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Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

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11–20 of 98 posts

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#11

> What I want to criticize is that Apple would rather re-add Magsafe than add another USB-C port, making one wonder if they are really clearing out old inventory. This is so minor, but clearly MagSafe isn’t about clearing out old inventory because it’s a different connector than old MagSafe.

Also, MagSafe is way better for charging than USB-C, since you can’t damage it if the cable is pulled.

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#12

The author doesn't care about either the keyboard or the display because external parts are used... Maybe a mini PC is a better option for him?

Right? This is like doing a car review, but continually pointing out that you are just going to leave it parked in front of your house so you don’t care about how it drives.

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#13
post #5

Just a random thought, it's amazing how competitive a startup can be when compared to a company that has orders of magnitude more R&D funds! Tradtionally, I would think hardware products would have a relatively large moat!

Well the MacBook air is the cut down budget product. The Framework can't compare to the MacBook Pro. The mini led screen, the battery life, the performance, the speakers. I wish it did because I much prefer Linux to MacOS

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#15
post #5

Just a random thought, it's amazing how competitive a startup can be when compared to a company that has orders of magnitude more R&D funds! Tradtionally, I would think hardware products would have a relatively large moat!

They’re not competitive. One is the world’s best selling laptop. The other is a highly niche product.

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#16
post #5

Just a random thought, it's amazing how competitive a startup can be when compared to a company that has orders of magnitude more R&D funds! Tradtionally, I would think hardware products would have a relatively large moat!

Well the MacBook air is the cut down budget product. The Framework can't compare to the MacBook Pro. The mini led screen, the battery life, the performance, the speakers. I wish it did because I much prefer Linux to MacOS

Asahi has come pretty far!

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#17

My first-gen Framework 13 with Ubuntu is usable, but has major issues around power. Battery life is very poor compared to ordinary laptops (I get ~3 hours of web browsing and light coding), and compared to M-series Macbooks (which have extraordinary battery life >8 hours) it is abysmal. Suspend/resume often fails in strange ways, and occasionally even power on is problematic (e.g. battery is full but it won't turn on…

I also have a Framework 13, and I agree that Apple’s ARM laptops have amazing performance per watt. The reason I have a Framework 13 instead of an ARM Mac is user-serviceability and cost savings. There is 32GB of RAM in my Framework, and at any time I could choose to upgrade to 64GB whenever necessary. However, because RAM in ARM Macs is integrated into the system and is not a separate user-replaceable component, I must purchase the maximum amount of RAM I could afford upfront, which is prohibitively expensive for me. I also do not like how storage is built-in instead of available as NVMe M.2 modules. I miss the days of my 2006 MacBook and my 2013 Mac Pro, which were both easy to upgrade. It’s this lack of upgradability in recent Macs that led me to switch to PCs despite my preference for macOS over Windows and desktop Linux.

With that said, if a company offered me the choice between a PC or a Mac, I’d pick the Mac every time. It’s different when someone else is paying ;).

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#18
post #5

Just a random thought, it's amazing how competitive a startup can be when compared to a company that has orders of magnitude more R&D funds! Tradtionally, I would think hardware products would have a relatively large moat!

Well the MacBook air is the cut down budget product. The Framework can't compare to the MacBook Pro. The mini led screen, the battery life, the performance, the speakers. I wish it did because I much prefer Linux to MacOS

It's not like the Air is half the price of the Framework.

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#19

The author doesn't care about either the keyboard or the display because external parts are used... Maybe a mini PC is a better option for him?

I think this is right, but optionality is valuable.

I'm curious if a $500 mini PC plus a bottomed out mb air would suffice (maybe not! Having all your stuff on your laptop can be useful)

For all that, I haven't considered a Mac mini even though I'm probably an ideal user. It doesn't help that it's on the m2 instead of m3, though. (Or m4, which is in iPads?)

I probably should

Re: Comparing the Framework Laptop with the MacBook Air M2: A Detailed Review

#20
One key thing not mentioned is OS support. I own an M2 MBA for personal use, and have an M2 MBP at work, specifically because they feature macOS. I realise that is not to everyone's taste, but it is mine, it's where I'm productive, and what I enjoy using. This is a spec-point worth something to me as a result. For those who prefer Linux, that may be a spec point worth something too!

I love many things about the Framework laptops, and hope Apple learns from them on those things, but ultimately I'm still on Macs because that spec point is worth so much to me.

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