Modular laptop
Discussion
Monty Python said:
Quite possibly once UK orders are open. The idea of reparability and port flexibility is very appealing.I don't get it, when you said it was modular I was expecting to be able to upgrade the processor and graphics card. It doesn't have a graphics card....
So I can upgrade the memory and SSD, WIFI and operating system, just like the Legion Pro I am using to type this. You can add some port expansion cards, every single port I already have on this laptop. You can add a storage expansion card, but how hard is it to take the back off and stick another 2280 SSD in?
I don't get it.......
And it's really expensive.
It reminds me of when I was at school when having removal studs on your football boots was seen as cool, even though nobody ever changed them.
So I can upgrade the memory and SSD, WIFI and operating system, just like the Legion Pro I am using to type this. You can add some port expansion cards, every single port I already have on this laptop. You can add a storage expansion card, but how hard is it to take the back off and stick another 2280 SSD in?
I don't get it.......
And it's really expensive.
It reminds me of when I was at school when having removal studs on your football boots was seen as cool, even though nobody ever changed them.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 22 September 21:09
I’m certainly up for one of these, actually, probably several of them. I’ve got laptops coming out of my ears - kids machines, work machines, and a stack of dead ones (mainly the kids ones).
What do they die of? Broken screens and broken ports in the main. The kids drop them, and wander off with it plugged in. I tend to be hard on ports as they get stuffed in my bag. My current work machine has a dodgy USB-C port - i need to wiggle the cable to make it charge, and port replicators don’t work any more. I need a new motherboard, which is ridiculous, and a PITA to get fixed, so I live with it. The port swap-ability is also cool - I would have killed for a laptop with the right HDMI port today, because the telly in the meeting room only had something. (DisplayPort?) that didn’t fit.
Screens are another issue - if you’ve ever tried replacing the screen on a Dell, you know the problem. How bloody hard can they make it? This looks like “order one, fit it in 5 minutes”.
I suspect they will struggle to make the core components truly upgradeable - I can’t really see new processor generations being catered for, unless they are really clever, but they might get a few in. This would add years to a laptop’s life. There should be a good s/h parts market as they are properly interchangeable. - e.g. your i5 mobo will be worth real money when you upgrade to an i7.
What do they die of? Broken screens and broken ports in the main. The kids drop them, and wander off with it plugged in. I tend to be hard on ports as they get stuffed in my bag. My current work machine has a dodgy USB-C port - i need to wiggle the cable to make it charge, and port replicators don’t work any more. I need a new motherboard, which is ridiculous, and a PITA to get fixed, so I live with it. The port swap-ability is also cool - I would have killed for a laptop with the right HDMI port today, because the telly in the meeting room only had something. (DisplayPort?) that didn’t fit.
Screens are another issue - if you’ve ever tried replacing the screen on a Dell, you know the problem. How bloody hard can they make it? This looks like “order one, fit it in 5 minutes”.
I suspect they will struggle to make the core components truly upgradeable - I can’t really see new processor generations being catered for, unless they are really clever, but they might get a few in. This would add years to a laptop’s life. There should be a good s/h parts market as they are properly interchangeable. - e.g. your i5 mobo will be worth real money when you upgrade to an i7.
Edited by rxe on Thursday 23 September 08:21
I probably should be in their target market but it's not for me. The cards are bit of a waste of space (you always need one USB-C for charging), no thunderbolt, no ethernet. God knows who wants a clunky full size DisplayPort on a laptop. I've spent long enough travelling with a laptop for work to have a display converter in my bag permanently (these days a USB-C mini-dock thing). Having spare cards is less convenient and still doesn't cover you for that weird place with only VGA so you'll have dongles galore anyway.
Nice repairable design but I buy refurb mainstream corporate Thinkpads for kids/home use, parts always cheap and easy to come by, service manuals available. Have one of them (an X240) sat here, just looking up - if ports went bad I can buy a whole used motherboard with CPU for less than £40. Brand new screen panel £50, used considerably less. Similar for batteries. Standard 2.5" SATA SSD.
If you wanted new and fast then just spend a grand or so on a current T or X series, it'll be just as well supported.
Nice repairable design but I buy refurb mainstream corporate Thinkpads for kids/home use, parts always cheap and easy to come by, service manuals available. Have one of them (an X240) sat here, just looking up - if ports went bad I can buy a whole used motherboard with CPU for less than £40. Brand new screen panel £50, used considerably less. Similar for batteries. Standard 2.5" SATA SSD.
If you wanted new and fast then just spend a grand or so on a current T or X series, it'll be just as well supported.
Edited by sjg on Thursday 23 September 10:48
I hadn't heard of this Framework laptop. I just watched this DIY Perks video about using a Framework main board as the base for a triple screen computer using a 4k main screen and 2 iPad screens for the outer screens. The triple screen might not be for everyone, but it does show possibilities for making a DIY computer.
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