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The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

frame.work

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Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#111

Post by alexvoda »

nrp wrote: post #40
NoraCodes wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting - does this mean it'll be possible to create a Coreboot edition of the original Framework motherboard design, or is that capability related to Titan C?

It is technically possible to, and we've provided development systems to a few coreboot developers. This is something we'll be putting more energy into next year as we grow the Framework team.

System76 have done work on enabling CoreBoot support on several laptops (which AFAICT are rebranded and certified versions of ODM whitelabel devices).

Would any collaboration with them regarding CoreBoot be helpful/desirable/possible/planned/etc. ?

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#112

Post by alexvoda »

emptyparadise wrote: post #67
nrp wrote: post #2

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

Is it possible to get the Chrome OS version one of these with a super/win key like on the standard version?

Or at the very least, can the normal keyboard part be installed afterwards?

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#113

Post by rch »

n0ric wrote: post #43

I'm having a hard time imagining the audience for this product. EDU most likely isn't going to go with this product due to cost (and can get easily complex, imagine trying to juggle all the expansion ports being lost by students), and typical audiences for ChromeOS devices don't always overlap with audiences who want easy repairability (and most likely are purchasing the device for the lack of nuances that other OSes…

Christmas gifts for my parents. I've had them on Chromebooks for the last few years, and my father is a tinkerer (Western Electric in the 70s) who routinely opens up laptops, phones, cameras, etc. for repairs or just because.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#114

Post by smoldesu »

neogodless wrote: post #99
smoldesu wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't work for Framework, but my guess is that AMD doesn't make a chip with powerful enough IO controllers to operate the Framework. It's a shame, because I also like the Ryzen mobile chipset, but even the M1 wouldn't have enough IO bandwidth to drive 4x Thunderbolt 4 ports at full speed. Love them or hate them, this is part of the Intel 'package' that you're paying for. Besides, now is a terrible time to start off…

> next-gen mobile Ryzen chips were announced less than a month ago Technically the only mobile Ryzen chips announced so far are based on Zen 2 which is about to become two generations old. Expect "next-gen" mobile chip announcements in January. (The recent Zen 4 announcements have been for desktop parts.)

You're right, I missed that. Still, my point stands :p

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#116

Post by turtlebits »

kyrra wrote: post #102
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #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…

Googler, opinions are my own. Google definitely has not lost interest. The Chromebook team at Google is actually involved in almost (all?) Chromebooks made. Since Google is responsible for all firmware/software updates for the life of that Chromebook, they are involved in that way. As well, the hardware/firmware teams here do a lot of the core engineering to getting the core parts of the hardware working (motherboard…

Sorry, I'm not sure I believe this.

I have a Pixelbook that still gets ChromeOS updates regularly- the Android and "Linux on ChromeOS" features are still half baked. After wakeup - Android apps hang or show empty windows, Terminal takes minutes to work, and a reboot usually fixes everything. (This is after a powerwash and being on the stable channel)

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#117

Post by amelius »

LandStander wrote: post #89
jds_bv wrote: post #63

Combining hardware privacy switches with a Google chromebook is like pasting a "vegan" sticker on a slab of meat.

Concerns of spyware are precisely why those switches exist.

Switches won't do much if your photos and videos are on your laptop through some other physical means (e.g. disk/network) or if you put them there when the switch was not active.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#118

Post by mixmastamyk »

nrp wrote: post #40
NoraCodes wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting - does this mean it'll be possible to create a Coreboot edition of the original Framework motherboard design, or is that capability related to Titan C?

It is technically possible to, and we've provided development systems to a few coreboot developers. This is something we'll be putting more energy into next year as we grow the Framework team.

Bummer just bought one was very not pleased to find “intel vpro corporate” force enabled in the firmware.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#119

Post by michaelt »

nrp wrote: post #59
ddxv wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apologies for the direct question, but I've wondered, how does this make sense for your business? Chromebooks have typically been seen as cheap versions of laptops but Frameworks is priced above the average Chromebook price. Is there a sense that there is an untapped 'premium' chromebook audience or will this make sense even without that. Perhaps you're looking for large/discounted partnerships with educational organ…

It's a valid question. Since there are few to no current products in this segment, we really are testing it. We get to do tests like this much more efficiently than most because we can leverage our existing modular product and build just new modules needed for it.

Did your partners at Google give you any indication of how successful their ~£1300 Pixelbook Go i7 [1] was?

[1] https://www.johnlewis.com/google-pixelbook-go-ga00526-uk-lap...

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#120

Post by nrp »

alexvoda wrote: post #115
nrp wrote: post #2

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

Can the motherboard be purchased separately in order to transform an existing Framework laptop into a Framework Chromebook?

Technically, yes! You may also need the Chromebook-specific Input Cover and Webcam though for full functionality.
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