software side of the x301

src/x301/software.md

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+Title: Thinkapd x301 Restoration: Software
+Author: Alessandro Mauri
+
+
+# Thinkpad x301 Restoration Project: Software Side
+
+Of course me being me I can't just modify the hardware, I also have to do
+something about the software side of things. Afterall if I just slapped 
+Windows 10 on it, it would just be an old slow laptop. But I want more, I want
+lightning fast boot times, I want a good experience and most of all I want
+freedom where I can get it.
+
+## [Libreboot][lboot]
+
+Yes! After some 5 years of dormiency the Libreboot project came out with a
+[new beta release][newboot] that [adds support for the x301][xboot].
+
+Basically Libreboot is a BIOS replacement, it completely replaces all of the
+old BIOS stuff with a _libre_ alternative, which has many advantages:
+
+1. MUCH faster boot times
+2. Completely respects your freedom
+3. COmpletely disables the intel ME and replaces all proprietary firmware with
+   libre software
+4. While being simpler (no menu, no live configuration, etc.) it actually 
+   allows for much greater flexibility in th boot process
+
+Libreboot works by setting up a minimal environment, enough to load 
+[GRUB][grub], then GRUB proceeds to load the OS or other things.
+Libreboot has also other _payload_ options like [SeaBIOS][sbios] or 
+[Tianocore][tcore] (an open-source UEFI implementation), they allow to load 
+other operating systems normally (not via GRUB) but generally this is slower.
+
+The method I will use is an hybrid, Libreboot will load GRUB, which when a key
+is pressed like shift, during the boot process, will load a menu of options
+containing all the operating systems, some diagnostic, Tianocore and SeaBIOS
+(everything needs to boot). Otherwise when no key is pressed it should boot
+straight into the first available OS.
+Disclaimer: I have not seen this elsewhere and altough I think it should be
+possible, I don't really know. 
+
+[lboot]: https://libreboot.org/
+[newboot]: https://libreboot.org/docs/release/libreboot20210522.html
+[xboot]: https://libreboot.org/docs/release/libreboot20210522.html#lenovo-thinkpad-x301
+[grub]: https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/
+[sbios]: https://www.seabios.org/SeaBIOS
+[tcore]: https://www.tianocore.org/