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

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

#91

Post by MBCook »

commandersaki wrote: post #73
MBCook wrote: post #41

Unfortunately this review doesn’t mention the thing that I’ve come to adore since my M1 (now M3) Air: it’s dead silent since there is no fan. And in my normal use it never gets warm. Ever. I haven’t tried maxing out a game. I’m sure it warms some, but from what I’ve heard it won’t get hot. I know you can get better performance elsewhere. I don’t care. Having my laptop never get hit is a total game changer. My last 2-…

Framework 13” 12th generation Intel can get pretty hot when I do parallel compile jobs. Not scorching hot, but hot tea hot. Can’t let it sit on my exposed thighs. Oh and yeah the framework is noisy. My m1 and m2 air when pegged may get lukewarm.

That’s what I expected, and there’s not much they can do given the CPU choice they’ve had. Thanks.

My personal laptop is an M3, my work laptop is a 2019 Intel MBP. So I feel and hear the difference every day in heat/noise alone. I’m looking forward to the next work upgrade cycle, whenever that ends up being.

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

#92

Post by Fluorescence »

commandersaki wrote: post #88
Fluorescence wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm. > a m3 pro 16”/96gb/2tb costs 7700aud You can't buy an m3 pro with more than 36GB in the UK. A Max with 64GB is £4,699 (8,900 AUD). A 64GB/2GB Dell Alienware is £2,399 (4,550 AUD).

Yeah, I got the naming wrong but the prices right-ish (actually 7800aud not 7700). That'd be a m3 max 16"/96gb/2tb which is 4799ukp, but you're right the spec equivalent dell alienware is 2399ukp. But in australia the dell alienware is 6000ish aud, and the xps 16 (which is a non starter as it has a touch sensitive esc/function keys and invisible touchpad) is also 6000 aud. I guess we're paying some crazy tax on the a…

> But in australia the dell alienware is 6000ish aud

The Alienware m16 R2 actually looks cheaper in Aus than UK, you just can't spec it with 64GB/2TB for some unknown reason. If you could for the same percentage bump as the UK, it would be 3577 AUD.

https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-m...

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

#93

Post by simpaticoder »

luyu_wu wrote: post #90
simpaticoder wrote: post #9

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…

First gen Framework (11th gen) here. It's different your experience is from mine. I get typically 8-10 hours (more than enough for a full school day) on my laptop, although I have done numerous power optimizations.

If you'd be willing to share those optimizations, I (and many others, I would guess) would be deeply grateful.

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

#94

Post by luyu_wu »

simpaticoder wrote: post #93
luyu_wu wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First gen Framework (11th gen) here. It's different your experience is from mine. I get typically 8-10 hours (more than enough for a full school day) on my laptop, although I have done numerous power optimizations.

If you'd be willing to share those optimizations, I (and many others, I would guess) would be deeply grateful.

Intense TLP optimizations do most of the work! There's a lot of threads regarding optimization on the community forum too!

Otherwise: - Keep all expansion cards as USB-C - Do what powertop tells you to do (watchdogs, autosuspend) - Run a lightweight WM/DE (Hyprland without blur and shadows in my case) - Limit electron apps, anything but electron apps. - Use light mode (dark mode, from my experience, causes me to increase the backlight far higher than on light mode, something unfavourable on IPS panels)

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

#95

Post by stkdump »

killingtime74 wrote: post #77
stkdump wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

It's true but it's not like me or my company are trying to save money when buying my primary laptop

Oh, good for you! I guess there is a sizable population even with software developers for whom money is some concern. I mean I can't be the only one...

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

#97

Post by lousken »

dheera wrote: post #3

I have a Framework, because I much prefer Linux, and don't want to spend more than market prices on SSD and RAM. It's the best Linux laptop I have ever owned. However, I do have to admit the Macbook just has a better build quality, and Framework could up their game here. Especially the bezel, the general "gritty" feel of the aluminum, the cheap feeling to the pluggable modules. Reflections in the screen are not mirro…

In terms of display, framework 16 can definitely hold on its own against macbook. I saw no difference in terms of brightness (only when I downloaded an app for macbook to use HDR to boost it beyond maximum), resolution was also perfectly fine and couldn't see a difference. 165Hz however feels ever so slightly more smooth. The notch on the mac looks ugly af though and was first thing i disabled and I much prefer the look of framework.

What I don't like about the framework is definitely the aluminium sides that you use to position the touchpad. The tolerances are too high and it makes it look like a prototype. Honestly I would buy just a simple bottom piece with no adjustments possible, center is fine for me

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

#98

Post by killingtime74 »

stkdump wrote: post #95
killingtime74 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's true but it's not like me or my company are trying to save money when buying my primary laptop

Oh, good for you! I guess there is a sizable population even with software developers for whom money is some concern. I mean I can't be the only one...

Obviously I want to save money, it's just a bit different for the primary work laptop. We use it to make money so want the best we can get (to make money faster)
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