We open up the Framework Laptop 16, the first notebook in years to promise a discrete modular graphics card you can easily upgrade or replace – as well as sw...
I’ve been following these guys closely. The exchangeable graphics card is huge. I’m interested to see how “future proof” It is, as I’m sure there are certain limitations as graphics cards get “bigger and better.” I’m sure there will be limitations by the modular design into the amount of power it can process.
Based on the coverage I’ve seen and what I understand, likely there would be a new motherboard and larger base to house bigger parts and the screen would be maintained.
I do believe they’ll be able to achieve the goal of making laptop lifespans last beyond 10 years, which is why we’d like ways to upgrade. I’m cautiously optimistic about developments here.
Looking at the pricing for the Framework 16 (prebuilt with Windows, to benchmark), it’s just under x2 the price of the Acer Nitro 5 my partner bought last year with a 3050. Not the worst proposition assuming most of the laptop’s components make it 10 years and the only upgrades/replacements are to CPU, GPU and battery.
The main concern is longevity since it’s a relatively new company. It needs early adopters to commit that initial investment and pay the extra now for the company to survive and scale, and it needs staying power and time in the market in order to attract more confidence and convert sales.
I would like to see it succeed since my personal goal is to just reduce the e-waste I contribute as a heavy tech user. Laptops are just e-waste walking at the moment so I think any reduction to throwing out the whole thing every time it starts to fall behind current developments is good.
Awareness is growing and there is a demand. We just have to see if the demand is great enough to push user repairability in tech.
The fact that they openly encourage and give resources to help make expansion cards is promising. It absolutely needs their continued first party support, but as long as AMD is making laptop GPUs it’s within the realm of possibility for a smaller partner to make expansion cards.
I’ve been following these guys closely. The exchangeable graphics card is huge. I’m interested to see how “future proof” It is, as I’m sure there are certain limitations as graphics cards get “bigger and better.” I’m sure there will be limitations by the modular design into the amount of power it can process.
Based on the coverage I’ve seen and what I understand, likely there would be a new motherboard and larger base to house bigger parts and the screen would be maintained.
I do believe they’ll be able to achieve the goal of making laptop lifespans last beyond 10 years, which is why we’d like ways to upgrade. I’m cautiously optimistic about developments here.
deleted by creator
Looking at the pricing for the Framework 16 (prebuilt with Windows, to benchmark), it’s just under x2 the price of the Acer Nitro 5 my partner bought last year with a 3050. Not the worst proposition assuming most of the laptop’s components make it 10 years and the only upgrades/replacements are to CPU, GPU and battery.
The main concern is longevity since it’s a relatively new company. It needs early adopters to commit that initial investment and pay the extra now for the company to survive and scale, and it needs staying power and time in the market in order to attract more confidence and convert sales.
I would like to see it succeed since my personal goal is to just reduce the e-waste I contribute as a heavy tech user. Laptops are just e-waste walking at the moment so I think any reduction to throwing out the whole thing every time it starts to fall behind current developments is good.
Awareness is growing and there is a demand. We just have to see if the demand is great enough to push user repairability in tech.
The fact that they openly encourage and give resources to help make expansion cards is promising. It absolutely needs their continued first party support, but as long as AMD is making laptop GPUs it’s within the realm of possibility for a smaller partner to make expansion cards.