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Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

jeffgeerling.com

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Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#51

Post by mxfh »

More amazed by the complexity in bundling offers, of decking out your Framework device with 6 flush USB-C port extension ports sets you back 60 bucks already.

That's like a weird hidden tax.

In a network world where 1GB Ethernet randomly can handshake at 100Mbit still, getting reliably more than 3/4 of the advertised Bandwith from the Adapter seems quite harmless.

https://frame.work/marketplace/expansion-cards?search=USB-C

No they dont come free in the base config either, you have to pay a minimum of 10 for every slush port.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#52

Post by naturalmovement »

Only Framework could reincarnate godawful PCMCIA cards as proprietary USB-C dongles and be praised for it. Insanity. Maybe next they can bring back the XJACK.

No one wants to address the elephant in the room: it's a crap design for proprietary modules. Sure the design is open, can you use them anywhere else? Nope.

You're paying a premium for USB-C dongles that can't be used on any other brand of laptop. Apple is probably upset they didn't think of it first.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#54

Post by Patryk27 »

naturalmovement wrote: post #52

Only Framework could reincarnate godawful PCMCIA cards as proprietary USB-C dongles and be praised for it. Insanity. Maybe next they can bring back the XJACK. No one wants to address the elephant in the room: it's a crap design for proprietary modules. Sure the design is open, can you use them anywhere else? Nope. You're paying a premium for USB-C dongles that can't be used on any other brand of laptop. Apple is prob…

I don’t follow - how are modules based on USB-C proprietary?

My Framework ethernet dongle works perfectly fine with a Mac that I use for work, for instance.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#55

Post by Gigachad »

SV_BubbleTime wrote: post #26
alex43578 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t that kind of most things Framework? Sure, a replaceable color bezel is fun, but pretty niche.

I fell out of love with frameworks after buying one for myself and a few employees. The economics/upgrade math just does not make sense.

Framework feels like a case of giving HN users what they asked for, but not what they actually needed.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#56

Post by gobelet »

naturalmovement wrote: post #52

Only Framework could reincarnate godawful PCMCIA cards as proprietary USB-C dongles and be praised for it. Insanity. Maybe next they can bring back the XJACK. No one wants to address the elephant in the room: it's a crap design for proprietary modules. Sure the design is open, can you use them anywhere else? Nope. You're paying a premium for USB-C dongles that can't be used on any other brand of laptop. Apple is prob…

Of course you can use the modules on any other brand of laptop. It's not going to look pretty doing it, but I've routinely used the USB-C to USB-A, as well as the mini SSD, on a MacBook Pro.

Colleagues borrow them all the time when they need a SD card or MicroSD card reader. Is it as pretty as a dedicated reader for those cards? No, but it does the job.

Saying they're proprietary is misleading a bit. The form factor makes it awkward to use elsewhere but they work just fine anywhere you plug them into.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#57

Post by ChuckMcM »

I chuckled at 10G wired ethernet on a laptop. I mean in a docking station? Sure that seems reasonable. But fun none the less.

I appreciate the USB-C nature of the Framework's expansion ports, it does make real the entire reason that USB was created in the first place, hot plug slots. Still, I (and others) pointed out to Intel early on that using Ethernet with a specific packet type would be cheaper and just as fast (which the ATA over Ethernet folks proved), but then you wouldn't get the 'certification tax' that the USB consortium extracts. :-).

Cynicism aside, the design issues suggest that it might make sense in future laptops to have heat spreaders around the plug in port, although that makes things thicker and people obsess over thinness.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#58

Post by seany »

jfb wrote: post #7
RachelF wrote: post #6

Every PCIe 10G ethernet card I've seen has a heatsink on it, sometimes covering the entire card or even have little fans on the heatsink. Expecting it to work full time in a laptop is a bit of a stretch of the heat dissipation budget. Also, the laptop he is working has the AMD FP8 chipset - depending on how the ports are setup, he might only get 10G USB, if the ports are allocated to video instead.

Yeah, 10Gb ethernet runs hot . I just rewired the house with 10Gb (we have 8Gb FTTP) and it's kind of upsetting how hot my Thunderbolt dock gets.

[dead]

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#59

Post by naturalmovement »

Patryk27 wrote: post #54
naturalmovement wrote: post #52

Only Framework could reincarnate godawful PCMCIA cards as proprietary USB-C dongles and be praised for it. Insanity. Maybe next they can bring back the XJACK. No one wants to address the elephant in the room: it's a crap design for proprietary modules. Sure the design is open, can you use them anywhere else? Nope. You're paying a premium for USB-C dongles that can't be used on any other brand of laptop. Apple is prob…

I don’t follow - how are modules based on USB-C proprietary? My Framework ethernet dongle works perfectly fine with a Mac that I use for work, for instance.

I knew someone would ask this.

It is mechanically disagreeable.

The weight/shape of the module will break the USB-C port in short order because it is solely supported by the connector.

For instance, by bumping the spatula hanging off your Mac.

For that matter, USB-C are crap connectors, I don't care how many graphs and BS data you show me stating they're the most reliable connector ever. I do not believe it.

They're the only types of connectors I've seen damaged repeatedly, and the only one with which I've personally experienced damage, and I've been using laptops since before many of you were born.

Re: Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity

#60

Post by gobelet »

mxfh wrote: post #51

More amazed by the complexity in bundling offers, of decking out your Framework device with 6 flush USB-C port extension ports sets you back 60 bucks already. That's like a weird hidden tax. In a network world where 1GB Ethernet randomly can handshake at 100Mbit still, getting reliably more than 3/4 of the advertised Bandwith from the Adapter seems quite harmless. https://frame.work/marketplace/expansion-cards?search…

I like the modularity, but I'd feel better if it came with the "blanks" that just extends the inside USB-C port towards the outside.

I feel like things would not look like nickel-and-diming if those blanks came with the laptop, and they just priced them in the final price. Or even better, offered the option to "upgrade" one or several of those to whatever you need.

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