There's a different way to build consumer hardware: creating an ecosystem for modularity & upgradability. Framework is reinventing laptops, and soon much mor...
That’s the Framework logo. People have been talking about them a bit on here, as they’re relatively-modular, as laptops go.
I like the general idea, but they don’t really make the things that I care about modular. They let you:
Pick a keyboard layout. Okay, but this is basically available for other laptops. I’m just gonna get their US layout.
Pick little blocks that provide ports, like Ethernet or USB-A or DisplayPort or USB-C or audio. That’s not bad, but I’m broadly okay with the ports on a laptop today. It might be slightly nicer to pick exactly where they are or have another USB-C port, but for my needs, not a big issue. This one is their big selling point, and for some people, I can believe that it’s a really big deal.
Discrete video or no. That’s also fine, but a lot of vendors provide this option.
If one chooses a smaller keyboard on a larger laptop, spacers, which can be an LED array. That’s pretty unique, but I don’t know what I’d use it for. You can also get a numpad or “macropad”, but, again, not something that I’d use; if I’m gonna use macros, I’m gonna run them chorded off the main keyboard and keep my hands there. The numpad does say that it supports N-key rollover (NKRO), which could be a point for people playing certain video games, as you can have more keys down at once than a keyboard with a grid encoder, but doesn’t really affect me.
There also isn’t soldered-on memory or such, which is nice in terms of not paying a premium for it, but then, you’re also paying a premium for the laptop in the first place.
I’d like more battery size and a Thinkpad-style Synaptics (mechanical buttons) touchpad. But those aren’t options that they make modular.
Alright, other vendor provide an option to have or not to have discrete GPU. Can you change it once a better GPU is available? Can other laptop vendor swap out their display with a touch capable one when needed? (As of now, framework doesn’t have a touchscreen available yet, but IIRC, their board has the capabilities, but then again, their board is so modular that they can offer upgrade for trade-in). Can other vendor have bigger battery when you wanted the bigger battery without affecting other hardware choices? Framework batteries in the 13 series are improved purely by better chemistry. You can replace it with the bigger capacity one.
Edit: also, they are still a new company. Their hope is that 3rd party vendor is interested in making other modular part. The trackpad is a good example of it. It also can make some patented design available to the framework if the patent holder willing to make the accessory without giving up or licensing their patent.
That’s the Framework logo. People have been talking about them a bit on here, as they’re relatively-modular, as laptops go.
I like the general idea, but they don’t really make the things that I care about modular. They let you:
Pick a keyboard layout. Okay, but this is basically available for other laptops. I’m just gonna get their US layout.
Pick little blocks that provide ports, like Ethernet or USB-A or DisplayPort or USB-C or audio. That’s not bad, but I’m broadly okay with the ports on a laptop today. It might be slightly nicer to pick exactly where they are or have another USB-C port, but for my needs, not a big issue. This one is their big selling point, and for some people, I can believe that it’s a really big deal.
Discrete video or no. That’s also fine, but a lot of vendors provide this option.
If one chooses a smaller keyboard on a larger laptop, spacers, which can be an LED array. That’s pretty unique, but I don’t know what I’d use it for. You can also get a numpad or “macropad”, but, again, not something that I’d use; if I’m gonna use macros, I’m gonna run them chorded off the main keyboard and keep my hands there. The numpad does say that it supports N-key rollover (NKRO), which could be a point for people playing certain video games, as you can have more keys down at once than a keyboard with a grid encoder, but doesn’t really affect me.
There also isn’t soldered-on memory or such, which is nice in terms of not paying a premium for it, but then, you’re also paying a premium for the laptop in the first place.
I’d like more battery size and a Thinkpad-style Synaptics (mechanical buttons) touchpad. But those aren’t options that they make modular.
The difference being you can easily replace/upgrade any of those parts on a Framework laptop…
Alright, other vendor provide an option to have or not to have discrete GPU. Can you change it once a better GPU is available? Can other laptop vendor swap out their display with a touch capable one when needed? (As of now, framework doesn’t have a touchscreen available yet, but IIRC, their board has the capabilities, but then again, their board is so modular that they can offer upgrade for trade-in). Can other vendor have bigger battery when you wanted the bigger battery without affecting other hardware choices? Framework batteries in the 13 series are improved purely by better chemistry. You can replace it with the bigger capacity one.
Edit: also, they are still a new company. Their hope is that 3rd party vendor is interested in making other modular part. The trackpad is a good example of it. It also can make some patented design available to the framework if the patent holder willing to make the accessory without giving up or licensing their patent.
Yeah, but not as a user-serviceable module that can be replaced with minimal effort. I think you’re grossly oversimplifying this point.
They’re largely disregarding the fact that the laptop is easily repairable… They’re kinda missing the whole point of the device/company.