The Framework Laptop • Hacker News Board

Re: The Framework Laptop

#31

Post by cupofjoakim » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:47 PM UTC

This actually looks promising but I wonder if I'm really the target group. While I do build custom computers every now and then i also cherish the "completeness" of the unibody design that my MBP has. I also wonder about the availability of parts...

Also, big up for the 3:2 screen.

Re: The Framework Laptop

#32

Post by coldpie » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:48 PM UTC

cupofjoakim wrote: post #31

This actually looks promising but I wonder if I'm really the target group. While I do build custom computers every now and then i also cherish the "completeness" of the unibody design that my MBP has. I also wonder about the availability of parts... Also, big up for the 3:2 screen.

> Also, big up for the 3:2 screen.

Amen. Any chance I can buy one for my desktop?

Re: The Framework Laptop

#33

Post by SloopJon » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:48 PM UTC

One of the repair challenges is access to old parts. The drain hose on our three year-old washer sprung a leak. When I called a repair man, he at first said that Samsung doesn't make that part anymore. Fortunately, he was mistaken, but if that's something that happens for a simple hose, imagine trying to replace the "high-end headphone amp" expansion card on this laptop five years from now.

Even if I'm not too excited about the proprietary expansion card system, which will last as long as the founders' attention spans, if it gives access to standard memory and storage, that's an improvement over the current trend.

Re: The Framework Laptop

#34

Post by nightowl_games » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:49 PM UTC

Honestly this is exactly what I want (quality, repairable, upgradable), but I'm not all in yet. I feel like this space is extremely hard to break into, and I'm worried about their ability to pull it off. Is there massive capital in this corp? Will the price be really high? I'd pay a premium for this kind of thing, but if they start crowd funding it's gonna seem like a red flag.

Re: The Framework Laptop

#35

Post by nrp » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:49 PM UTC

ceocoder wrote: post #15

I’ve added my name to preorder list, happy to pay premium for a laptop with high build quality and hardware. Please don’t screw up the keyboard. Please. And a fingerprint reader would be welcome addition if possible.

Keyboard feel was high on our list of priorities. We engaged one of the bigger keyboard suppliers and worked with them on a custom one with 1.5mm key travel.

We've built a fingerprint reader into the power button using a just-released sensor that has been performing really well in our testing so far. We're seeing False Reject Rates lower than the typical fingerprint readers built into laptops while keeping the right False Accept Rate.

Re: The Framework Laptop

#36

Post by ArchieMaclean » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:50 PM UTC

whoisburbansky wrote: post #26

john61 wrote: post #20

Will it run with completely free software? The limiting factor for lasting is not hardware but required proprietary software.

Are you implying they’re going to stop you from popping Ubuntu on it somehow? [Edit: Thanks for all the replies citing driver blobs and proprietary BIOS issues, totally slipped my mind that that was a concern, makes a ton more sense now.]

They may be wondering if the BIOS is FOSS.

E.g. LibreBoot https://libreboot.org/

> Non-free BIOS/UEFI firmware often contains backdoors, can be slow and have severe bugs. Development and support can be abandoned at any time.

Re: The Framework Laptop

#37

Post by sesuximo » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:51 PM UTC

whoisburbansky wrote: post #26

john61 wrote: post #20

Will it run with completely free software? The limiting factor for lasting is not hardware but required proprietary software.

Are you implying they’re going to stop you from popping Ubuntu on it somehow? [Edit: Thanks for all the replies citing driver blobs and proprietary BIOS issues, totally slipped my mind that that was a concern, makes a ton more sense now.]

Idk bro the cpu microcode from intel is closed source. How can you live with that

Re: The Framework Laptop

#38

Post by john61 » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:51 PM UTC

whoisburbansky wrote: post #26

john61 wrote: post #20

Will it run with completely free software? The limiting factor for lasting is not hardware but required proprietary software.

Are you implying they’re going to stop you from popping Ubuntu on it somehow? [Edit: Thanks for all the replies citing driver blobs and proprietary BIOS issues, totally slipped my mind that that was a concern, makes a ton more sense now.]

Ubuntu runs also on proprietary drivers. If the hardware vendor stops to maintain the proprietary driver or binary blob the hardware could become obsolete very quickly, although it runs fine hardware wise. My 11yr old Nokia N900 runs absolutely fine hardware wise. It also could run a new linux kernel, but some drivers are proprietary and can not be updated. What a waste.

Re: The Framework Laptop

#39

Post by psalminen » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:51 PM UTC

SloopJon wrote: post #33

One of the repair challenges is access to old parts. The drain hose on our three year-old washer sprung a leak. When I called a repair man, he at first said that Samsung doesn't make that part anymore. Fortunately, he was mistaken, but if that's something that happens for a simple hose, imagine trying to replace the "high-end headphone amp" expansion card on this laptop five years from now. Even if I'm not too excite…

From the article: "In addition to releasing new upgrades regularly, we’re opening up the ecosystem to enable a community of partners to build and sell compatible modules through the Framework Marketplace."

Maybe I am misinterpreting it but it sounds like its not a completely proprietary system?

Re: The Framework Laptop

#40

Post by f6v » Thu, Feb 25, 2021, 3:53 PM UTC

> with the ability to choose Windows or install your preferred Linux distribution.

10$ says it’s going to be quite an effort to run Linux on it. Nice idea though.