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[[!tag archived]]
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This is about [[!tails_ticket 8471]].
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[[!toc levels=2]]
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Test reports
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============
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This is for what we're shipping in Tails 1.5. Please include:
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* exact Tails version
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* exact installation method
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* exact hardware brand and model
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* what's happening
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* what was happening with Tails 1.4.1
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Misc. notes
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===========
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Regarding the success seen with `bootia32.efi`: why would a 32-bit
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GRUB2 EFI boot loader automatically chainload to our syslinux?
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Or is it that `bootia32.efi` is actually from another El Torito image,
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that ships syslinux?
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Debian's relevant code lives in the debian-cd, grub2 and
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debian-installer Git repositories. Look for `bootia32.efi`.
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Maybe also copy to `EFI/BOOT/boot.efi`: grub2's changelog says that
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`grub-install` copies `bootia32.efi` to `boot.efi`, to better support
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old Macs:
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* doesn't work for me on a MacBook Air original 1.8 GHz A1237
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Risk of regressions
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-------------------
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Here we discuss the risk of regressions, for hardware that previously
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booted Tails just fine, if we shipped a 32-bit UEFI boot loader in our
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hybrid ISO image.
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XXX: I (intrigeri) am waiting for answers by an expert in this domain.
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What we know so far:
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* Early Intel Macs cannot boot from a DVD with more than one El Torito
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boot record. But we're not considering supporting EFI boot off DVD
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yet, so for now it's a non-issue. And when we'll have to consider
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supporting this feature, chances are that most such machines are
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dead anyway.
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Test results and ideas
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----------------------
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### 32-bit GRUB2 EFI chainloading 32-bit syslinux EFI
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* syslinux 32-bit EFI installed in `EFI/TAILS32`
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* GRUB 32-bit EFI installed in `EFI/BOOT/bootia32.efi`
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=> did not manage to chainload 32-bit syslinux EFI from GRUB.
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On Tails/Jessie (GRUB 2.02~beta2-22), I get `error: unknown error.`
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after typing `boot`. This likely comes from
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`grub-core/loader/efi/chainloader.c`.
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### 32-bit GRUB2 EFI reading the syslinux configuration at runtime
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With current `feature/8471-32-bit-UEFI`, one can choose the *syslinux:
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liveamd64.cfg* menu entry, that basically load syslinux'
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`/efi/boot/liveamd64.cfg`, converting it to GRUB on the fly.
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Then, add `nomodeset` if needed, and Tails boots.
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Note that:
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* Support for `{vesa,}menu.c32` was added in GRUB upstream, but didn't
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make it into Debian yet as of 2.02~beta2-22.
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so `feature/8471-32-bit-UEFI` installs a
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2.02~beta2-22tails1~bpo70+1 package with that new code in it,
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and indeed it successfully loads our syslinux configuration.
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* We'll need to load the `cpuid` module to make our `ifcpu64`
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directives work.
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### 32-bit GRUB2 EFI with native configuration
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If `syslinux_configfile` is not good enough, should not be too hard to
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write/generate and maintain a GRUB2 configuration, either
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automatically (e.g. with `grub-syslinux2cfg`) or by hand.
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That's what `feature/8471-32-bit-UEFI` currently does, as a way to
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quickly get things going.
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<a id="hardware"></a>
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Potential hardware
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==================
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Current selection
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-----------------
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* in the cheapest range: WinBook TW700
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* with 2GB of RAM: Toshiba Encore 2
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Boots GNU/Linux from USB
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------------------------
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All of the following tablets are based on the Intel Bay Trail platform
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with 32-bit UEFI firmware and ship with Windows 8.1 except where
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noted. LCD resolutions are generally 1,280x800 pixels, except
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where noted.
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They have all been reported to run GNU/Linux from USB with the right
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boot code, but device drivers are sometimes a problem.
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There are significant variations in specific firmware features among
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these devices. For example, it's unclear if all of these models can
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cold-boot from USB, or if some may need to start Windows and then use
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the "boot from USB" feature. Most have Secure Boot enabled by default,
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but this feature can usually be disabled.
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* Acer Aspire Switch 10
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- $300
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- 2 GB RAM, 10", hybrid
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* Asus T100
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- $290
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- 2 GB RAM, 10", hybrid
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- hardware support on Linux was not entirely awful a year ago, but
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requires proprietary firmware; not sure where things are at now
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* Asus T100TA
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- $300
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- 2 GB RAM, 10", hybrid
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- 1 USB + 1 micro USB
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- does the T100's hardware support status apply here too?
