a new CEO in control, Mozilla is doubling down on a strategy of trust, all the while leaning into AI.
-
Gnome Says No to AI-Generated Extensions
If you're a developer wanting to create a new Gnome extension, you'd best set aside that AI code generator, because the extension team will have none of that.
-
Parrot OS Switches to KDE Plasma Desktop
Yet another distro is making the move to the KDE Plasma desktop.
-
TUXEDO Announces Gemini 17
TUXEDO Computers has released the fourth generation of its Gemini laptop with plenty of updates.
-
Two New Distros Adopt Enlightenment
MX Moksha and AV Linux 25 join ranks with Bodhi Linux and embrace the Enlightenment desktop.
-
Solus Linux 4.8 Removes Python 2
Solus Linux 4.8 has been released with the latest Linux kernel, updated desktops, and a key removal.