Librem
Librem is a line of privacy-focused computers with free software.
Librem is a computer line from Purism, SPC built around free (libre) software. The laptops aim to safeguard privacy and freedom by excluding proprietary software from the operating system and kernel, disabling Intel Active Management Technology, and progressively liberating and securing firmware. Physical kill switches for the microphone, webcam, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi are standard on Librem laptops.
**Models**
**Laptops**
The Librem 15, a 15-inch laptop, was funded through a 2014 Crowd Supply campaign as a modern open-source hardware alternative. After an extension, the campaign succeeded and units shipped. A second revision added hardware kill switches for the camera, microphone, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Following that, Purism ran another Crowd Supply campaign for the 13-inch Librem 13, which also included those kill switches; it too succeeded and shipped. By December 2016, Purism announced it would shift from build-to-order to inventory-based shipping for new batches of both models. As of January 2023, only the Librem 14 remains in production.
**Librem Mini**
The Librem Mini is a small desktop computer that began shipping in June 2020.
**Librem 5**
On August 24, 2017, Purism crowdfunded the Librem 5 smartphone, designed to run entirely free software with a focus on security and privacy. Purism claimed it would be the first IP-native mobile handset using end-to-end encrypted decentralized communication, and collaborated with KDE and GNOME on its development. Its security features include separating the CPU from the baseband processor—a unique design, according to Linux Magazine—plus hardware kill switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, the camera, microphone, and baseband processor. The default operating system is Purism's PureOS, a Debian derivative, using a new interface called Phosh based on Wayland, wlroots, GTK, and GNOME middleware. Phosh/Plasma Mobile, Ubuntu Touch, and postmarketOS are also planned as installable options. The Librem 5 faced several delays: initially set for January 2019, it was pushed to April due to hardware bugs and holidays, then to the third quarter for further CPU testing. DevKits shipped in December 2018. The first batch began shipping on September 24, 2019, and the finished "Evergreen" version shipped on November 18, 2020.
**Librem Server**
The Librem Server, a rack-mounted server, was released in December 2019.
- Manufacturer
- Purism, SPC
- First model
- Librem 15 (2014)
- Current laptop model as of january 2023
- Librem 14
- Smartphone model
- Librem 5
- Desktop model
- Librem Mini
- Server model
- Librem Server
- Security token
- Librem Key
Lore & Background
In 2014, Purism launched a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply to fund the creation and production of the Librem 15 laptop, conceived as a modern alternative to existing open-source hardware laptops, all of which used older hardware. The 15 in the name refers to its 15-inch screen size. The campaign succeeded after extending the original campaign, and the laptops were shipped to backers. In a second revision of the laptop, hardware kill switches for the camera, microphone, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth were added. After the successful launch of the Librem 15, Purism created another campaign on Crowd Supply for a 13-inch laptop named Librem 13, which also came with hardware kill switches similar to those on the Librem 15v2. Purism announced in December 2016 that it would start shipping from inventory rather than building to order with the new batches of Librem 15 and 13. As of January 2023, Purism has one laptop model in production, the Librem 14.
On August 24, 2017, Purism began a crowdfunding campaign for the Librem 5, a smartphone aimed to run 100% free software. Security features of the Librem 5 include separation of the CPU from the baseband processor, and hardware kill switches for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication and the phone's camera, microphone, and baseband processor. The default operating system for the Librem 5 is Purism's PureOS, a Debian derivative. The release of the Librem 5 was postponed several times; the finished version, known as "Evergreen", was finally shipped on November 18, 2020. The Librem Mini, a small form factor desktop computer, began shipping in June 2020. The Librem server, a rack mounted server, was released to the public in December 2019. The Librem Key, a hardware USB security token, was announced on September 20, 2018.
Reader's Guide
The Librem line is notable for its commitment to free software and privacy, as described in the article. The laptops omit non-free software in their operating system and kernel, avoid Intel Active Management Technology, and include hardware kill switches for the microphone, webcam, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The Librem 5 smartphone separates the CPU from the baseband processor, which the article notes makes it unique in comparison to other mobile phones. Purism developed PureOS, a Debian derivative, as the default operating system; in December 2017, the Free Software Foundation added PureOS to its list of endorsed GNU/Linux distributions. Librem laptops are also purchasable with Qubes OS preinstalled. Since summer 2017, new Librem laptops are shipped with coreboot as their standard BIOS. Purism calls a collection of six boot-process components PureBoot, which includes a neutralized Intel Management Engine, coreboot, a TPM chip, Heads (with tamper-evident features), the Librem Key, and multi-factor authentication. PureBoot protects users from theft, BIOS malware, kernel rootkits, vulnerabilities in the Intel Management Engine, and interdiction.
Did You Know?
- The Librem 15 was the first Librem laptop, funded via a Crowd Supply campaign in 2014.
- The Librem Key is a USB security token that integrates with a tamper-evident Heads BIOS.
- As of January 2023, the only Librem laptop model in production is the Librem 14.
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