I am looking to build an alternative laptop to AMD/Intel. I want to limit how much I support them and protect my privacy.
I have thought about getting the Framework Laptop 13 chasis with expansion cards and use RISC V for the main board.
Debian is in the lead for the OS.
Are there any other alternatives that could be recommended that may be even better?
You’ll still be running into frequent issues if you go with R-V, so be warned.
That being said, the Framework R-V board only comes for the 13" format, so you can buy a cheap Framework 13 refurb from their store (fully warranted and everything), and swap the board out for the R-V for $200.
There are other R-V laptops out there, but I think the build quality is nowhere near the Framework, AND if you feel like it sucks, just swap that board back with the one it shipped with.
Also good to note: RiscV is not open hardware, it is an open architecture.
The CPU’s/MCUs made with RiscV are still 99% proprietary and they can put just aa many backdoors into the devices as they want with little no no oversight, arguably less because you have orders of magnitude less external bug and penatration testers.
Definitely in support of RISC-V because like AV1, open standards are the first big step, but it is good to note that “security” may or may not be better as well as the company behind it.