The mission of Balthazar is to enable and educate end-users to be private, safe, and careful with their private, school's or a company's data.
In today’s internet age we need to know how to handle and use encryption for our data protection, privacy, and overall security. Also, additional physical safety features such as hardwired switches and a quickly removable hard drive and peripherals are a necessity.
Its open architecture runs a fully open-source software stack, a derivative of Debian GNU/Linux free of proprietary hardware drivers and other closed source software. This makes a large software library instantly available and provides regular security updates. It can also be used as a base for “custom OS” or even UI environment, but that should not be mandatory.
We are:
- To design open, secure, inexpensive, and innovative hardware while combining it with the usage of already existing GNU/FOSS tools and applications right off the shelf.
- To lead by example and gently lead other hardware manufacturers to become fully open towards GNU/FOSS including opening drivers' documentation, as well as abandoning in the developing process proprietary closed hardware architectures.
- To support and enable low-income communities and individuals all over the planet to engage in protecting their privacy, freedoms, and rights on and within internet communication.
- To make computing more sustainable and reach an eco-friendly footprint.
- To make a modular and granulated product that can be configured and upgraded at an affordable price. You own it – you have the right to repair and upgrade it yourself.
- To create an ecosystem that promotes RISC-V and ISA-based secure computing.
- To position it as an educational platform, as well as an advanced computing device where its users of all ages will feel secure, safe, and comfortable using it.
- To improve a paradigm in a mobile computing approach, while inspiring users to help create a new generation internet as a fundamental right to stay private, safe, and secure on- and off-line.
