I feel like most of the criticism comes down to the reviewer not liking 17-inch class laptops, but good review.
Definitely part of it, but they also compare to other laptops with similarly sized displays etc and it is larger and heavier despite being less powerful than many of them. Obviously that’s because it’s modular and will be more powerful in future as a result too, but still fair to point out.
absolutely
while It is a little weaker than the competition and at a higher price, It’s a piece o tech that will last far longer
in 5 or 10 years you would only need to pay for a new cpu or gpu, meanwhile with other brands you’d have to buy a new laptop altogether
and having the ability to swap your IO whenever and with whatever you need, is a game changer for some folks
If the vendor is still around in 10 years.
That’s the bit I’m worried about, having a Framework.
have to say I have had the same concern. it could happen, any business can fold. I just bought a new AMD 13 anyway. I’ve decided that the right to repair (and, lol, option to repair, even) is far more important than maximizing my dollar to fps ratio and I’m happy to add my contribution to the cause
Well, we know their model is dead if they go public. If they remain private, they could still die but it’s less certain. 🥹
still waiting for a version with Coreboot
AMD is making good progress towards supporting coreboot, at least
My issue with the Laptop 16 is more about the design of the computer itself, how it’s positioned, and the need it serves—things that are more fundamental and harder to fix.
Design is subjective. I think it’s beautiful and extremely functional.
The need it serves is a laptop that doesn’t have to be replaced every few years. Saves money in the long term, helps the environment, and is far more future proof than anything else.
Not hard. Framework has been killing it with their previous models.
Once you’re spending more than $2,000 on a 5-pound laptop, most people would be better off buying multiple computers—an inexpensive thin-and-light laptop for battery life and portability, plus a good midrange desktop for performance and comfort.
Does this guy live in the real world? This sounds like sarcasm, but it’s not.
The bad
- Relatively expensive for what you’re getting.
- On the larger and heavier end of the 15-to-16-inch > laptop spectrum.
- GPU module adds a lot of size and weight.
- Upgradeability currently more of a hypothetical >future benefit, though Framework does have an >established track record now.
Expensive yes, but you are getting a lot. And you save money in the long-term.
Larger end… Yeah, it’s a 16" laptop…
GPU is optional, and anyone who needs it in a laptop are willing to take that weight penalty.
Upgradability is a hypothetical future benefit? Framework already offers upgrades to their other models. And even a battery swap, which isn’t always possible, easy, or budget friendly, is a snap.
This review is so short slighted, and seems to miss the actual point of owning a framework laptop.
I love the aesthetic design.
The whole conversation about ports misses the not-so-obvious point that the cartridge system saves the motherboard ports from destruction. This is extremely important for long-term use. Ports not only have limited cycle life but get killed by happenstances in life. Standard laptops lose ports over time. That can only be fixed by board replacement. On a Framework, it’s $20 and a cartridge reload.
Then there’s the cooling… A laptop with adequate cooling for its hardware… What is this this - the 2000s? With that kind of cooling capacity, this machine will last for a very long time.
Ports not only have limited cycle life but get killed by happenstances in life. Standard laptops lose ports over time. That can only be fixed by board replacement. On a Framework, it’s $20 and a cartridge reload.
This is so true! Whether it’s the power port, a standard USB port, or your HDMI port, damaging it on a regular laptop can either be costly or impossible to fix without a full mobo replacement.
Looking back at all the laptops I’ve owned that needed to be replaced because repairs were either non-existent or too expensive, I realize that every single one of them could have been saved if they’d been Framework laptops.
I love my Framework 13, but when it comes time for my wife to replace her current laptop (a 17" Dell that’s been a workhorse for over a decade), I’ll be getting the Framework 16 and she’ll have the 13. I don’t think I could ever go with another brand after my experience.
