The interesting thing about this is not the case itself, but that we're starting to see novel benefits from having open, modular laptop hardware.
$39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
61–70 of 160 posts
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#62Have they standardized the motherboard form factor? Could we start seeing third party motherboards to drop in to a Framework Laptop?
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#63I 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.
It’s a little half assed though. Moving to a more desktop form factor would allow them to dump the laptop thermal solution with maybe one large case fan and a low profile cpu cooler. You could have an extremely quiet little machine instead of a jet engine that barely moves any air. I’ve been doing a somewhat similar mod on an old Lenovo tiny pc and it’s definitely great value as long as you put a little effort and th…
I thought the same thing, too. But I also wonder if the cooler mounting pattern is going to be compatible with consumer market coolers. I expect the one they've chosen is already tooled.
I've got an older laptop with a busted screen, I've thought about pulling the mainboard and dropping it into a 3D printed chassis myself, and using it as a server. Haven't gotten around to it.
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
I mean, consider that Framework aren't even the people offering this product, it's Cooler Master. The fact that a third-party company has decided to offer this accessory probably validates somewhat that they think there's a market. It also looks like it's quite inexpensive to manufacture, being mostly or entirely injection-molded plastic, so I don't think they need to sell very many units of this thing for it to work out. What's the downside of having the option for the niche market that does exist?
I would guess not that many buyers of this case would be people upgrading their laptops anyway. It's more appealing to me as a nice way to encase a Framework motherboard I bought used, which are already starting to turn up on eBay at decent prices and will probably become more common. This could become a very compelling alternative to a new single-board computer or small-form-factor PC, especially since it's hard to get x86 SBCs or really any architecture at that performance level.
One bit of consumer value there on the firsthand market is the ability to readily sell your old motherboard. The easy reusability of Framework motherboards will probably allow them to fetch higher prices than working motherboards for other laptops where the market is limited to repairs.
Finally, just buying a new Framework motherboard (it's easy to buy them bare, not in a laptop) and putting it in one of these cases would get you a pretty top-of-the-line SFF PC at prices similar to a bit better than options from Dell, Lenovo, etc. From the photos it looks like this case can go on a VESA mount, and it'll be appreciably thinner than most SFF PCs. Could be a pretty appealing new PC option for situations like wall-mount displays running relatively intensive software... museum kiosks, that kind of thing. I used to work in that space and it can be a frustration to find good hardware options.
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
> 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). A MacBook Air can easily last 5 years+. I've had mine for 10 years. Will the average Framework laptop last as long as the average MacBook? > Countering planned obsolence and expensive repair costs associated with modern products. Macboo…
> You can't convince me that the average Framework laptop is more environmentally friendly than a Macbook Air over its lifetime.
How do I put more RAM in my 8GB Macbook Air?
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#66Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
out of curiosity, three questions:
1. have you ever bought a used laptop, 2. have you ever upgraded a laptop you own, 3. have you ever kept using a device until some EOL event forced you to replace it
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#67This might breath life back into my Gen 11,which has a graphics problem. Would to have it live as a fileserver.
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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). A MacBook Air can easily last 5 years+. I've had mine for 10 years. Will the average Framework laptop last as long as the average MacBook? > Countering planned obsolence and expensive repair costs associated with modern products. Macboo…
> A MacBook Air can easily last 5 years+. I've had mine for 10 years. Will the average Framework laptop last as long as the average MacBook? I don't see why not. My old thinkpad is still perfectly usable 8 years after I bought it (used, already 5 years old). All I had to do was put more RAM in it and replace the hard drive with an SSD. The display is starting to go, although I could get a replacement for $40. I also…
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Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
I bet if you look in the app store there is something in there that will let you use your phone as a media remote.
Re: $39 Cooler Master case turns your old Framework Laptop parts into a tiny PC
#70I'm actually very happy to see this because to me its a great business play by CoolerMaster:
1. It positions itself as part of the pro-repair crowd, which is already the crowd that supports building your own machine, and therefore buying CoolerMaster cases. That builds consumer trust.
2. It supports the framework ecosystem, strengthening the incentive to buy a framework laptop for more people - who could later purchase one of these cases as their needs change.