Live data from Hacker News

The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

pluralistic.net

531–540 of 1001 posts

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

#531

Annoys the crap out of me that Apple tries to claim how "environmentally friendly" they are and yet the biggest problem is they make all their computers be disposable and extremely difficult to repair. They've gone out of their way to do this by soldering in memory and SSD, gluing batteries in, etc. Shame on them.

I remember the days when you could actually EASILY replace your portables battery (after 3+ years), EASILY upgrade your ram and HD.. now if any of that fails or the system needs more memory then you have you have to replace the entire computer. I'm sure this is by design so you spend more money and buy new stuff instead of upgrading what you already have.

Yeah, Apple was really good at replaceable batteries, keyboards, hard drives, RAM, and wireless cards... right up until they decided they didn't want to be. IIRC it was sometime around when they started calling PowerBooks MacBooks... 2006 or thereabouts.

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

#532
post #496
post #432

> I've bought a new Thinkpad almost every year since 2006 But why?? If the current one isn't broken, why would you need to buy a new laptop and go through the hassle of setting it up? My laptop is from 2013 and is still fine. Parts of my desktop computer are from 2007 -- the case is from 1993, and nothing is more recent than 2015, and everything is running super smooth. Getting an entire new machine every single year…

The author states they travelled 27 days a month, every month. I doubt many people put that much stress on their laptops.

Traveling 27 days a month might sound impressive but it shouldn't really put extra wear on laptops in general. I frequently work from cafes and such and put my laptop into my backpack on an almost daily basis, and it's fine after years. I don't even use a padded sleeve or other special protection.

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

#533

I like what they are doing, but I am sticking with my 2 primary thinkpads for now, which is fine as well and certainly eco :) They are still a perfect level of repairability (t430s and a t470p) even if I can't upgrade the CPUs on them. I am excited over seeing this project, but these things have stuck out for me: 1. I am concerned over long-term screen hinge strength. I can't see the build on it, but I will not cheap…

The case/hinges has always been the first thing to fall apart in all my passed laptops. This is the third and the plastic case is showing age. The other two are still running well but they can't be moved around at all no more. Basically I want something as tough as an Apple Macbook but without Apple crap on it (I need Linux). My next laptop will have the best case and hinges or there won't be another one. I can't stand seeing perfectly runnning old machines made unusable because cheap assembly.

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

#534
Given that the expansion ports are just USB C ports, the real innovation (one of them) is making an integrated dongles. The only issue I see is that the adapters are a big too large but also a bit too small; the adapters are large enough that there are only 4 but also small enough that making a 2x USB A adapter would be quite challenging.

I think the idea could be expanded upon. Dongles that extend beyond the chassis such that they protrude a bit but make a flush contact with the laptop chassis. This would let you basically turn a typical USB dock into a permanent extension. Perhaps instead of having an two expansion ports on each side, each side of the computer including the front & back would have one larger port. I don't think having two USB C ports does anything to increase overall bandwidth available since it's probably all shared anyway.

Also once Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 are available it should make creating standardized expansion adapters a lot easier since you won't have to worry about an adapter needing Thunderbolt on an AMD system.

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

#535

The baseline, preassembled model starts at $1000. Windows 10 Home, quad-core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, a nice 2256x1504 display, thin and light (1.3kg, 11.7" x 9" x 0.6"). Compare that to your other thin and light options at this pricepoint. XPS 13, $1020 * i5 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 1920 x 1200 display * 1.2 kg, 11.6" x 7.8" x 0.6" MacBook Pro: $1300 * M1 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 2560 x 1600 display *…

The almost square aspect ratio really bugs me. Would have tried it out if not for that

It's still not as "square" as 4:3. Besides, why not. Other devices have huge black bars around the display.

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

#536
This is kind of a weird piece that really doesn't mean anything at all. I understand being in the "honeymoon phase" with a new piece of technology, but I don't feel like Cory is aware that he's doing that here. But there's some signs: He loved Thinkpads originally, but over the course of several years the company and the quality of the product went down the tubes. Now he's got a brand new laptop that he's only had for one month and is declaring it the best thing ever since sliced bread. But it's not really a fair comparison, a brand new niche product that hasn't been battled tested in any way versus a long-term established brand that he used for years. What will the Framework be like in many years? He offers extremely optimistic ideas, but obviously nothing concrete, because he just got the laptop.

I dunno, it just felt weird to me to be like "I loved this product I used for years, but it sucks now" and then say "I love this new product I've barely used!" without a hint of self-awareness that all the optimism and initial love for a product in the world won't keep it from turning into a pile of junk. How long until a "I went back to Thinkpads" article? A year, two, three?

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

#537

The baseline, preassembled model starts at $1000. Windows 10 Home, quad-core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, a nice 2256x1504 display, thin and light (1.3kg, 11.7" x 9" x 0.6"). Compare that to your other thin and light options at this pricepoint. XPS 13, $1020 * i5 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 1920 x 1200 display * 1.2 kg, 11.6" x 7.8" x 0.6" MacBook Pro: $1300 * M1 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 2560 x 1600 display *…

The single-thread performance of the M1 doesn't get close to the competition at its power level, even a year after its release. [0] The top item in the list is the M1, a 10W CPU. The second is an Intel requiring 125W. The highest-scoring i5 also requires 125W, and is 15th in the list. Just a reminder that the M1 MacBook Air has no fan, and is still at the top. When choosing a laptop you of course look are more factor…

To me the M1 one is the differentiator not even because of its performance, but because of what it allows the laptop to be: Absolute silence with 20 hour battery life. To have it also be screamingly fast is very nice to have though.

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

#538

The baseline, preassembled model starts at $1000. Windows 10 Home, quad-core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, a nice 2256x1504 display, thin and light (1.3kg, 11.7" x 9" x 0.6"). Compare that to your other thin and light options at this pricepoint. XPS 13, $1020 * i5 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 1920 x 1200 display * 1.2 kg, 11.6" x 7.8" x 0.6" MacBook Pro: $1300 * M1 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 2560 x 1600 display *…

You should be comparing it to the MacBook M1 Air which is $899. Battery life & smoothness/performance they achieved with M1 is phenomenal. Golden handcuffs.

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

#540
post #399

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how do you get rid of the doubly used Thinkpads?

Hint: "used" is a boolean, not a counter.

It was a joke. I was gonna write "used used laptop" since the poster used a used laptop. I thought doubly used would be slightly less confusing.
Post reply on HN