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

[Evan Leibovitch]

Of late, wired Ethernet has required dongles mainly because the RJ45 jack
is just too thick for modern laptop frames. Pop-out ones have been with us
for a long time <https://twitter.com/lkarlslund/status/938695955850907651>
in a number of designs <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7fcJM6iunA> but
are just too flimsy.

IOW, despite the modularity, you're still gonna need to carry a dongle with
you in case you want more security, or your hotel room is still one of
those that has a cable but no wifi. And I bought my 8-port dongle for less
than the price of all but one of the Framework modules (and the one that
was cheaper was just a passthrough USB-C).

Evan Leibovitch, Toronto Canada
@evanleibovitch / @el56


On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 at 13:16, Erica Peterson via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
wrote:

> They do offer a "DIY version" which you assemble yourself, and can also
> ship without an OS.  It is cheaper than the pre-configured models, but I'm
> not sure how much of that is labor savings vs. the OS.
>
> There is no ethernet jack -- hopefully we'll see a module for that in the
> future.  The only built-in port is the 3.5mm headphone jack, and then you
> get to choose ports for the four modules -- including USB-C for power.
>
> ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
> On Monday, October 18th, 2021 at 1:03 PM, Evan Leibovitch via talk <
> talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
>
> 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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