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If you're a PC hardware geek who's been dreaming of a laptop that you can upgrade far beyond the life cycle of a typical machine, Framework's modular notebooks must seem like a miracle. The American company has a straightforward pitch: What if your laptop could be nearly as customizable as a desktop, with the ability to swap components out for repairs and upgrades? What if we could put an end to disposable hardware? We were intrigued by Framework's original 13-inch notebook and its Chromebook variant, despite some rough edges and a basic design. Now, with the Framework Laptop 16, the company is targeting the most demanding and (arguably) hardest group of PC users to please: Gamers.
Framework has already proved it can build compelling modular laptops, but can the Laptop 16 cram in powerful graphics, a fast display and other components to keep up with the likes of Alienware, Razer and ASUS? Sort of, it turns out — and there are plenty of other tradeoffs for living the modular laptop dream. Hardware quirks abound, battery life is mediocre and it still looks like a totally generic machine. But how many other notebooks could let you completely upgrade your CPU or GPU in a few years? Who else offers a customizable keyboard setup? In those respects, the Framework 16 stands alone.
[...] I was genuinely bummed to discover that it was a fairly mediocre gaming machine, at least for its high price.
What do you think? Is having a laptop that you can upgrade more important than having the fastest laptop on the block? What price would you pay for being able to upgrade your hardware?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 20 2024, @07:20AM
Upgradability: RAM, storage (SSD, HDD).
Repairability/replaceability: main battery, CMOS battery, keyboard and display.
Upgradability of CPU and GPU = don't care.
Lastly, I remember lots of hype over the repairability of stuff like the Fairphone 3/2. But years later when you look for the parts, some aren't available.
To me having high repairability/upgradability on Day 1 sounds nice but it might be overrated if in practice there's low repairability/upgradability on Day 2000 because the parts are not available.
In contrast stuff with lower repairability ratings but are very popular might actually be more repairable/upgradable just because it still has parts years later (and maybe even people who can repair it for you): https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-xiaomi-%22note-4%22-parts.html [aliexpress.com] (SN removes the double quotes for: xiaomi "note 4" parts so you may have to readd them).