Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

blog.matthewbrunelle.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 314 posts

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#141

Post by dangus »

twobitshifter wrote: post #126
dangus wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Find me a new MacBook Air that’s $1000 for 2TB of storage + 32GB of RAM, because that’s what I paid for my Framework 13 brand new (before RAM insanity, but this would still only cost about $1200 today). A $50 battery pack solved the battery efficiency problem. So for a little extra weight (external battery + FW13 weighs the same as a MB Pro 14”) I get a lot more actual capability in places that matters than a base Ma…

That’s all well and good, but you didn’t consider the processor performance, which is where the FW13 falls behind. fw13 - https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/15773121 MacBook Air - https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/macbook-air-15-inch-2025 There is a gulf between the two and that’s what is sacrificed on the FW13. I m not saying someone can’t decide to prioritize modularity, storage, and repairability over performan…

A Dodge Neon SRT4 is faster than a lot of BMWs but it doesn’t make it a better car to live with.

This is Apple’s price anchor in action. The base price is essentially not the real price. Anyone who can use the capability of their chips to their fullest will need more RAM and storage. Even casual users will find 256GB tight sometimes. Goodbye, “Optimize storage.”

In practical use, there really isn’t anything my system can’t do that a MacBook Air can besides battery stamina. Since moving to Linux/x86 gaming has become way easier (goodbye CrossOver). Programming and containerization is way better on Linux, and I finally have the RAM for it.

I acknowledge Apple’s lead in their chips but that’s only one component of the experience, and it’s not so far ahead that it’s a major detriment to choose something else.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#142

Post by eduction »

dvorka wrote: post #121
astra1701 wrote: post #49

The really special thing about Frameworks is that you can quickly buy and replace basically any part, not just the usual RAM and SSD -- case in point, when I managed to damage my FW13's keyboard such that it was no longer usable, I could just... go straight to Framework's website and buy a new one for $40. And, I even had the option of a slightly improved one, that shed the Windows key and lacked the god-awful copilo…

It depends on vendor really - I have Lenovo T480 and I replaced keyboard earlier this year (there are various options like w/ or w/o backlit + layout (I'm Czech), I have 2 batteries - one for "normal" use and extended one (in size and capacity) for traveling, changing multiple SSDs and RAM is possible (not soldered)... it's not framework, but easily fixable and Linux friendly HW.

T480 is indeed superb (except for being on the heavy side). I accidentally hurled my phone into the screen (both were on the bed and I shook the sheets trying to find the beeping phone). The replacement screen was like $75 and a 5 minute job. On MacBooks that’s typically closer to $600.

I’ll probably replace it eventually with a t14 which is pretty light these days.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#143

Post by adolph »

dvorka wrote: post #121
astra1701 wrote: post #49

The really special thing about Frameworks is that you can quickly buy and replace basically any part, not just the usual RAM and SSD -- case in point, when I managed to damage my FW13's keyboard such that it was no longer usable, I could just... go straight to Framework's website and buy a new one for $40. And, I even had the option of a slightly improved one, that shed the Windows key and lacked the god-awful copilo…

It depends on vendor really - I have Lenovo T480 and I replaced keyboard earlier this year (there are various options like w/ or w/o backlit + layout (I'm Czech), I have 2 batteries - one for "normal" use and extended one (in size and capacity) for traveling, changing multiple SSDs and RAM is possible (not soldered)... it's not framework, but easily fixable and Linux friendly HW.

++on older Lenovo. Something that Framework might have after many years is a viable secondary and third party market for repair components. Lenovo has also done a great job with keeping their detailed service manuals online and available.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#144

Post by billfor »

dontlaugh wrote: post #45
jdblair wrote: post #39

I'm also a laptop weirdo and I've had a Framework 13 with the Ryzen 7 motherboard since May of 2022. I run Ubuntu (currently 25.10) on it. Its a good laptop, but not a great laptop. Its very light and compact (very important to me), and its been reliable, at least since the AMD GPU driver issues were resolved. The matte screen is fine, battery life is adequate, and the CPU meets my needs as a hobby developer. Overall…

I tried a coworker’s, I was a bit shocked how poor the case is. Everything flexes badly, especially the keyboard. I was considering one, but definitely not worth it. I can get a ThinkPad for less and it’s much better quality.

Is it a 13 or 16? I have a Intel gen 12 framework 13 and it feels solid except the display is a little wobbly. The original display tended to swing in a heavy wind a bit much, but they improved the hinge at some point.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#145

Post by Insanity »

I really like the idea of Framework. But the use-case for their laptop just doesn’t typically exist for me.

