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The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

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Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#191

Post by einpoklum »

> it's no thick-as-a-brick throwback the size of a 2005 Thinkpad – it's approximately the same dimensions as a MacBook.

So, it's a bad laptop in my book (pun not intended).

You see, a laptop needs a good keyboard; and a good keyboard needs height for the keys to travel. So, a laptop needs to be kind of "think as a brick". Maybe not at 2005 levels, but definitely at 2010 levels and no thinner.

However - a laptop which is reasonably easy to disassemble, and hence customize, is definitely something I support in principle. I'm not sure this can catch on if it's essentially a single-vendor thing.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#192

Post by icelancer »

ashtonkem wrote: post #50

I still remained baffled by the popularity of the laptop. Literally everyone I know works with them fixed in one location; their desk. Yes, some people do need mobility, but this appears to be a minority of consumers. We could’ve had all this repairability and modularity years ago if most consumers just admitted that really they wanted a desktop all along. It also fixed complaints about keyboards.

What? I finally switched from a desktop battlestation PC at work and at home to a high-powered gaming/compute laptop that I dock at work/home in my 3x monitor setup with mechanical keyboards and such at each location - and I'm a 1990's LAN party, lug your giant tower to the basement of your buddy's place nerd.

I was really late to switch and I don't regret it at all. Almost everyone I know made this switch 5+ years ago before me.

I also needed a laptop anyway with the battlestations, because I travel for work. Now it's all in one package and I spent a lot less money on it.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#193

Post by OJFord »

leetcrew wrote: post #168
tombert wrote: post #25

It feels like for years we were constantly told by these corporations "it's impossible to have slim, tiny laptops and make them customizable", and I guess at some level I believed that, and just accepted that laptops with upgradable components were a thing of the past. After seeing the framework, I'm more than a little annoyed that I fell for this. They proved you can have a slim, clean laptop that's somewhat modular…

I'm impressed that they have managed to take this product to market, and I'm glad that people who value modularity will finally have a viable option. at the same time, I personally don't see what all the fuss is about. you can upgrade both DIMMs, which is cool, but not exactly unheard of these days (I guess it's getting there in an ultraportable?). you're still stuck with DDR4, which is almost EOL, and the max capaci…

> you're locked [sic] into whatever CPU/chipset was current when you bought the laptop.

Which you can replace/upgrade too.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#194

Post by Johnny555 »

What are the long term prospects for this company? I'd like to have a repairable/upgradable laptop, but if they go out of business in a year, it's not much of an improvement over a Macbook... granted, it'd be some improvement since I could replace/upgrade commodity components like RAM or the hard drive but if the motherboard or display fails, I have to buy a new laptop.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#195

Post by frederikvs »

the_other wrote: post #44

But why the dongles? The go against all the principles of the rest of the design. They’re proprietary, consumable, and they waste space in the chasis. They limit what you can do with the USB-C they pass through too.

I think I read somewhere that they were planning to open up the specs of those modular ports. That may alleviate some of the points you bring up. (Can't find the source right now though.)

In what way do they limit the USB-C they pass through?

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#196

Post by bogwog »

webmobdev wrote: post #157
rcthompson wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even when I'm home 90% of the time during COVID, I use my laptop in lots of places: my desk, my bed, my dining table, my kitchen counter, my couch. I can't drag my desktop setup all around my apartment like that.

It makes sense if you use the laptop as a desktop - plugging it to a bigger monitor with an external keyboard and mouse. Otherwise it's hard to have good ergonomic with a laptop and you can't work long hours on it without developing some body pain.

What kind of pains does a laptop cause that you wouldn't also experience on a desktop?

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#197

Post by zepto »

squeaky-clean wrote: post #113
tshaddox wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you actually have any example of a corporation that makes laptops saying that it’s impossible to have slim laptops that are customizable? I would be very surprised if this ever happened, but I’m willing to be proven wrong.

I can't find a quote from Apple, but here's a 2012 article by Kyle Weins (iFixit CEO) basically claiming that's the reason https://www.wired.com/2012/06/opinion-apple-retina-displa/

> Kyle Weins (iFixit CEO) basically claiming that's the reason

I.e. The last person who can be trusted to report on Apple’s motivations.

It’s an absurd explanation. Some obvious other factors are:

1. The idea that a modular chassis is less robust over time. Not that it can’t be made, but that if you make millions of them, vastly more of them will have problems because of all the connectors etc.

We don’t have any data on the framework. Perhaps they’ll prove this to be a misplaced fear, but it’s also possible that framework laptops in aggregate will need more repairs because of the extra complexity.

2. Limited hardware profiles are easier to support with software. If users can create limitless combinations, it becomes much harder to test. This isn’t an issue for the typical Linux user who can do their own homework and fix their own issues, but it’s a deal breaker for someone who just wants to buy a computer and get work done.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#198

Post by 5faulker »

tombert wrote: post #25

It feels like for years we were constantly told by these corporations "it's impossible to have slim, tiny laptops and make them customizable", and I guess at some level I believed that, and just accepted that laptops with upgradable components were a thing of the past. After seeing the framework, I'm more than a little annoyed that I fell for this. They proved you can have a slim, clean laptop that's somewhat modular…

This looks refreshing. Definitely one of the most interesting find of the year.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#199

Post by jagger27 »

bitwize wrote: post #69
topspin wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linus (the "tech tips" one) said something that sticks in my mind: "The only reason other companies can't do this - and Framework proved it - is because they don't care."

Linus has now invested in Framework, which constrains how he is allowed to review laptops on his channel because of the possibility of a conflict of interest. He says it's worth it to support what he believes is a great company with an awesome product vision.

Linus has shown his flagrant disregard for impartiality or any form of integrity over and over again. Look through the LTT back catalogue and you’ll see that Intel is big sponsor of theirs. The fact that he gives “honest” reviews of Intel products doesn’t magically make it okay.

You’d never see Dr. Ian Cutress of AnandTech or Steve from GamersNexus pulling this shit.

Of course he makes much more money than both of them combined. Make no mistake that he is an entertainer and a businessman.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#200

Post by pc86 »

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #9

I wish that I needed a laptop so that I could buy one. I sincerely hope this company succeeds so that they are around when I do need a laptop. > Yesterday, I put my 2019 Thinkpad on my pile of "laptops to refurbish and donate." I've bought a new Thinkpad almost every year since 2006. I think that's over. wat

It's addressed in the article and elsewhere in these comments, several times. They donate them after a year in order to upgrade. Seems a perfectly reasonable and responsible use case if you want a new laptop every year.
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