For those who like open source concepts, there are many Linux versions to choose, but when they involve hardware, the situation is not so optimistic. Open source software cost is the additional time of programmers, and the rewards given are often honored rather than money, but hardware production and sales must consider cost and profitability. However, in recent years, open source hardware has also begun to achieve a certain progress, which not only attracts amateurs, but also attracts large-scale technology companies such as Facebook.
As the open source software, open source hardware can be continuously improved safely, and design continuous innovation. At the beginning of this year, the two Singapore engineers proposed a Project Novena program that attempted to create a notebook manufactured by a fully open source hardware. The initial plan is to encourage people to assemble notebooks at home, but they will continue to advance. On the Crowd Supply on Financing Websites, people can book a Novena notebook.
Everyone knows that "Raspberry Pi is a well-known open source card computer hardware, which is only $ 35 (about RMB 210), although DIY has a lot of potential, but is limited to hardware And space, always makes the pool don't feel addicted. So can there be a kind of role with the Raspberry Pist, but has a greater hardware space solution?
Nowadays, a well-known hardware hacker Andrew Bunnie Huang is also looking for answers, and has begun to carry out a public fundraising project on manufacturing the first open source notebook in the world.
Open source software we have been uncommon, developers can study their source code and create their own works. However, the open source hardware is less, and ordinary consumers cannot know everything in the chassis. The open source notebook is a fully exposed hardware device. Andrew Bunnie Huang is named Novena for the notebook. The user can download all assembly and hardware information, so the user can also change its design.
Novena laptop has two cases. One is aluminum alloy, one is wood, manufactured by Portland's designer Kurt Mottweiller. Novena notebook considers hardware expansion in the design. "Half is empty", the designer Huang said to the Wired website. "When designing, we think that you can expand it." Users can easily modify the system without special tools, while they can also get a spare housing to avoid damaged the original housing when tossing.
The problem is that the price of Novena notebook is not cheap. US $ 1195 can only get an aluminum alloy shell, HD display and motherboard, add $ 800, you can get the battery and a 240 GB SSD hard drive. The above hardware is equipped with a wooden housing, you face $ 5,000 of high prices. "That version is provided to those who are ready for a long time," Huang said, "You can only spend $ 500, buy a motherboard, use your own shell."
Novena is used by open source Linux systems and ARM processors. It is almost completely open source (processor is a closed source). From today's standards, it is indeed a strong performance that is uncomfortable enough to sell. Maybe it can be spread in the niche? "It is not suitable for everyone", Huang said, "But it is open source, suitable for those who pay attention to safety, privacy. They have the ability to explore hardware, ensuring that their design is not changed."
Novena is not easy to achieve financing goals. It is currently available in $ 35,710, a distance of $ 250,000, and it is only more than 40 days of time to achieve his goals.
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