Framework Laptop

I came across an article today discussing repairable laptops, which mirrors Paul’s comments on yesterday’s Windows Weekly. The article mentioned a modular, repairable 13-inch laptop, even to the extent where you can get the parts shipped to you and build it yourself! The Framework laptop (https://frame.work) looks very interesting in that ports are modular and replacing components looks to be relatively simple.

I’ve seen modular phones in the past, but they all went the way of the dodo… do you think this type of this can catch on? I’m struggling with the limited performance of my Surface Pro and contemplating an upgrade. This may prove interesting if the processor and chipsets are reasonable.

Conversation 10 comments

  • paradyne

    26 February, 2021 - 8:20 am

    <p>I just saw that too. Looks like it is using the Surface Laptop display panel (3:2 but not the highest DPI). The choice of processors up to <span style="color: rgb(16, 16, 17);">i7-1185G7 together with 64GB and could make this very interesting to some people, few laptops go to 32GB let alone 64. I also like the idea of just getting it as modules and assembling them just for nostalgia reasons as it would be like when I used to do the same for desktops.</span></p>

  • Usman

    Premium Member
    26 February, 2021 - 8:23 am

    <p>It's quite ironic that start-up companies are making it a selling point to have modular replaceable laptops, whereas 10 years ago it was the norm to expect that from laptop manufacturers.</p>

  • jchampeau

    Premium Member
    26 February, 2021 - 8:35 am

    <p>Looks cool!</p>

  • shark47

    26 February, 2021 - 8:56 am

    <p>I read about it yesterday as well. It looks very interesting. </p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    26 February, 2021 - 9:01 am

    <p>I love this idea, but I don’t see it going anywhere. How large is the market of people who are geeky enough to appreciate the concept but not so geeky that they will be satisfied with what will likely be a limited range of options— and probably pay a premium over a comparable machine from Lenovo or HP or Dell? Without a large market, the partner program to build modules will not go anywhere. Realistically, in a nice ultrabook form factor how often will anyone need to swap modules or components or the screen?</p>

    • dftf

      26 February, 2021 - 5:43 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#615476">In reply to Chris_Kez:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah, have to agree.</p><p><br></p><p>If you're a IT geek who loves upgrading, what's the likelihood you're going to opt for a laptop over a desktop in the first place?</p><p><br></p><p>And for lower-end devices, I think the "Apple M1 way" will be the future. I doubt many average people ever bother upgrading the RAM or the SSD/HDD, so why bother keeping them on slower, external buses just to allow for that when you can integrate them and get instant speed-increases?</p>

  • angusmatheson

    26 February, 2021 - 10:37 am

    <p>i see it as a cool project with my kids. We have done the Kano computers when they are younger (PS the original raspberry pi Kano were great, I was disappointed by the Kano PC you don’t really build the PC, just attach a battery and a microphone). Soon we will build a gaming PC for my youngest. This building a laptop seems like the logical next step. The problem is that I cannot imagine they can get it as thin and light as the companies who glue everything in place and make thin and light a religion. The kids are very happy with what they build at home – but I’m worried this wouldn’t be as good in the end. </p>

  • anoldamigauser

    Premium Member
    26 February, 2021 - 10:55 am

    <p>How much modularity do people need? The single thing that would improve a laptop's longevity would be a user serviceable battery. Beyond that, the ability to upgrade the memory and hard-drive is about all most users would ever need. Three bays accessible with screws…I would certainly be glad to give up a bit of thinness to gain the ability to change those three items quickly.</p>

    • dftf

      26 February, 2021 - 5:40 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#615495">In reply to AnOldAmigaUser:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'd even argue upgrading the RAM on lower-end devices isn't necessary: I doubt many average people ever bother, and find the 4GB or 8GB it came-with sufficient. Especially given even lower-end machines now often ship with SSDs, where paging to the pagefile is much-quicker so low-RAM isn't as noticeable as with a HDD.</p><p><br></p><p>With the new Apple M1 machines, there is no user-upgradable or changeable GPU or RAM, and I think the storage is even a soldered-on chip too.</p><p><br></p><p>I expect future lower-end Windows devices to go the same-way: why keep the storage and RAM both on external, legacy buses when most users won't ever bother upgrading or changing them and so you can make speed-increases by integrating them?</p>

  • navarac

    26 February, 2021 - 2:14 pm

    <p>We have had that – change battery, memory, HDD etc. Then everyone wanted a machine as thin as a cigarette paper, hence what you've now got.</p><p>Old adage "Be careful what you wish for".</p>

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