I know the FW 12 isn’t even shipping yet, but I still thought it would be fun to start a thread about possible, future features or “upgrade options” you’d like to see Framework release at some point.
An expansion card with play/pause, and volume up and down buttons would be cool, if possible. This would provide some hardware media controls when used in tablet mode.
A haptic touchpad would be cool. I know it’s less of a necessity when you have a touch screen and such. But I will likely use my FW 12 as a “laptop” the majority of the time, and a haptic touchpad is nice.
If it isn’t already the case, a keyboard that sheds liquid to pre-determined “drain” points that lead to non-critical areas would be cool.
For sure. This thread is probably premature, lol. As you say, there’s a lot we don’t yet know, so folks won’t know how badly they want upgrades for various things.
And since it’s not even shipping yet, it’s a little early to expect Framework to make major changes to the things they just got done deciding, probably for specific reasons.
But it’s still fun to talk about. While I impatiently wait for batches to start shipping…
I almost put a request the original post for a lower power, fanless option.
In fact, the current hardware may even be useable with a fanless power/performance profile. It would be extra cool if there was a BIOS option for a fanless mode that reduced TDP/boost and let the machine run silently.
Granted, I don’t yet know how aggressive the fan will be. But a silent mode would be cool. And as you say, if that can’t be achieved with software/firmware, then maybe when the next “gen” of FW 12 launches, a power-sipping, passively cooled option could be added.
In fact, just having user adjustable fan curves in the BIOS would be awesome. On all Framework products.
A holder for the stylus in the bottom of the monitor bezel (a place on laptops that often could be used for that.
Motherboards for sale as standalones (this would be really useful for projects where the FL13 motherboard would be too big like frankenpads and such
A battery option that has larger capacity and uses the space that the speakers take up (so maybe a 60wh or 55wh, but with the condition that 1 or 2 of the speakers have to be removed for installation). I would also really like to see this on the FL13 for improved battery longevity.
At some point, LPCAMM2 and/or even airjet-style fans to hopefully free up space on the board for at least a 2242, if not 2260 or 2280 nvme.
Blank keyboards.
Potentially fan intake through the keyboard. Every watt counts!
I’d happily pay a chunk of change for a high refresh rate, higher resolution, etched, laminated, color accurate display with EMR pen tech to eliminate the need for pen charging.
I think all the features above would be slightly over-kill, but I would at least like to see a screen with better pen tech and a higher refresh rate. It would make the writing and drawing experience much much better.
After thought: Just realized if they had a battery-less pen, it would enable it to be much smaller and therefore more easily storable.
They could make an upgraded top cover to go with a new screen, just like they did for the 13, but in this case it has a place to stow a tiny EMR pen.
Also +1 for programmable button expansion cards. I can think of a million things I would use that for in a 2-1.
Fingerprint scanner! Also pen holder, backlit keyboard, and better battery life (bc battery could always be better). I might buy a paper-feel screen protector from ViaScreens (and while writing this I found out they already have one for the FW12!! Yay, I thought I’d have to wait until they shipped), but screen protecters aren’t something that Framework sells, right?
most of these go for all the laptops framework makes, in no particular order:
1.) backlit keyboard, seriously, not having one is just barely not a dealbreaker edit note also that the absence of a backlit keyboard absolutely would have been a dealbreaker on either the FW13 I have or the FW16 I plan to get in a year or two, smaller laptops in general seem to do a better job of lighting up the keyboard with the screen…it’s enough to be tolerable, but I still hate not having a backlit keyboard. I will buy the upgrade approximately 2 picoseconds after it’s released. (ya know, if it ever gets released)
2.) IP68(ish) waterproofing(I’m aware this is unlikely, and I’m ok with that, but I still want it)
3.) physical buttons for the touchpad(seriously, I HATE the one-piece touchpads that have become inescapable on laptops, framework’s isn’t any worse then the rest of the industry, but there are too many things that just don’t work right without the physical separation, especially with gaming, this one especially goes for all models)
4.) very low priority, but might be cool to have the touchpads some Asus laptops have that double as numpads…that said, my sister’s old one(the one she replaced with a FW13 actually) has that, and she said it’s mostly annoying, so obviously not for everyone.(I haven’t actually tried hers either, so it might not even be for me )
5.) some means of physical attachment for the stylus, I probably won’t buy one without that, because if given a half a chance I WILL lose it. that likely applies to a lot of the kids this model is aimed at too, so…yeah.
6.) all the things I can’t think of atm
A version with mobile internet (4G/5G) support. I know people are developing expansion cards, but the usual modules don’t really fit inside the cards and it would be nice to have it properly build-in and supported. Like have an antenna cable next to the wifi antenna.
An official protective case with a compartment for the stylus and maybe other accessoires (spare expansion cards etc.).
A passively cooled low power variant, with long battery life, maybe using an ARM or RISC-V architecture. The space currently used for the fan could e.g. be repurposed for an additional RAM slot or a full-size SSD or for the mentioned 4G module.
The current CPUs and mobos might, eventually, make decent low powered options for a basic NAS or server once there are newer and more powerful options to swap into the laptop. I wonder if FW could partner up with someone to create a case and various adapter boards that could turn some of the connections into SATA or even m.2 storage. Additional power for spinning drives might be an issue but I’m sure there would be a way to solve that. And only if there was an AMD version that could support ECC memory, USB4 and had more PCI-e bandwidth to play with…
I ordered a 16 before I got my 13 specifically because I wanted a new gaming/general purpose system that is portable. It was all about the discrete GPU, which I’m hoping to see new models of.
Later, when my previous laptop died, and the other option was even longer in the tooth, I purchased a 13 that I could get right away. As soon as the 16 arrived, the 13 became my spouse’s daily (she loves it, BTW).
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