The Framework Laptop Is Great for a Linux-Friendly, Upgradeable/Modular Laptop

Tux the penguin would be great

They shared an update on the Europe situation via newsletter:

> "With our supply improving, you may be wondering when you can order a laptop if you're outside of the U.S and Canada. We selected and are bringing up our worldwide warehousing and fulfillment partner, which is one very key part of the equation, but it takes quite a lot more than that to enable a complete experience in each country. Picking Germany as one example, we need German language keyboards, a Type F power cable, in-box paperwork and labeling in German, localization for the Framework website, support documentation, and checkout flow, support for local payment methods, calculation of Euro prices and taxes, accounting support for German income, creation of legally sound Terms of Sale, Privacy, and Warranty policies for Germany, CE certifications, a local Authorized Representative to back up the certifications, determination of HS codes and tariffs, an Importer of Record to be able to deliver duty paid, German-language in-time-zone customer support, reverse logistics and RMA support for returns and repairs, region-specific sourcing of off the shelf memory and storage, trial builds of German laptops prior to production, and back-end ERP infrastructure to tie all of this together. That sounds like a lot, but it's actually a drastically simplified summary. Supply and logistics crunches slowed down parts of it, but we are moving forward on all fronts. We'll open pre-ordering in the next few countries before the end of the year for shipment in early 2022. We'll share the exact month of shipment at the time we open pre-orders."

They send you a license key that you can use with a legit Windows installer, that you get on Microsoft’s website. You can even link all that to your Microsoft’s account.

If that’s pirated software, Microsoft doesn’t try to detect it very much.

I'm a couple days late to comment here, but I want to add the negative review I wish I'd read.

Linux support on the Framework is really poor, and that was especially disappointing to me since that was one of the top reasons I bought it.

Right on their install guidelines, it says to use 20.04 instead of 20.10 for Ubuntu or else WiFi may not work out of the box. Fine. Did that. But then there's a whole host of other problems.

It will drain 30%+ of your battery overnight while "sleeping." You can get it down to about 20% by using "deep" sleep, but then your trackpad settings won't persist (scrolling will switch directions, speed will change) and your WiFi chip will be slow upon waking.

It's also SLOW. I have 64 GB of RAM in this thing and even out of the box it takes double-digit seconds to open anything.

I also don't buy the "premium" feel people are talking about. My hinges are loose enough that the screen wobbles. Pushing down on the casing around the keyboard makes annoying clicking noises. I've opened it up and can see no reason for this other than an improper fit of the frame.

I bought the hype, and I spent a lot more money than I've ever spent on a computer before for something that will sit on my desk and collect dust.

I'm incredibly disappointed and feel like I was sold a bill of goods here. Don't make the same mistake.

If you want real Linux support, buy something that has stood the test of time.

Or, heck, buy a 2015 Chromebook Pixel and run Lubuntu on it with chrx. I'm still using that box over this one. It's a better experience and a much more premium device than this, even though I won't be able to repair it. But even after 6 years of frequent usage, its battery outlasts the Framework 6:1.