[GTALUG] Do people have opinions about the Framework modular laptop

[Evan Leibovitch]

This looks really promising. But short term unboxings and launch-time
reviews can only go so far.

They've not taken sides on Linux vs Microsoft ... you pay the Windows tax
as everything ships with it. But they seem to do testing for its devices
under Linux, which would be extra important to me because of its many USB-C
modular adapters such as USB-C to HDMI and USB-C to DP.

I couldn't tell from the online info how fast it charges or if you can
attach wired Ethernet without a dongle (maybe that's a future module).

Though the company has good backers, I'll still be wary of long-term
viability until it goes through at least a second generation of hardware. I
almost bought an Essential Phone and thought it would have staying power
too based on the pedigree of the founders. And having modular components is
fine so long as people are making and supporting the modules. I understand
they'll be publishing the specs and encouraging an ecosystem of modules and
accessories, but ... Essential promised that too.

As some have said, a Ryzen-based motherboard will be welcome -- especially
since nobody seems to like Intel integrated graphics for games -- but given
the current Windows 11 problems with AMD the delay can be excused.

I've added RAM and replaced batteries in "sealed" laptops and it wasn't too
hard. And the variety of dongles is such that any current laptop with a
PD-capable USB-C port is able to have external Ethernet and video no matter
what ports it ships with. This is the one I bought
<https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002191574263.html> for the Ryzen
laptop I bought earlier this year. I won't need to upgrade for a while. by
then Framework will either have a solid track record or be gone.

Evan Leibovitch, Toronto Canada
@evanleibovitch / @el56


On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 at 12:44, Giles Orr via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:

> On Fri, 15 Oct 2021 at 18:42, GS via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
> >
> > I've had my eye on it since the reviewers first got their hands on it.
> So far the reception has been overwhelmingly positive but finding opinions
> you can trust can be difficult. I tend to trust Cory, Leo and Linus.
> >
> >
> https://doctorow.medium.com/the-framework-is-the-most-exciting-laptop-ive-ever-used-5415da0a46e5
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKTFBpEET0o
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSxbc1IN9Gg
> >
> > On 2021-10-15 17:59, Dave Collier-Brown via talk wrote:
> >
> > I see from Slashdot that it has an app store now:
> >
> >
> https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/21/10/14/2110258/modular-framework-laptop-gets-marketplace-for-all-those-modules
> >
> https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/14/22725935/framework-laptop-modular-marketplace-launches-spare-parts-upgrades-expansions
> >
> > and I wonder if anyone has an opinion of it.
>
> Cory is good Toronto content, and among his many achievements, I think
> excessive honesty is one of them so yes, I'll trust his review.  On
> the other hand, reading it is a bit more than a review of the
> Framework, as he lays into Lenovo's ThinkPads and mentions that he
> just had a hip replacement.  Wait, what?  I think of Cory as "young"
> (we shared some social groups many years back), what's he doing
> getting a hip replaced?  Okay, I'm getting slightly off track (but
> then, so did he).
>
> I'm enthusiastic about the Framework, and am a likely purchaser ...
> but I have to admit I'm really, really hoping they come out with an
> AMD motherboard for the thing before I need my next laptop.  That's
> the only thing I thought was missing: I'm not happy with Intel.  Not
> their market dominance, not their poor price-to-performance ratio, and
> not their chip's security flaws.
> ---
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