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The Framework Laptop is now shipping

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Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#681

Post by arendtio »

Aachen wrote: post #575
arendtio wrote: post #565

I really like the replaceable USB-C ports. From my smartphone I know, these things wear-off when being used multiple times per day and being able to simply replace them is much more useful than it might look like at first sight.

I hear this a lot but only from people with USB-C. Sure, on occasion you'd also hear someone who broke their mobile micro-USB or even USB-A laptop ports, but usually that was from bending the connector accidentally if I remember correctly. As someone with zero problems finding the correct orientation (it's both tactile and visual) who is in the market for a new phone, makes me wonder if I should look for one with mic…

Micro USB was definitely worse than USB-C.

For context: I am someone who still has a 9 years old smartphone in use (not exclusively). So for the normal 24 months usage the connectors might suffice, but I prefer solutions which are either easily replaceable or hold longer like wireless charging for example.

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#682

Post by arendtio »

nrp wrote: post #599
arendtio wrote: post #566

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It probably depends on resolution and refresh rate, so you might want to add some details.

You can run 4 4k 60hz monitors simultaneously if you turn off the internal display, or three if you keep the internal display on. The maximum external display resolution is 8k 60hz, but you can't run multiple of those.

Sounds cool.

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad T490 which struggles to drive two 4k displays at reasonable refresh rates. 4k60 + 4k30 is the best I was able to achieve so far (via Thunderbolt and an additional HDMI cable).

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#683

Post by Stratoscope »

codedokode wrote: post #663
formerly_proven wrote: post #631

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The practical interest might be close to zero because in the past memory upgrades a number of years down the road were one of the most common upgrades and added tremendous value and another few years of life. Similarly many older laptops got a second life by being upgraded to SSDs. Accidents like that, which prevent sales of new units, can't happen if storage and memory are soldered on. I don't think this is the driv…

Also even when RAM was replaceable, many manufacturers put low limits on its size, I guess for the same purpose.

I don't know about other brands, but for ThinkPads (both in the IBM and Lenovo eras), there was often a stated maximum RAM that was based only on the capacity of SODIMMs available at the time of manufacture.

But it wasn't an artificial limitation. In practice, once larger capacity memory became available with the same technology and form factor, it would work fine. I have upgraded several ThinkPads with memory beyond what the original datasheets said was possible.

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#684

Post by rodolphoarruda »

FullyFunctional wrote: post #626

This looks great. My only comment is whether the population for whom this is interesting wouldn't be more likely to want Linux? I suspect the focus on Windows is misplaced. I might get one, but I'd want 100% Linux support, notably wrt. power management. EDIT: language

I visited the website just to check which distro they were using. I was surprised when I saw the only two "distros" available. LOL

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#686

Post by heavyset_go »

nrp wrote: post #231
heavyset_go wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is Linux support?

Pretty good already. I mentioned in another comment that Fedora 34 respins as of this week have full support for the Framework Laptop built in. On Ubuntu 21.04, everything works out of the box except the fingerprint reader, which requires a newer libfprint.

Awesome, are you planning to participate in LVFS[1]? I see there's an entry for Framework, but no firmware uploaded yet.

[1] https://fwupd.org/

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#687

Post by lostlogin »

neycoda wrote: post #406
ribit wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In what universe is that normal? In a universe where you want high-performance energy efficient RAM. Premium ultracompact laptops have long moved to LPDDR which is both faster and consumes significantly less energy than regular modular DDR. And LPDDR does not come in DIMMs. And then you have Apple who are using custom package technology with custom RAM chips to cut down RAM power consumption to under one watt activ…

I love the idea of needing to replace the laptop to upgrade RAM. /sarc

I find this to be less of an issue than the noise it generates. If you maximise ram at purchase, the limitations of a laptop seem to be battery and storage more than anything else. A 8 year old MacBook is just fine for a lot of usage, except for the dead battery and limited storage. Having these easily repairable would make my life a lot easier - this laptop looks great.

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#688

Post by fmx »

matt_heimer wrote: post #86
emacsen wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the web site, the selling point seems to be around this being a "right to repair" laptop. What's a bit unclear to me is that it seems the Framework Laptop is not be under an Open Source license, unlike the Pinebook Pro, the Librem 14 or the MNT Reform- the MNT being the most "user serviceable" as well as most repairable. Is your laptop fully open source, or if not, what makes it special or different from these o…

I'm guessing you haven't worked on many laptops. They aren't meant to be repaired easily in many cases. Want to upgrade the RAM, you need to upgrade both sticks. One is on the bottom side of the motherboard that requires 16 screws be removed and a pry tool to get the bottom case off. The second stick is under the keyboard that requires multiple levels of plastic pieces to be pried off and disconnecting the keyboard c…

> I can't source a replacement keyboard when the "S" popped off.

> All examples I gave are real life examples which I've encountered.

Real life for me, too. The S key on my laptop no longer works. I took apart the keyboard to clean it one day, put everything back together, it all worked, except one key - S. Is there something about that specific key or is this just a weird coincidence?

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#689

Post by fmx »

mkoryak wrote: post #685

There is a bug on their configuration website where you get to the step with all the expansion cards and you get kicked out back to the main site. I wonder how many sales they are losing

Speaking of website bugs, whenever I change any options on https://frame.work/products/laptop-diy- edition/configuration/edit it reloads a page, scrolling to the top. Probably not something that would stop me from buying if I was going to, but annoying nonetheless.

Re: The Framework Laptop is now shipping

#690

Post by lostlogin »

hughrr wrote: post #288
victor9000 wrote: post #254

This device is seriously the answer to all my laptop problems. I really like the form factor of the XPS 13, but now I'm stuck with the complete inability to upgrade RAM. In what universe is that normal? Then I accidentally nuked the USB-C ports on the left side when it got wet, and now I'm left with a single port for everything, including charging. What!? Why? I tore the entire thing apart and there's just no way to…

Realistically 99% of the corporate and consumer laptops I have been party to are built to order with the right amount of RAM in and never upgraded. Those of us who actually upgrade are an insignificant minority at this point or pulling them out of the ex corp recycling lifecycle. Another point is stuff that is soldered in is a lot more reliable as a whole. Amazing how many old machines can be resurrected by reseating…

> At least Apple stick them on a daughterboard.

This is the least Appley thing I’ve heard recently. Making everything as small as possible with every single trade off that entails is their style. I say that as a hardline Mac user.

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