Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open • Hacker News Board

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#41

Post by stavros » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:29 PM UTC

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #16

sylens wrote: post #8

I think the missing piece here would be the desktop version of Steam OS. All the other components are in place for a stellar gaming laptop

You can install steamOS on it if you want, it is just a Linux distro like any other. Not sure why you would want to though, there are plenty of good Linux distros available and Windows is a much better choice for gaming if you don't need handheld specific features.

Nowadays I can play the vast majority on my games on Linux. It supports even more games than the Mac.

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#42

Post by seanhunter » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:30 PM UTC

Congrats to the framework team. This looks really awesome. I am looking to get one for sure. In particular I was extremely excited by the fact that Jack Humbert[1] is prototyping an ortholinear keyboard module[2]. I have 3 plancks and 1 prionic. Love me some Humbert keyboards, and it's an absolute dream to have an ortholinear keyboard on a laptop.

[1] https://olkb.com/ [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35280168

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#43

Post by trashcanman » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:31 PM UTC

ceearrbee wrote: post #19

trashcanman wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No compare it to the MBA 15 w 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM upgrades and the 70W charger from their educational store + $150 gift card offer. $1575 inc Cali tax

Are they not referring to the default price which is available to all? Adding all those situational discounts is not a fair comparison since it requires a very specific set of circumstances to achieve it.

Ok, but that same spec is 1699 plus tax direct from Apple without a discount so the same as frameworks pre built 16 inch option that ships in Q4. If you compare their “build it yourself and bring your own OS” version without memory or storage shipping in late Q4 the base MBA 15 +70W charger w/o discount is still $100 cheaper, shipping now and very likely will outperform w double the battery life

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#44

Post by aidenn0 » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:32 PM UTC

syntaxing wrote: post #21

Thoeu388 wrote: post #18

> The back two slots on each side can take up to 240W power input over USB-C using USB-PD 3.1. I would like an option for normal barrel jack power connector. I found USB-C power delivery very unreliable and not universal. For many applications (Pi4, Rock5) you are limited to original makers power adapter. Framework in this case is using very new PD spec to deliver 180W, so I assume it will be the same. There is also…

I strongly disagree with this. I purposely do not buy anything that’s not USB-C or lightning because I like being able to bring one charger for everything. Do you have older version of the RPi4? They accidentally made the USB-C non compliant but was fixed in late 2018, early 2019. Overall, as long as you have a 100W USB-C cable, you can practically charge anything (minus the now 240W standard).

I'm fine with either. The big advantage of the old way is if you have something approximately the right voltage (and sufficient wattage) all you need is a $0.25 barrel connector to charge. I damaged the power brick for my laptop once and ran it off of a bench supply with the original DC cable while I was waiting for the replacement to arrive in the mail.

With USB-C PD, If you live sufficiently close to a Best Buy (or similar) you can usually just get the USB PD brick with the most listed versions supported and have it work "good enough" but I have definitely seen laptops/PD brick combinations that negotiate rather low power.

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#45

Post by ben-schaaf » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:33 PM UTC

anotherhue wrote: post #37

Question for those of you that use a similar form-factor laptop: Can you really use it without a desk?

It's the same width as the 15" I use on my lap in the train every day. Wouldn't want something smaller personally.

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#46

Post by trashcanman » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:33 PM UTC

dghlsakjg wrote: post #34

trashcanman wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No compare it to the MBA 15 w 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM upgrades and the 70W charger from their educational store + $150 gift card offer. $1575 inc Cali tax

Why compare it to a smaller computer with no expandability with pricing that is unavailable to a huge majority of consumers?

Apple doesn’t verify that purchases from the educational store are from students it’s honor system. Those prices are available to everyone, in small quantities.

Sit the 15 inch MBA next to the 16 inch MBP and the screens look identical. Performance wise the M2 w unified memory crushes X86 systems across the benchmarks at half the power budget.

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#47

Post by nrp » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:36 PM UTC

smusamashah wrote: post #40

ploxiln wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has a dedicated AMD GPU option. That should work quite well for gaming. For CUDA ML stuff, it won't, as you suspect. (Will an Nvidia GPU come later, theoretically it could, but Nvidia is probably less willing to work with Framework ...)

Does it mean a thirdparty nvidia vendor like MSI etc can make one for framework though?

We've published documentation around the interface, and are happy to work with anyone who wants to develop a new module: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#48

Post by p_j_w » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:37 PM UTC

smusamashah wrote: post #35

CarVac wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has an option for a discrete AMD GPU. No word on other vendors' GPUs—yet.

Updated my comment after reading the post more closely. It does mean that it can get nvidia GPU in future right?

Framework has made no such promise, but I can’t imagine they’re not interested in making that happen.

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#49

Post by yndoendo » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:39 PM UTC

According to the specs. The keyboard is running QMK on a RP2040. Does anyone know if this will be programmable like quality mechanical keyboards? One thing missing from all high-end laptops is the ability to program the key mapping at firmware level so one does not have to re-configure the OS. Caps lock is such a useless and easily accessible key.

Re: Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open

#50

Post by Thoeu388 » Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 4:42 PM UTC

syntaxing wrote: post #21

Thoeu388 wrote: post #18

> The back two slots on each side can take up to 240W power input over USB-C using USB-PD 3.1. I would like an option for normal barrel jack power connector. I found USB-C power delivery very unreliable and not universal. For many applications (Pi4, Rock5) you are limited to original makers power adapter. Framework in this case is using very new PD spec to deliver 180W, so I assume it will be the same. There is also…

I strongly disagree with this. I purposely do not buy anything that’s not USB-C or lightning because I like being able to bring one charger for everything. Do you have older version of the RPi4? They accidentally made the USB-C non compliant but was fixed in late 2018, early 2019. Overall, as long as you have a 100W USB-C cable, you can practically charge anything (minus the now 240W standard).

To clarify: I want both. I only buy laptops with barrel jack and USB-C. The same with mini PCs.

It is OK for travelling. But my portable USB-C monitors randomly switch off for power renegotiation!

USB-C is not so great for stationary use. I always run into issues where all USB ports can not be fully powered, despite sufficient power rating on USB-C adapter. Older Macbooks would even discharge, while plugged, USB-C could not deliver enough juice, for high performance apps!

And those bloody things are supper expensive (like 100 euro). Cheaper are highly questionable and not even grounded!