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$39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

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Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#41

Post by mfsch »

sonzohan wrote: post #30
guywithahat wrote: post #19

I know framework is a popular company on tech forums but it's always felt like a solution in search of a problem. Laptops I own that only have a CPU are rarely computationally bounded in what I'm trying to do, by the time the CPU is showing its age the battery and case are usually showing their age too. But lets say I need the most up to date CPU and can't wait, why would I now need a desktop computer with no expanda…

There are three problems it solves: 1. Upgrading is cheaper than a whole new system. This saves consumers money. Modern laptops increasingly solder parts down, making upgrades nigh-impossible (I've tried multiple times). Most tech companies have trade-in programs, but with dismal exhange rates. This gives the user more options and control over their hardware. 2. Countering planned obsolence and expensive repair costs…

I would say there is one more problem it can solve, though less related to sustainability: Building up a modular system may make it easier to more offer customers a device close to their ideal configuration with a limited number of SKUs.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#42

Post by angoragoats »

atlgator wrote: post #29

I love what framework is doing but the fundamental choice of laptop for me is always battery life. If I can't pull the laptop off the dock in the morning and ride into the office without packing a charger, I'm not a buyer. MacBooks are the only laptops doing this reliably.

This is demonstrably false — I have two 2018 Thinkpad T480 laptops, one running Windows and the other Linux. The windows one gets around 11 hours of moderate use per charge, and the Linux one about 10. And I bought these used with batteries that had quite a few cycles on them already. Laptops with long battery life are out there; Apple machines are not the only option!

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#43

Post by jareklupinski »

clnq wrote: post #16
ruytlm wrote: post #8

I really like this as a way to repurpose old hardware; I have known many laptops that end up sitting around in cupboards after their 'useful' life is over, that could probably still comfortably be serving as lightweight desktops even today.

Yes, or servers. I've been searching for ways to convert an older Dell laptop mainboard into a simple server. It has great power consumption on account of being a laptop logic board, and enough power to run serious server workloads. Unfortunately, I do not think a universal product for reusing laptop logic boards exists. Although it might be easy enough to make. All ports on the logic board could be wired up to a bac…

Interesting... don't most older laptops have some sort of docking mechanism that exposed basically every connection?

The physical interface wasn't the same for every laptop, but with a common backplane it should be possible to make a seperate docking connector daughterboard for the most popular laptops taking up cupboard space.

I would love to collab on an open-source dock that turns laptops into servers :)

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#45

Post by JoshTriplett »

irjustin wrote: post #22
ruytlm wrote: post #8

I really like this as a way to repurpose old hardware; I have known many laptops that end up sitting around in cupboards after their 'useful' life is over, that could probably still comfortably be serving as lightweight desktops even today.

Previously we were giving our old laptops to friends with kids. Now our kids use our old Macbook air to learn to type and other learning programs. My old MBP runs our 2010 "smart" TV via HDMI. It's not perfect because we have to get up to change the movie or skip an ad, but it works. And man, that thing still heats up like a mofo even when only running a browser, jeez.

> It's not perfect because we have to get up to change the movie or skip an ad, but it works.

If you're running on a computer rather than a locked-down device, why do you see ads at all?

Also, you've probably already considered this, but a wireless keyboard/mouse would nicely complete a living-room computer.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#46

Post by btgeekboy »

ktaylora wrote: post #17

This is cool. What I really want is to be able to build an array of these. Like turn a stack of old fleet framework laptops (or lenovo laptops -- something cheap and plentiful) into a little closet Kubernetes cluster. A bit like people do with raspberry pi's (k3s). Has anyone seen work out there to this end?

I’ve seen a few twists on that idea, such as this one: https://www.printables.com/model/416934-framework-as-a-serve...

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#47

Post by philliphaydon »

angoragoats wrote: post #42
atlgator wrote: post #29

I love what framework is doing but the fundamental choice of laptop for me is always battery life. If I can't pull the laptop off the dock in the morning and ride into the office without packing a charger, I'm not a buyer. MacBooks are the only laptops doing this reliably.

This is demonstrably false — I have two 2018 Thinkpad T480 laptops, one running Windows and the other Linux. The windows one gets around 11 hours of moderate use per charge, and the Linux one about 10. And I bought these used with batteries that had quite a few cycles on them already. Laptops with long battery life are out there; Apple machines are not the only option!

[dead]

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#48

Post by zbrozek »

Waterluvian wrote: post #10
xwdv wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All computer hardware like this emits some amount of electromagnetic interference. Although it looks cool to have a computer that is just a bare open board, the reality is you should really be shielding your hardware. It may not look as cool, but it’s kinder to the surrounding environment and respectful of others. Otherwise this is like the computer equivalent of running loud aftermarket exhausts on some shitty car.…

In principle I completely agree. But I’m equal measures ignorant and skeptical of this topic. How much EM radiation can those parts emit? Is this a problem in theory, or is it all but guaranteed to screw with other devices?

Lots of "it depends". Another computing device? Not going to care. Someone doing research in the National Radio Quiet Zone? Probably more sensitive.

Something like this computer unlikely to throw off enough radiated emissions for anybody other than the owner to care.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#49

Post by guywithahat »

sonzohan wrote: post #30
guywithahat wrote: post #19

I know framework is a popular company on tech forums but it's always felt like a solution in search of a problem. Laptops I own that only have a CPU are rarely computationally bounded in what I'm trying to do, by the time the CPU is showing its age the battery and case are usually showing their age too. But lets say I need the most up to date CPU and can't wait, why would I now need a desktop computer with no expanda…

There are three problems it solves: 1. Upgrading is cheaper than a whole new system. This saves consumers money. Modern laptops increasingly solder parts down, making upgrades nigh-impossible (I've tried multiple times). Most tech companies have trade-in programs, but with dismal exhange rates. This gives the user more options and control over their hardware. 2. Countering planned obsolence and expensive repair costs…

I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think that's a real consumer problem (particularly for the space they're in, which is portable laptops). Being reusable is a solution, and in this case it doesn't seem to be solving a real world problem. Usually people want their desktop computers to be more powerful than their laptops, and have dedicated graphics. This gives people a desktop computer which is older and less powerful than their laptop, and barring niche use cases (like a home server) isn't solving a consumer problem.

Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC

#50

Post by earhart »

atlgator wrote: post #29

I love what framework is doing but the fundamental choice of laptop for me is always battery life. If I can't pull the laptop off the dock in the morning and ride into the office without packing a charger, I'm not a buyer. MacBooks are the only laptops doing this reliably.

FWIW, Framework also announced a new battery with the same form factor but another 10%-ish capacity. And because the system's amazingly easy to disassemble, if your battery starts to lose capacity, it's trivial to swap in a replacement.

I do the "unplug and spend a couple of hours hacking without a charger" thing all the time with mine, and mine's using the previous-generation battery. Not running Windows seems to help a surprising amount.

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