AMD has a binary issue as well, AGESA. ARM doesn’t offer high-enough power. And video graphics binary blobs are also a consideration.
Going with Intel was a choice which allows us to work with Intel in the hopes that future versions can be ME-less (a term they use internally).
But let’s also make sure we’re clear. Since there is confusion.
The Intel ME on a Librem laptop is:
- A binary blob within the BIOS that runs on the CPU.
The Intel ME on a Librem laptop is:
- NOT Connected to vPro/AMT, therefore does NOT allow remote access through AMT tools SINCE:
a) We are NOT using a vPro/AMT enabled CPU
b) We are using the consumer ME (BETTER), not-commercial ME (WORSE – documented to support AMT)
c) We are NOT using any Intel Networking (required to run AMT) - So we are limited only to the binary blob within the BIOS problem (which is a problem, but not as big as a full AMT exploit stack).
Intel cannot offer us an ME-less on our existing CPU, but can for future CPUs (not that they will, but we are discussing future CPUs with Intel to offer ME-less) while we work on methods to free the existing CPUs (other than Intel influenced).