Framework PCs

Holy cow, I just saw my dream laptop. If I didn't already have a Surface Book 2 which is still doing just great, I'd be pre-ordering one of these right now.

A COMPLETELY Upgradeable Laptop? - YouTube

Previously I'd kind of wanted a Panasonic Toughbook purely because of the ability to change and upgrade individual components easily. But since it's meant for use in non-standard laptop environments, it's ruggedness means it's not only really expensive but bulky and well REALLY bulky.

So, here's Frame.Work coming in with a really impressive machine that shows that you can have a sexy ultraportable that is also super easily serviceable.

On your laptop you want HDMI instead of DP? Just change it. You want all USB-C and no USB-A? Just change it. You want HDMI, DP, USB-C and USB-A? Just change it. You only need 1 thunderbolt USB-C? Just do it and toss in SSDs in the other 3 ports.

Hell since you can change it on the fly, you can just bring along extra modules. Replace the display out module with an SSD module then just swap in the display out module when you need it.

Want to disconnect the battery because you'll be using it on mains power whenever you use it for an extended period of time? Just do it and save wear and tear on the battery pack. Want to change the keyboard? Go for it.

Man, it was almost like this laptop was built just for me! User upgradable, user repairable, user configurable on the go? Hells yeah.

Oh and it has a 3:2 aspect ration screen. My god, I'm tempted to get one anyway, even though I don't really need a new laptop. Hell, it's not even super expensive for that functionality.

Apple? Screw off.
Microsoft? Screw Off.
Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.? Screw off.

C'mere Framework, you're my new best buddy.

Framework | Framework Laptop pre-orders are now open

Since the screen is also extremely easily replaceable hopefully they'll come out with more display options in the future.

Regards,
SB

 

Interesting update from Linus. Not what I was expecting from a video from him.



TL: DV (too long didn't view ): This is the first laptop he's purchased with his own money in something like 16 years. He's invested in the company. Interesting discourse on why it isn't as easy to make money as a company as many people seem to think it is. A good watch.

Regards,
SB

 

Yeah, Linus was talking to them about trying to get AMD into their laptops and it's something they are working on.

If they made something like the Surface Book with an AMD CPU, I'd probably get one even though my Surface Book 2 is still fine for the most part. I've gotten so used to using the touch screen in conjunction with the keyboard, that I'd really want a touch screen. And it's been extremely handy at times being able to detach the screen and just hand it to someone.

Regards,
SB

 

For [1], it's an ultraportable, thus it has all the benefits and drawbacks of an ultraportable. It's not meant to challenge Alienware gaming notebooks. It's mean to go head to head with ultraportables from Dell, HP, etc. Maybe in the future they'll make a gaming oriented laptop, but they are doing the the right thing by focusing on one market segment first.

For [2], it's an ultraportable. Due to space restrictions for an ultra portable all of the best ones have ram situated like that. Take the HP Envy line of notebooks, for example (Removing and Replacing the Memory Module for HP ENVY 15-u000 x360 Convertible PCs | HP® Customer Support ). Or my Surface Book 2 ... oh wait I can't replace the memory in that since it's soldered to the board. Or the modern Apple MacBook Pro ... oh wait the memory is soldered on the board and you'd void the warranty opening it up anyway. OK, amendment, all the best Ultraportables that even allow you to replace the RAM, are like that.

For [3], regardless of how small or large they can make them, they all have to be a uniform size because they are swappable. The same expansion slot that provides a USB-C port also needs to be able to provide a wired ethernet connector or a USB-A port or a full sized HDMI/DisplayPort connector. Thus all of the expansion cards are a uniform size. It's a small price to pay to be able to easily swap out connectors and customize the laptop to the configuration you need at any given moment.

Remember, this was made by former Apple, HP, and Dell engineers who wanted to dispell the myth that a thin and sexy Ultraportable has to be a locked down device that is not user serviceable because it's an Ultraportable. They were tired of perfectly good laptops being discarded just because, the CPU fan (for example) was going out on a hard to service MacBook Pro, for example. Or if the battery life is going to shit, instead of throwing it away like a MacBook Pro, just very VERY easily replace the battery.

You can easily change and swap out and service pretty much everything in the device. Keyboard, memory, storage, ports, battery, MB, display bezel, CPU heatsink/fan assembly, etc. Once you open it up, there's even handly icons and text to help you remove and change components inside of the device.

Regards,
SB