A new phone or computer can be the highlight of the holidays, but with proprietary software lurking under the wrapping paper, your thoughtful gift may be more naughty than nice.
This guide replaces these holiday humbugs with better devices from ethical companies -- no creepy remote deletion of files, no punitive and mean rules about copying and sharing. Just products and software that respect the freedom and privacy of your loved ones: gifts you can feel good about.
This guide replaces these holiday humbugs with better devices from ethical companies—no creepy remote deletion of files or punitive and mean rules about copying and sharing. Just products and software that respect the freedom and privacy of your loved ones: gifts you can feel good about.
Plus, our crib notes below will help you explain why this version is better than the one they've heard of (and spread the word about software freedom, too).
Use #givefreely. You might get a gift out of it!
- Download the printabe version. + Printable version coming soon!
- Donate to our suggested charities in your friend/family member's name + Donate to our suggested charities
Your smartphone isn't just a phone--it's a computer you carry with you every day. It's your camera, your connection to your friends and family, and, for many people around the world, their only internet-enabled device. By choosing one of these phones, you're bringing freedom to your pocket, not just your communications.
You can also get an S2 or S3, complete with replicant.
Why it's cool: Ever feel like every time you pick up your smartphone, someone is watching you? This may not cut off their access entirely, but it will make their job a little harder.
Your smartphone is so much more than a phone: it's a tiny computer you carry with you every day, and for many people around the world, it's their only internet-enabled device. Choosing one of these phones lets you bring software freedom everywhere you go.
You can also get an S2 or S3, complete with Replicant.
- Sale details. + The T400 is Respects Your Freedom certified. Sale details.
+ Minifree +
Sale details.
Setting up a fully free system is easier than it used to be, but can still seem daunting--especially if you've never done it before. Luckily, you can now get a new-to-you laptop that's ready to go out of the box.
Why it's cool: You need a reliable computer for work and play. This one is just dandy for both, minus icky DRM and spyware.
Setting up a fully free system is easier than it used to be, but can still seem daunting—especially if you've never done it before. Luckily, you can now get a new-to-you laptop that's ready to go out of the box.
Technoethical also has a T400s available.
- Technoethical's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified. Global shipping is available. Sale details. -
+ Vikings
- Viking's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified. Global shipping is available. Sale details. + Vikings's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified. Global shipping is available. Sale details.
Libiquity's X200 is Respects Your Freedom-certified, but shipping is limited to the US. Sale details.
+ Minifree's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified.
Technoethical's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified, and global shipping is available. Sale details.
- Viking's X200 is Respects Your Freedom certified. Global shipping is available. Sale details. - -
Compact laptops are light and easy to carry, making them popular among people on the go. Whether it's for a student, or someone who likes to work from coffee shops or travels frequently, it's great to have a machine that goes with you. Thanks to Libiquity and Technoethical, you can have mobility and freedom.
Why it's cool: Take it to the office, take it to the cafe, take it to class, take it home and set it up on the counter so you can rock out while you cook. Do all of this the easy way.
This machine is made to go everywhere with you and thanks to our friends who make RYF products, you can have your mobility and your freedom too.
There are a lot of things to say about why a convertible laptop is great. With a stylus and screen you can use as a tablet, they're versitle, multi-purpose, and stylish.
Why it's cool: Use it as a laptop or as a tablet with a built-in stylus. It may not be a brand-new concept, but it'll always feel a little futuristic.
Enjoy all the portability of a tablet, without having to hunt-and-peck every letter when it comes time to do some work. It's versatile, multi-purpose, and stylish, and fits smoothly into every environment in your life (without pummeling you with the abuses of proprietary software).
Get it from
- The D16 Workstation is not Respects Your Freedoms certified at this point. + The D16 Workstation is not Respects Your Freedom certified at this point. Sale details.
- The Workstation is not Respects Your Freedoms certified at this point. + The Workstation is not Respects Your Freedom certified at this point.
Sometimes you want or need a more powerful machine. Desktops are the answer for when you really need that extra push.
Vikings offers three desktop computers. (ThinkPenguin also has desktops.) +
Why it's cool: Sometimes you need heavy-duty computing power that a laptop just can't provide.
Gamers, video editors, and other users may want or need a more powerful machine â a desktop is the answer when you really need that extra push. Also good for users who want a bigger screen.
An iMac puts designers and film makers at risk:
One of the toughest steps in turning your system into something fully-free is the wi-fi. With an RYF wi-fi adapter, you can just plug it in and be ready to go.
Why it's cool: Trying to go 100% free but stuck with a proprietary Wi-Fi card? just plug this into your USB port and you're ready to go.
3D printers are just plain cool. As a learning and exploration tool, crafty way to make gifts (for yourself or your friend), and all around fun toy, the at-home 3D printer has come far from its origins in the early 2000s. Not only is the LulzBot Mini free, but there are loads of free software options for modeling, and communities sharing freely licensed designs.
Why it's cool: Think ahead—if you give this to your friend or relative, they might use it next year to make YOU a gift.
3D printers are an amazing learning and exploration tool for kids and a fun toy for grownups, and they've come a long way from their origins in the early 2000s. Keep it free and fun by digging into the zillions of free software options for modeling, and communities that share freely licensed designs.
There are a lot of options for where to get your literature fix without any pesky DRM. We're highlighting some publishers and shops who are offering deals for you!
Many consider music essential to the richness of the human experience. Thanks to the many artists, producers, record labels, and shops highlighted on Defective by Design, the rights respecting options are nearly endless. Check out music from great labels and artists, including:
Many consider music essential to the richness of the human experience. Thanks to the many artists, producers, record labels, and shops highlighted on Defective by Design, the rights-respecting options are nearly endless. Check out music from great labels and artists, including:
DRM is the unfortunate standard for so much of major music available. While spotify certainly isn't the only offender, they're the one we are choosing to highlight.
In addition to streaming music encumbered by DRM, people who want to use Spotify are required to install additional proprietary software. Spotify's build for GNU/Linux is available as a Debian package that requires Debian non-free and comes with "onerous license conditions."
Spotify isn't the only offender when it comes to putting DRM in music—all major streaming services do this with the support of big record labels.
In addition to streaming music encumbered by DRM, people who want to use Spotify are required to install additional proprietary software. Even Spotify's client for GNU/Linux relies on proprietary software.
As winter comes to the Northern Hemisphere, it's the perfect time to curl up under a blanket and watch some DRM-free video. In the Southern Hemisphere? Enjoy relaxing with a great movie actually owned by you.
You can find your DRM-free video fix at places including:
Whether it's using major studios as scapegoats for using DRM or pushing for DRM as an official W3C Reccomendation, Netflix has been at the front line of getting DRM into media online and in your home.
Whether it's using major studios as scapegoats for using DRM or pushing for DRM as an official W3C Recommendation, Netflix has been at the front line of getting DRM into media online and in your home.
The FSF is a nonprofit with a worldwide mission to advance software freedom â learn about our history and work.
Version 7.0. Copyright © 2004-2016 +
Version 8.0. Copyright © 2004-2017 Free Software Foundation , Inc.