For Beginners – Purism https://puri.sm/ High-quality computers that protect your freedom and privacy Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:29:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.28 https://puri.sm/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-purism-logo-rectangle-1-32x32.png For Beginners – Purism https://puri.sm/ 32 32 Where can I find out more about PureOS? https://puri.sm/faq/where-can-i-find-out-more-about-pureos/ Mon, 24 Sep 2018 20:38:32 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=59876 PureOS home page: https://pureos.net/ PureOS FAQ: https://tracker.pureos.net/w/faq/ PureOS Wiki pages: https://tracker.pureos.net/w/ PureOS bug tracker: https://tracker.pureos.net/maniphest/ Purism Community forums, PureOS category: https://forums.puri.sm/c/sw/pureos/5

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]]> What kind of cyberthreats can be prevented with a Librem? https://puri.sm/faq/what-kind-of-cyberthreats-can-be-prevented-with-a-librem/ Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:57:47 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4913 All threats are bonded a lot to user interaction with their device. Librem’s underlying software by default do not track or log your keypresses, location, software usage. Default operating system (PureOS) has app isolation (with Wayland) and SELinux enabled.

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]]> Will the Librem help me avoid data breaches? https://puri.sm/faq/will-the-librem-help-me-avoid-data-breaches/ Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:56:04 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4911 Properly used, Librem will make it by magnitudes harder to have data breaches compared to Windows and Mac OS X. It has integrated full disk encryption, all of the best GNU/Linux security practices, sand boxed applications, and hardened security features.

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]]> Do you put up ads or steal and sell my data? https://puri.sm/faq/do-you-put-up-ads-or-steal-and-sell-my-data/ Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:54:51 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4909 No. Quite simply, we will not show you advertisements nor do we care about mining your data. Your data, your pictures, your browsing history – that’s for you and you alone. We exist as a company because we personally wanted to have better control of our own data. And we think you do, too.

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]]> Do I need special proprietary hardware, software or cables to use a Librem? https://puri.sm/faq/do-i-need-special-propriety-hardware-software-or-cables-to-use-a-librem/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:57:57 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4726 No! We hate those proprietary things! Your Librem will work with industry standards such as HDMI, USB, hardware after market parts and all software is free and libre. RAM, hard drives or solid state drives, batteries and power supplies are all “off the shelf” and available for purchase from online and big box stores.

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]]> I’m used to using an Android phone and a Windows desktop. Will this computer work the same as what I’m used to? https://puri.sm/faq/im-used-to-using-an-android-phone-and-a-windows-desktop-will-this-computer-work-the-same-as-what-im-used-to/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:56:23 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4724 All operating systems have their differences when comparing, for instance, a mobile operating system like Android to a computer focused one like Windows. Apple has differences from Windows as well. However, each operating system allows you to do the same or similar things – it may just be a different button to push or icon […]

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]]> I still have favorite programs from my Windows/Mac computer. Can I still use them? https://puri.sm/faq/i-still-have-favorite-programs-from-my-windowsmac-computer-can-i-still-use-them/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:52:58 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4722 Yes and no. No Windows applications will run natively on PureOS. However, some Windows applications can be run with an application called Wine. Please go to www.winehq.org to check on the availability of your program. Applications designed for Apple products can not run on a GNU/Linux based machine such as a Librem. Additionally, you can […]

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]]> Are there any tutorial videos or additional information on PureOS/Linux? https://puri.sm/faq/are-there-any-tutorial-videos-or-additional-information-on-pureoslinux/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:48:19 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4717 Often times when we think of an operating system we think of how it looks and feels. This is called the user interface or user experience. PureOS 3 uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI, also sometimes called “Desktop Environment”) called Gnome 3. Information on this user interface can be found here: https://www.gnome.org/gnome-3/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU2f_jkPRq4

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]]> I’ve heard that I have to type in complicated commands to use Linux in something called a terminal. https://puri.sm/faq/ive-heard-that-i-have-to-type-in-complicated-commands-to-use-linux-in-something-called-a-terminal/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:37:31 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4707 You don’t have to. There is also a “terminal” in Windows, Apple and Google machines as well but like those operating systems, complicated command lines are going away in favor of graphic user interface (GUI) focus. PureOS does have a terminal just like all Linux distributions but it is not needed in many situations for […]

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]]> Isn’t GNU/Linux just for hackers, programmers and developers? Do I have to be a computer expert to use PureOS or a Librem? https://puri.sm/faq/isnt-gnulinux-just-for-hackers-programmers-and-developers-do-i-have-to-be-a-computer-expert-to-use-pureos-or-a-librem/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:36:01 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4705 No, not at all. There are many people that do in fact use GNU/Linux to program and develop applications for various operating systems (not just for Linux) but GNU/Linux is easily used by many people of all levels of computing skill. PureOS is designed to be user friendly by utilizing one of the most popular […]

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]]> Can you explain to me in plain English why I should be concerned about security and privacy issues on my computer? https://puri.sm/faq/can-you-explain-to-me-in-plain-english-why-i-should-be-concerned-about-security-and-privacy-issues-on-my-computer/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:31:50 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4703 The same reasons you are concerned over unwanted people entering your property, peeping through your windows, or installing cameras in your house. These same physical rights apply directly to digital rights. You should not want unwanted people having access to your digital files, your photos, emails, website history, or your camera or microphone.  Your home […]

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]]> Does a Librem have Flash, Silverlight, Java and other plug-ins preinstalled? https://puri.sm/faq/does-a-librem-support-flash-silverlight-java-and-other-plug-ins/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:10:41 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4697 No, it does not, as these are major security issues. Most websites are switching to HTML5 due to these security issues. However, you can install an OS which supports this proprietary software, but have in mind that this is a bad security practice.

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]]> Can I watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Amazon Prime? https://puri.sm/faq/can-i-watch-netflix-hulu-youtube-and-amazon-prime/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:09:17 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4695 Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime distribute content with restrictive DRM technologies that Purism does not support natively through PureBrowser. However, there are other browsers that you are free to install if you choose to. YouTube supports HTML5 and will play without additional input.

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]]> Do you have an app store? https://puri.sm/faq/do-you-have-an-app-store/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:13:14 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4688 Yes! Our operating system, PureOS, has an app store called “Software” where many different applications are available giving you many additional gaming, productivity, video, graphics, and office choices.

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]]> What is the difference between free and libre? https://puri.sm/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-free-and-libre/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:06:40 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4684 English language more often uses word “free” to describe something that is gratis – while it is true that all the software in FLOSS is gratis, it is not mandatory to be like that. The important part of FLOSS is that is has the liberty to be examined, learn about it, modify it to your […]

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]]> What is GNU/Linux? https://puri.sm/faq/what-is-gnulinux/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:09:30 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4681 A “Linux” operating system, properly described as GNU/Linux, is an operating system based upon the Linux kernel. The Linux kernel was created by Linus Torvalds initially for his own use during his years in college. It was used with the GNU operating system. GNU, created by Richard Stallman, is the entire operating system, minus the […]

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]]> What is FLOSS? https://puri.sm/faq/what-is-floss/ Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:59:50 +0000 https://puri.sm/?post_type=faq&p=4679 FLOSS stands for Free/Libre Open Source Software and is software with its source code available to the public and allowed to be modified, improved or whatever else users feel like doing do it. It grants you freedom.

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