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* Dell Venue 8 Pro 3000
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- $170
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- 1 GB RAM, 8"
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- cold-boot from USB: [seems
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possible](https://www.happyassassin.net/2013/11/24/the-fedlet-revived-or-fedora-linux-on-a-dell-venue-8-pro-bay-trail/)
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1. Requires a USB OTG converter (full-size USB female port on one end,
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micro-USB male connector on the other end)
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2. "press the power button and hold down the 'volume down' key
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for a couple of seconds (this is how you get into the
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firmware), go to the Boot tab, disable Secure Boot, and
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promote the USB stick to #1 in the boot order"
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* Dell Venue 8 Pro 5000
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- $210
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- 2 GB RAM, 8"
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- cold-boot from USB: likely the same as the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3000
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* Dell Venue 8 7000
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- Ships with Android KitKat; Lollipop due later in 2015
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- $400
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- 2 GB RAM/16 GB flash
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- Notable for high-res 8.4" 2,560x1,600 OLED display
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- Also includes Intel RealSense multiple-camera subsystem
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- No cold-boot nor warm-boot from USB, according to png.
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Perhaps it's possible after [unlocking its
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bootloader](http://unlock-bootloader.info/mp3-0/dell-venue-8-7000-6714.html)
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* HP Stream 7
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- $100
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- 1 GB RAM/16 GB flash, 7"
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- hardware support on Linux seems not entirely awful, but requires
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a few out-of-tree drivers:
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<https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2261294>
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* HP Stream 8
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- $150
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- 1 GB RAM, 7"
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- Includes 4G WWAN modem with limited free T-Mobile Internet service
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- Believed to be generally similar to the HP Stream 7 otherwise
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- Can cold-boot from USB:
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1. Hold down Vol-, press Power for about a second, and release
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Vol- when the boot options screen comes up.
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2. That screen gives access to a Boot Device Options menu, BIOS
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Setup, and other functions including an on-screen keyboard.
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3. In the Boot Options Menu, one can select Boot from EFI File
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and push the soft Enter key… and then, with a Tails boot
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drive, it goes to a File Explorer screen to allow the user to
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choose between booting from the Tails volume and the NO VOLUME
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LABEL volume on the USB thumb drive. Sadly, there's no way to
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press Enter! The Stream 8 has a capacitive Windows button on
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the bezel, and that just isn’t active at this point.
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There isn’t a timeout autoselect for the first (presumably
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correct) option, either.
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4. This should all work fine by plugging an OTG-Type A adapter
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cable, a USB hub, a USB thumb drive, and a keyboard.
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This should be good enough for development, but not for
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actual users.
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* Lenovo Miix 2
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- $220
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- 2 GB RAM
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* Toshiba Encore 2
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- many models with 1 GB RAM, 8"
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- WT8-B264 with 2 GB RAM/32 GB flash, 8"
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- 10" LCD models also available
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- can cold-boot from USB: hold down the Vol+ button, then hold down
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the Power button, until the boot selection menu appears.
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Select the desired boot device and press the Windows key.
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* Toshiba Encore 2 Write
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- Includes Wacom Feel pen/touch digitizer; unusual among low-cost
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x86 tablets, enables good handwriting recognition and artistic
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drawing
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- Otherwise apparently similar to Encore 2
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- 8-inch version retails for $350
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- 10.1-inch model priced at $400
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* WinBook TW700:
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- $60
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- 1 GB RAM/16GB flash, 7"
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- To cold-boot from USB:
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1. Configure the UEFI BIOS to put "USB HD"
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above the Windows Boot Manager or the internal eMMC storage.
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2. Plug the USB device in the Type A port, not the Micro
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USB OTG port.
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3. Then the tablet will boot from USB without pushing any
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buttons, and one can still use the OTG port to power the
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tablet while running from Tails.
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Needs more research
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-------------------
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* ASUS VivoTab 8
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- $190
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- Bay Trail, 2 GB RAM, 8"
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- 32-bit UEFI?
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Boots current Tails and thus uninteresting here
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-----------------------------------------------
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* HP Slate 500
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* Samsung Series 7 Slate
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* Microsoft Surface Pro |