14 DAY TRIAL // The Ubuntu MATE distribution has managed to score a second hardware deal, this time with a company called LibreTrend. Very soon we'll start seeing a new computer from LibreTrend with the Ubuntu MATE OS as an option.
Some of the more observant users might notice the word Libre in the name of the company, but that's not a coincidence. There are other companies and projects out there that follow this Libre trend, which is all about incorporating only completely free and open source components.
In case you're wondering, the explanation is quite simple. For example, the Linux kernel has some proprietary blobs from various companies, so it's not considered transparent. There is also a Libre Linux kernel out there that just strips all the proprietary blobs and that is considered OK.
Also, any kind of proprietary drivers are not accepted, so you can see where this is going. In fact, the new LibreBox from LibreTrend is the first PC from this company, and they decided that Ubuntu MATE will also be provided.
Ubuntu MATE on LibreBox
It's not clear how Ubuntu MATE will fit in the Libre concept, but this is the second hardware deal for this Ubuntu distro. It's clear that Ubuntu MATE is becoming a really powerful OS and more hardware vendors are noticing this.
"Ubuntu MATE is an official flavour of Ubuntu focussed on usability and stability, which has gained massive traction in the Linux community over recent months. Inspired by the traditional GNOME 2 interface of classic Ubuntu releases, Ubuntu MATE is the perfect distribution for easing the transition between Microsoft Windows or Mac OS and Linux. LibreTrend are the designer and manufacturer of the LibreBox, a computer geared towards providing a complete 'out of the box' Linux experience, with a heavy focus on hardware compatibility. All the hardware in the LibreBox is Free Software friendly and %100 supported by 'blobless' Linux drivers," wrote Martin Wimpress on the official blog.
LibreBox mini PC comes with an Intel 1037U 1.8 GHz Dual Core, Intel, HD Graphics, 1x 4GB SODIMM DDR3 (maximum 8Gb), a 500GB HDD (upgradable), 4x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1x Ethernet (RJ45), 1x Microphone Input, and 1x Headphone Jack. The base model is priced at €349 ($387).