Freedom Toaster Overview

The Freedom Toaster is a self-contained computer kiosk that allows anyone to burn open source software and operating systems onto blank CDs. It makes use of specialized software that allows users to burn multiple CDs at once; so one could, for example, burn the four CDs needed for a Mandriva Linux installation in the few minutes that would be required to burn one CD conventionally.

Toaster Kiosk

The user makes their selection on The Freedom Toaster's touch-screen and then inserts the required amount of blank CDs to burn their selection.

The name Freedom Toaster is derived from the fact that open source software is free and that Linux users refer to burning CDs as 'toasting'; hence The Freedom Toaster.

The official Freedom Toaster is moved around to convenient locations and events where anyone is welcome to choose from the variety of software available and burn their own CDs. But the plans and software for the Freedom Toaster are also freely available, allowing anyone, anywhere, to build their own Freedom Toaster and make open source software available in their community.

The Freedom Toaster delivers open source software in a dynamic and empowering way. Open source software has traditionally been available via download from the Internet or on pre-prepared CDs that are either handed out or bought.

These traditional forms of distribution have been great for the most part, but have also been problematic for some users, especially those in developing countries where open source can be used to make a big impact. Internet connectivity is challenging in these regions and makes it difficult, and in many cases impossible, for software to be downloaded.

Free CDs are a good option, but they subtract from the choice so important to the open source software model. The end user has had no input as to what is on these pre-prepared CDs.

The Freedom Toaster solves these problems by allowing people to choose the software and operating systems that they want and burn them onto CDs, without the need for an Internet connection. In this way, The Freedom Toaster delivers open source software to people who would have otherwise not been able to acquire it.

But the Freedom Toaster is also a fun source of open source software for anybody and a good place to get information on the applications and operating systems it contains.