New modular laptop - Framework

3,767 Views | 21 Replies | Last: 7 days ago by AggieFrog
Eliminatus
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AG
This is awesome. New tech startup that I am absolutely rooting for to be able to make it. Came across it from the new LTT video.



The gist of it is that you can customize and build whatever you want with actual true modularity built in. They even have an option to basically order just a parts kit that you put together yourself at a cheaper cost. As in you you want another USB-C? Pop one in on the fly. More storage? Same thing. HDMI port? It's yours. You don't want an HDMI port? Don't get the module then. I have always hated buying tech with features that I will never, ever use. Bothers me on a fundamental level. Also this:
Quote:

We have a variety of Expansion Cards in development including high-end headphone amps, Arduino-compatible microcontrollers, and more. We're also opening the spec and sharing reference designs to enable partners and the community to help grow the Expansion Card ecosystem
The tinkerer in me is salivating at the thought of this above.

I love this whole idea so much and actually a little upset I blew my tech wad on a new Surface Pro 7 a couple of months ago. I want one though. First time I stopped an LTT vid to go look at possibly purchasing one. Took a few tries though. Seems like LTT's video drew some attention to them annnnnnd.....we crashed their site. Back up as of now but a little finicky.

https://frame.work/products/laptop-diy-edition

Just thought I'd toss it out there in case anyone is interested. Again, I hope these guys make it. I will be keeping an eye on them...

The Fife
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It's a long shot but I'm all for it. Are things like screens also upgradeable?
lb3
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AG
My wife's Dell laptop is pretty easy to remove the keyboard, motherboards, add memory, etc. Get one with an Express Card slot and you likely get similar modularity/upgrade ability for less money.
kb2001
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AG
I don't believe the screens are upgradable at this point. Not designed to be irreplaceable, they just don't have other options yet.

The real "innovation" with this is not that you can replace parts, is that the design from the ground up is built that way. The trend has been to tighten things up, solder more and more components on, and companies starting to block access to components that would otherwise be serviceable. It's a change in mindset back to the early 2000s when companies used to advertise that their products used standardized components that could be upgraded. PCI and PCIe came about to move standardized slots moving forward, now with some companies those parts are using PCIe, but are soldered on for no other reason than to prevent the user from upgrading on their own.

The Fife
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Soldering PCIe components is a dick move, and you're right about it being completely the opposite from back in the day. If you're talking desktops that's just stupid beyond words. I like being able to swap out or reuse components.

I remember even Apple opening up to IDE devices, extra drive bays, and PCI slots when the gray G3s came out in fall 1997. It blew the mind of a friend from my dorm when I was able to take his Diamond Monster Voodo 1 3D card, install it in my Mac, and use it in Quake without any trouble. Fun times!
Wildmen03
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AG
I remember when the modular phone was supposed to break the cell phone industry a few years ago. It petered away without much of an impact.

Most manufactures let you customize a laptop at purchase and I think that's as good as it's going to get.

Outside of upgrading RAM and putting in a larger/faster hard drive there's not a market for things past that.

Now if they could make it where I could replace a broken screen without completely taking a laptop apart and unscrewing 100+ screws, I'd be in heaven.
Eliminatus
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AG
Wildmen03 said:

I remember when the modular phone was supposed to break the cell phone industry a few years ago. It petered away without much of an impact.

Most manufactures let you customize a laptop at purchase and I think that's as good as it's going to get.

Outside of upgrading RAM and putting in a larger/faster hard drive there's not a market for things past that.

Now if they could make it where I could replace a broken screen without completely taking a laptop apart and unscrewing 100+ screws, I'd be in heaven.


Did that phone even make it into consumer hands at all?

And why do we have to accept that that is as good as it is gonna get? This is America, we always want more!

Hard disagree on your third point. There is a huge untapped market here I believe. Especially if it actually manages to take off and become viable as a future tech company.

