Hi. 
I’m creating this topic in the hope of motivating Framework to create a split, ortholinear or colomnar keyboard for the FL16. This would certainly be a buying trigger for many enthusiasts of such keyboards, as the current offering among laptops is almost non-existent.
A simple ortholinear keyboard seems to me to require little development effort for Framework. It could consist of a single part occupying all the space from one side edge to the other of the FL16, in order to overcome potential connection constraints.
To suit as many people as possible, this keyboard should have too many keys rather than too few. So, in my opinion, Framework should opt for a keyboard full of keys from one edge to the other: it would have around 18 columns of keys, according to my estimates, on 5 rows of blank keys plus a sixth row of function keys (5+1x9). It would therefore look like this mock-up presented by Framework in 2023, but with a few more columns:
The picture on Framework’s X account
To optimise the comfort of use of this keyboard, the position of the hands should be as far apart as possible. The keys on this keyboard should therefore be as close as possible to the side edges of FL16, even if it means creating an empty space in the middle of the keyboard, as in this split ortholinear keyboard project for the MNT Reform:
Ortholinear split keyboard project on the MNT forum
If, for some reason, 18 columns of keys would be excessive for Framework, they could be reduced to 16, or even 14, without, I suppose, frustrating too many potential customers. This would thus consist of 7 or 8 columns of keys for each hand (5+1x8 or 5+1x7) with an empty space in the middle of the keyboard so that the keys are positioned as close as possible to the lateral edges of the FL16, as in this picture published by Framework on X, but still in a single piece extended from one edge to the other:
The picture on Framework’s X account
To conclude, I would like to say that I’d be even more interested in a split colomnar keyboard with thumb keys, like the Choctopus44, with the two halves spaced out so that they’re positioned at the edges of the FL16, while adjusting the angle of the keys:
Choctopus44 GitHub page
But such a keyboard would certainly require a longer development time and might satisfy fewer people. That’s why I think the simple split ortholinear keyboard I’m proposing would be a better choice for Framework, at least initially.
Thank you for having taken the time to read my message.