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The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

frame.work

61–70 of 476 posts

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#61
post #2

I'm happy to answer questions anyone has on this product!

Is the hardware any different? If not, why sell this as a separate machine instead of providing a ChromeOS image that can be installed to a standard Framework?

I believe it comes with a lower-end CPU compared to the standard Framework, and also includes a builtin Titan C security chip.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#64
I'm not sure if HN is a representative audience regarding interest in ChromeOS, but personally all I hope is the money Framework makes from this allows them to release a larger model on which I can slap Linux on. Lightweight 15" laptops with great Linux compatibility aren't so easy to find.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#65

Congrats to frame.work for creating another decent product. But disappointed that it's an Intel device yet again. Why no AMD? (And can we replace ChromeOS with Linux or FreeBSD?)

Creating an AMD version of the Framework I assume takes a lot more work than just hitting up AMD and asking for some CPUs. Should they stop all other product development while waiting on AMD?

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#66
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s the difference from original?

ChromeOS! Specifically, the Mainboard is custom-designed for ChromeOS. This means it uses coreboot instead of a proprietary BIOS and has Google's Titan C security chip. There are some other smaller differences. To keep the cost down, the top cover is aluminum-formed instead of CNCed, for compatibility reasons we weren't able to bring our fingerprint module in, and we were able to improve both audio quality and speake…

> To keep the cost down, the top cover is aluminum-formed instead of CNCed

Forging is in no way inferior to CNC, on the contrary, a forget aluminium part should have more rigidity per unit of thickness, depending on the alloy.

I guess, you got to volumes big enough to open the mould for forging?

If you need an audio engineer, I can refer you one fellow. He worked at Apple, Harman, Asus, BBK, and is now looking to relocated from the East Bloc.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#68
This is awesome! I still use my Pixelbook, and I love it, and was always dismayed that it seemed to be yet another great product that Google lost interest in.

For folks wondering "who's the market in this?", the Linux container support in ChromeOS is awesome - my Pixelbook was actually a great dev laptop (I ran postgres, VSCode, Node, etc on it), just with age it's lack of upgrades is starting to show. So for me, on the "ChromeOS side", for me it's a benefit that it's basically just browser and android apps, and then on the Linux side I have everything I need for development.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#69
post #39
post #23

I am disappointed, there is Chromebook edition, but still no Linux edition only DIY.

I don't think they could win with a "Linux Edition" laptop. What distro would they ship with? Pop!_OS? Ubuntu? Debian? Fedora? Alpine? Manjaro? No matter what they choose, I suspect they'd just get accused of picking sides and the vast majority of users would just re-install with their preferred distro.

I don't care which distro they ship as long as it works. My company will not buy me a laptop without operating system and I will not recommend to my friends laptop without operating system.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#70

What we've been asking for is a Framework running AMD hardware. What we're getting is a Framework running a stripped down Linux meant for schools and made by a spy company? I predict this thing not selling well, but I'm sure someone is excited.

I bet lots of schools would pay up for "sustainable" laptops, actually.

I’m going to bet the opposite - no school is so flush with cash they can pay a 3x premium per laptop for students thet offers the same functionality. This seems like a misguided approach to obtain mass market appeal.
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