How to be free

> I am thinking of carrying a computer folded in a backpack, running free software and supplying me with audio via bluetooth.

So you want to use voice over ip or wouldn't it be a problem for you to not being reachable via mobile calls? I didn't have a mobile for years when everybody else had one. And I did like it. Unfortunately my boss is insisting that I carry such a tracking device with me because he wants to reach me and I should check if the web pages we create run smoothly on such devices also. I didn't object since he is paying the bill. But I would like to get rid of my mobile again as soon as this isn't the case any more.

I didn't miss the opportunity to call people on the move before mobile phones where common. And I am still not convinced if they cause more good than harm.

As for E-Ink devices, there is a Debian-based free software (with the exception of the WiFi firmware, which you can remove) stack for Kobo e-readers: https://github.com/lgeek/okreader. I think that is probably the best option. I am planning to get one of these for myself.

"How can I live without a mobile phone then? Is it inconvenient?"

It may not be convenient but Stallman does it, so it is clearly doable. He gets around the entire planet on his various speaking trips without a cell phone.

"I like using bluetooth earphones or headphones on the go. I am thinking of carrying a computer folded in a backpack, running free software and supplying me with audio via bluetooth. Is there an obvious reason why this would not work?"

I think that would work very well. You may also want to look into https://jmp.chat/ which is run by our very own free software person Denver Gingerich. You get a phone number, and do your calls using XMPP/Jabber.

Denver gave a talk about this at the FSF's yearly LibrePlanet conference this last March. It was called "A fully-free cell phone experience, no baseband required" and can be seen at https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/a-fully-free-cell-phone-experience-no-baseband-required/

Don't carry your laptop in a backpack for music-- use this, if you have the money to spare:

https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/portable-ogg-flac-audio-player-0

It's a fully Free Software OGG player-- much more portable and simple.

Thanks all for all the comments.

I think I have to change the following things in my lifestyle to make it coherent with principles:

Buy a computer with free booting firmware and fully free operating system.
Get a paid account on posteo.
Ditch the tracker and get a phone number on the computer (JMP).

Is there such a thing as a PDA or other small, non-telephone device that can run a free operating system with JMP, an email client, and maybe some kind OpenStreetMap viewer? For me and probably a lot of others that would replace pretty much everything I use my phone for.

EDIT: Maybe something like these?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora_%28console%29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipit_wireless_messenger_(Z2)

Both can apparently run Debian.

name at domain wrote:
> After reading about the situation with mobile phones and free software,
> I've come to the conclusion that they are trackers. How can I live without
> a mobile phone then? Is it inconvenient?

Perhaps it is inconvenient but privacy is more important. I'm sure there
are lots of people who live full and complete lives without being tracked
or handling phone calls everywhere they go.

> I like using bluetooth earphones or headphones on the go. I am thinking of
> carrying a computer folded in a backpack, running free software and
> supplying me with audio via bluetooth. Is there an obvious reason why this
> would not work?

If you want to listen to audio you can find small unnetworked digital audio
players that will fit in your pocket and work with wired headphones. This
approach will let you avoid broadcasting your audio via Bluetooth. Check
out the https://www.rockbox.org/ firmware (licensed under the GNU GPL v2 or
later) for supported devices. Perhaps there is an inexpensive used digital
audio player you can upgrade with Rockbox so you can pay less, get
something Rockbox supports, and avoid paying the manufacturer while gaining
the practical benefits of that device.

See https://trisquel.info/forum/smart-phone-recommendations-please#comment-117048 (and below) for some recent experiences of those of us (including myself) who own no tracking device.

I have not owned a mobile phone for two years but I encountered the following “inconvinience”:

During my holiday my daughter and I were cycling in the Alps in Italy and during a descent she fell. Result: Severe bleeding from the abdomen and 6 teeth missing.... I sure was glad someone with such a “tracking device” came by to call ambulance.

I also could not send an email to my wife because of the recent server downtime of openmailbox

Dont get me wrong: I love freesoftware. I only use libreboot computers with parabola, I use openmailbox, I do not own a mobile phone, but this was a little too “inconvinient” or would you say this is a case of “liberty or death”?

At the end of 2014 I decided not to need a mobile phone. I watched:
1 https://media.ccc.de/v/31c3_-_6249_-_en_-_saal_1_-_201412271715_-_ss7_locate_track_manipulate_-_tobias_engel
2 https://media.ccc.de/v/31c3_-_6531_-_en_-_saal_6_-_201412272300_-_ss7map_mapping_vulnerability_of_the_international_mobile_roaming_infrastructure_-_laurent_ghigonis_-_alexa...