I have a custom built PC (been building my own since 2008). In that span, I had many minor upgrades and 3 entirely new from-scratch builds. I could not imagine it any other way.

For my laptops though, I never bothered. I want something that “just works” when I’m on-the-go, it’s fine if it’s not new hardware as I won’t game on them, and my primary concern is how light they are.

And then a few years ago I got the iPad Pro which became my only device I’d take while traveling.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#146

Post by ruiseal »

Gooblebrai wrote: post #122

The only thing stopping me from buying one is that I heard the fan is quite loud. Is that still true?

I have the Intel Core Ultra and on the first mainboard I had (which Framework replaced because there were other issues) the fan ran quite a lot and was annoying. On the second board the fan never runs unless I'm compiling something.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#147

Post by bluescrn »

zbrozek wrote: post #93
nrp wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USB-A is our second most popular Expansion Card after USB-C (and before HDMI), so certainly people are using it for something!

I got a couple of type-A cards for my AMD FW13 and generally keep one loaded in the laptop for connecting to random junk like flash drives, charging cables for all sorts of widgets (like my bike light or head lamp), etc. I get dramatically more use out of the type-C cards. And in the quite-rare cases where I really need all of the type-C ports, I'll just eject the type-A card and plug directly into the chassis withou…

Seriously, why are touchpads not a solved problem yet?

Why are so many machines (including some fairly high-end models) shipping with worse touchpads than Apple were shipping over a decade ago?

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#148

Post by dontlaugh »

billfor wrote: post #144
dontlaugh wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried a coworker’s, I was a bit shocked how poor the case is. Everything flexes badly, especially the keyboard. I was considering one, but definitely not worth it. I can get a ThinkPad for less and it’s much better quality.

Is it a 13 or 16? I have a Intel gen 12 framework 13 and it feels solid except the display is a little wobbly. The original display tended to swing in a heavy wind a bit much, but they improved the hinge at some point.

13.

The entire laptop can be easily and worryingly flexed by hand when closed.

The keyboard in particular flexes by more than a millimetre when pressing on a key or in between them.

It seems ridiculous when the much cheaper and thinner MacBook Air is far stiffer with no noticeable keyboard flex.

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#149

Post by 999900000999 »

kllrnohj wrote: post #54
999900000999 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mainboards typically cost as much as a new laptop. What really excites me is the prospect of 3rd party mainboards and other components. This ecosystem is still just getting started though. It seems like this is the beta product, I'll wait for the finished one.

They don't? Ryzen 340 mainboard: $450 https://frame.work/products/mainboard-amd-ai300?v=FRANTE0005 Ryzen 340 laptop: $1100 https://frame.work/products/laptop13-amd-ai300/configuration... Yeah it's certainly the single most expensive component, but it's still cheaper than a whole new laptop and, more to the point, less waste than a whole new laptop

Your comparing Framework to itself.

https://slickdeals.net/f/18984394-hp-omnibook-5-16-fhd-ips-r...

HP OmniBook 5 16 with an Ryzen 350 for 439$.

This is actually less than the framework mainboard for a full laptop with a better processor.

This actually

Re: I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13

#150

Post by makeitdouble »

twobitshifter wrote: post #126
dangus wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Find me a new MacBook Air that’s $1000 for 2TB of storage + 32GB of RAM, because that’s what I paid for my Framework 13 brand new (before RAM insanity, but this would still only cost about $1200 today). A $50 battery pack solved the battery efficiency problem. So for a little extra weight (external battery + FW13 weighs the same as a MB Pro 14”) I get a lot more actual capability in places that matters than a base Ma…

That’s all well and good, but you didn’t consider the processor performance, which is where the FW13 falls behind. fw13 - https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/15773121 MacBook Air - https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/macbook-air-15-inch-2025 There is a gulf between the two and that’s what is sacrificed on the FW13. I m not saying someone can’t decide to prioritize modularity, storage, and repairability over performan…

This is a more comparable benchmark (it's the current FW13): https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/15769561

The MBA has about a 20% better score on the single thread perf benchmark. It's better, but is it that significant ?

Especially as it has no active cooling. By the time thermal throttling kicks in the FW13 will keep chugging along. The MBP solves that issue, albeit at significantly higher price range.

Then again, the amount of RAM the FW13 can take will also help in many cases.

Post reply on HN