What would ideal hardware for Qubes look like?

This should definitely branch off into “If you could design the perfect Qubes OS laptop and desktop machines, what would they be like? Be as detailed as you can, because we might actually be able to crowdfund this!”

:grin:

I also agree with all of @Sven’s points, with a few of my own:

Laptop

  • The internal keyboard and trackpad must be on its own bus
  • all other internal peripherals should either be on their own dedicated bus, or at the very least grouped by function/purpose
  • integrated graphics AND discrete GPU (possibly multiple GPUs, for passthrough fir gaming, video editing and mining)
  • Multiple M.2 slots for SSDs
  • MANY MANY SODIMM slots for RAM for Qubes
  • Kill-switches for camera
  • Ports ports and more ports, of all varieties (maybe even interchangeable like the Framework Laptop, allowing more flexibility to port passthrough)
  • Maybe some kind of “USB Condom” on all USB ports
  • FOSS-friendly Ethernet (potentially multiple RJ45 ports) and wifi (preferably multiple antennas, for pentesting)
  • Enough battery life for 3-4 hours of use at full load
  • 4k display (potentially touchscreen)
  • Rugged enough to “take a beating”, but elegant enough to not look like you’re on an archaeological excavation endeavour

I don’t care if it’s a brick, I’ll still carry it round :wink:

Desktop

  • LOTS of PCI slots
  • LOTS of separate USB Buses (preferably max two ports per bus, as you can always use adapters to connect more devices)
  • Maybe some kind of “USB Condom” on all USB ports
  • FOSS-friendly Ethernet and wifi
  • FOSS BIOS (ideally Heads or a fork of Heads)
  • UPS (just in case, even if it’s only a 10-minute battery, just so your machine can shut down properly)
  • SILENT FANS, or no fans at all! (I’ve done my time in a server room)

Am I missing anything?

Disclaimer: This is a wishlist, and I’m fully aware that all of this in a single machine would be difficult, if not impossible….:joy:

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