I would not be surprised to see an upgradeable/ replaceable screen in the future. These guys are just getting started.
EMY92
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AG
Seems to me that the modular aspect would add a size and weight penalty to the machine.
kb2001
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AG
EMY92 said:

Seems to me that the modular aspect would add a size and weight penalty to the machine.
Not much, if any

Quote:

1.3kg
15.85mm x 296.63mm x 228.98mm
Compares pretty closely to a 13" macbook

Quote:

Height: 0.61 inch (1.56 cm)
Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
Weight: 3.0 pounds (1.4 kg)
CubbieAggie
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AG
Interesting. This reminds me of the Phonebloks smartphone modular design that people got excited about 5-10 years ago (eventually became Project Ara and then was scrapped). I think a few semi-modular phones came out, but it never really took off. I wonder if right to repair being on the horizon makes this kind of design a better sell these days.
boy09
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AG
Eliminatus said:

Wildmen03 said:

Outside of upgrading RAM and putting in a larger/faster hard drive there's not a market for things past that.
Hard disagree on your third point. There is a huge untapped market here I believe. Especially if it actually manages to take off and become viable as a future tech company.
Don't get me wrong, this is really cool, but i think you're overestimating what 95% of the market is capable of with a laptop... Even if you make it this easy for them.
AGSPORTSFAN07
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AG
After skimming the video....

And I'm not an EE but I don't see this as being advantegous just due to too many points of failure. I like the idea, but I see support and supply chain bottlenecks. Plus, how long before the big dogs in the industry start pulling up old patents and squeezing money out?

Eliminatus
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AG


A full teardown of it and will once again say, I truly hope this thing takes off. Very promising in my eyes.
The Fife
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After screwing around with an older (Centrino 2 / 2GHz) laptop with a huge screen that I'd like to use to emulate up to PS1 games I'm even more for modularity. The keyboard and screen on this thing are about the best that I've ever used but the rest of the hardware of course is lacking. Wish the internals could be updated somehow.
Eliminatus
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AG
Has anyone taken the leap and invested in one yet?

I am a current student and have been using the MS Surfaces the entire time. I love them and they have worked perfectly for me for school but as I am getting close to graduation, I am going to be looking for a more traditional laptop soon and have 95% convinced myself I will be getting a framework. The next batch is slated for Dec and thinking about hopping on that train. As I am a broke ass college kid though, would need to sell my Surface first though. As in guaranteed sell. But this is a route that I truly want to explore. I am a tinkerer and the whole Right to Repair movement is one that I feel very strongly about. This company is the epitome of that mindset and I truly wish to support them.

But overall just curious if anyone here had moved on one at this point.
Eliminatus
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AG
The Fife said:

After screwing around with an older (Centrino 2 / 2GHz) laptop with a huge screen that I'd like to use to emulate up to PS1 games I'm even more for modularity. The keyboard and screen on this thing are about the best that I've ever used but the rest of the hardware of course is lacking. Wish the internals could be updated somehow.
Been there and done that. I have a 2014ish MSI gaming laptop I dropped over $2300 on. It was awesome and used it extensively for almost two years before it started showing its age. I am not terribly upset as I think I got my mileage out of it, but damn me if it isn't sitting in a closet now, collecting dust. Was actually what turned me off from buying another top end laptop until now. Because they were all ultimately evolutionary dead ends. Just a matter of time. It's why I am so keen on the frameworks. You can swap out everything including the motherboard and CPU(at least that is the plan later on). If I could do that with the MSI I have, I would never even bother looking for a replacement.
Eliminatus
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AG
Quick update:



This thing looks fantastic. I truly, truly wish we had more companies like this out there.
D`Funkaladu`
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AG
I was really interested in Framework after the first LTT video, but the 13" screen and lack of dedicated graphics made me hold off. Watching this one close and I'm likely to preorder to replace my aging gaming laptop.

Fully repairable and upgradable (including graphics!), open source including the stuff that's usually proprietary, able to buy in kit form with or without some of the components. Yes please. And thank God they came out with a matte screen this time. Love that they offer cases to be able to reuse the guts as a desktop when it's time to upgrade. Or drop it in a 13" frame for a dirt cheap ultra portable.
Eliminatus
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AG
Framework continues to impress me. I just simply have not had a reason to get a new computer in a long while so still don't have one but if/when I do, the Pro is definitely going to be top of the list for consideration. Worth the whole watch if you have any interest in this company or the concept of a fully upgradeable laptop.

IrishAg
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Agree, I love what framework is doing. If I needed to buy a laptop I would consider this vs a MacBook right now. Love the quality, flexibility, and out of the box Linux support.
aggieforester05
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AG
Looks interesting, my Intel MBP is long in the tooth and a new equivalent is $5K with everything soldered permanent and a precessor that is incompatible with most CAD programs.

Other laptops always seem to be a compromise somewhere in the specs.

I'd love to be able to build to my specs like my desktop.
AggieFrog
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AG
Got one for my son last year for his college laptop (A&M Engineering). He loves it.
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