Are you for or against computers being created using all open source components, removing the issue of remote access via embedded backdoors?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 08:24:59 -0400

This is the crowd funding page and full details about the goals of this movement:
https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop

Think Penguin talks briefly about their goals with this crowd funding here:
https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/crowd-funding-kick-backdoor-free-eco-consious-libre-computing

Earth-friendly EOMA68 Computing Devices

Easily Upgrade and Fix Your Own Computer

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2016 8:27 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 08:27:38 -0400

No trailblazing.
/*Break*/
I forgot to add the survey options.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 4 at 2016 8:31 AM

LTC John Shaw — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 08:31:08 -0400

Seems to be a good idea whose time has come to pass. Apple, MS, Google and FB are making money from aggregation and usage, I would strongly consider a platform that focuses on security.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Jul 4 at 2016 8:57 AM

1LT William Clardy — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 08:57:59 -0400

I find it intriguing (in a "Purloined Letter" way) that the initial production run will be in Guangdong, China.

Response by SSgt Mark Lines made Jul 4 at 2016 10:04 AM

SSgt Mark Lines — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 10:04:34 -0400

I could definitely use one of those in my toolbox. I could see using it to troubleshoot problems on other machines.

SGT Private RallyPoint Member To answer the question, yes I would be for a completely open sourced computer. With one caveat, they do not fall into the same trap that other open source projects do. THeir manuals and documentation are less than desired. Most of the manuals you find for open source hardware and software assume some sort of prior knowledge. Until they break things down "Barney Style" so the average abuser, ahem I mean user, can use and understand the documentation. Open source will never gain the traxtion it wants with the masses.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 4 at 2016 1:36 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 13:36:38 -0400

I could definitely get onboard with an idea like this. As SSgt Mark Lines stated, I could also see using remote access to troubleshoot other machines. In fact in my job I DO use remote access. I would be all for some type of user-created remote access tool rather than a built-in (and therefore backdoor) utility.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2016 3:23 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:23:09 -0400

In the military (and government as a whole), I am for Open Source when we have an effective initial training and subsequent sustainment training in place. We already have a problem with reliance upon contractors because our Soldiers don't train on their systems enough (when we go to the field, we end up providing a service rather than training...)
The two main reasons we don't use OS software are:
1) familiarity - our users want to use what they use at home, so do the majority of the admins - we can combat this by implementation, training and repetition
2) support - we require enterprise level support in the form of short response time and a timely remediation to vulnerabilities (not always successful, look at Flash) - we can combat this with active communities of interest, think Asterisk forums.

It would be a hard sell though.