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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

#691

Post by osrec »

amiantos wrote: post #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 fo…

How is it weird? He very clearly described the degradation in quality of ThinkPads. For what it's worth, I agree.

Also, using a laptop for a month is more than enough time to get a feel for how things might play out over the long term. He was clearly impressed enough to commit to an opinion in a short space of time. If his opinion changes, I'm sure we'll hear about that too. I think that's fair enough.

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

#692

Post by joombaga »

kzrdude wrote: post #487
yumraj wrote: post #470

Has 13" become the default choice these days? I would love everything the same, but with a 15"-16" screen - if anyone from Framework is reading.

these are 4:3 screens so certainly odd in current laptops

It's 3:2. 2256x1504.

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

#693

Post by emsy »

Matthias1 wrote: post #573
NotPractical wrote: post #527

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For the record, I also own a Mac: the MacBook Pro, 2019 baseline model. I used to enjoy the battery life (though it has been slowly getting worse to the point where I have considered reaching out to Apple about it since the battery is glued in and I can't replace it myself). I like the metal body. I also like macOS. My MacBook is not completely silent because it's an Intel mac, but the M1 would be, that's true. As fa…

This is a good point. "Repairability" is a lot less important to me than lifetime. Right now, I have a MacBook with AppleCare. The author's criticism with AppleCare is that it can take a week for Apple to repair the computer. That's reasonable for me. So the real test of the Framework computer is not in the first week. (Although the initial impression is very impressive!) The real test is whether I can, 3 years after…

Do you mean the criticism is reasonable or 1 week repair time? Because the latter is absolutely not for anyone that uses their laptop as their primary working device. A week downtime is completely unacceptable.

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

#694

Post by twobitshifter »

NotPractical wrote: post #492

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 *…

I almost feel like I have to buy this since it really is the type of laptop I’ve always wanted - but the allure of the M1 is still there, making me second guess myself.

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

#695

Post by chrismartin »

No axe to grind here, but this article contains a lot of misinformed, over-generalizing FUD about modern Thinkpads. It sounds like Cory's experience was with the X series: these Thinkpads are the thinnest, lightest, and most difficult to service.

For a small thickness and weight penalty, the T series are much easier to repair, upgrade, and maintain. My T450s (bought new in 2015) and T480 (bought new last year) both have an easy keyboard swap and Intel graphics (not a proprietary Nvidia GPU). Cory implies that Thinkpads still need a proprietary dock, but any USB-C-enabled Thinkpad (i.e. any Thinkpad made in the past few years) can use any cheap USB-C dock out there.

Nearly every component on the T series is as easy to upgrade or replace as the Framework claims to be. I've swapped my RAM, storage, display panel, and battery. The T480 and older external battery are even more serviceable than the Framework's: just pull 2 tabs and it slides out.

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

#697

Post by mastazi »

leipert wrote: post #628
mastazi wrote: post #619

I would like to purchase an i5 with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, am I missing something? https://frame.work/products/laptop/configuration/edit

Not preconfigured, but the DIY page allows that configuration. You can even choose the WiFi card: https://frame.work/laptop-diy-edition

Perfect! Thank you

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

#699

Post by bitwize »

TA-blahhh wrote: post #605
bitwize wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

"invested" is a bit of a misnomer here. He bought several of them for his employees. He was courted by Framework to buy into the company, but as far as I know, he noped out of that deal.

He posted a video a week ago indicating otherwise and that he is now a stock owner in the company. It's called "I'm Legally Obligated to Disclose This".

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

#700

Post by tgsovlerkhgsel »

ericpauley wrote: post #253
mikenew wrote: post #124

Been extremely happy with mine the past couple months. The little modular port attachments seemed like a novelty at first, but now it feels absurd that you'd buy a laptop with a bunch of "hardcoded" ports that you can't ever change. The only real Linux related quirk I've run into so far is that you have to disable panel self refresh (it's on by default and causes stuttering). Other than that tiny thing I pretty much…

Maybe I need some convincing here. How is the "modular port" concept any different than a universal port with dongles (i.e., how Macs have been since 2016). To me the fact that the port attachments are recessed is little more than a gimmick. Especially as all of my devices have transitioned to USB-C anyway, dongles/"modular ports" feel more like a stopgap measure than one requiring a permanent form factor change.

What upsets me about the solution is that the whole laptop is limited to 4 ports. They don't even offer the obvious "2 in 1" dongles where one dongle would contain e.g. two USB-A ports.

Many other laptops aren't modular - but they offer more than enough ports to make up for it.

You need at least 1 USB-C port for charging. If you want to be able to use an external mouse and keyboard without a hub, that's 2 USB-A ports that you need. That leaves you the choice between having one USB-C port OR HDMI for the last port. There isn't even an Ethernet option at all. And you still get the potential downsides of the ports being adapters from USB-C, if I understand correctly.

If you grab a Lenovo P14s, you can't swap one of the two RAM sticks (limiting you to 48 GB), opening it takes a little bit more work, and replacing some of the more integrated components is going to be harder (SSD is trivial). In exchange, you get 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, HDMI, MicroSD, and full-sized (not flip-out/break-off) Ethernet. Plus an optional built-in smartcard reader, plus some proprietary docking port extension around one of the USB-C ports. Looking at the Gen 2, you can get that at around 3/4 of the price with a similar or better config (including a somewhat serious GPU) as long as you order on the weekend (when Lenovo's non-ripoff pricing is in effect), and you can also add a fingerprint reader and NFC if you want.

The Framework laptop has upgradeable RAM, but you will have to upgrade it yourself (discarding the RAM that comes with it) if you want more than 32 GB, and no matter what, it won't ever support more than 64 GB. Is supporting at most 64 GB really that much better than a laptop with 64 GB soldered in?

By the time you want to upgrade the CPU, the mainboard won't be compatible, so what's really there to upgrade?

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