QMK could be done easily. Shouldn’t even need Framework to do it, if someone wants to create a little add-on board. Alternate layouts, like ortholinear, that I don’t know about. With the input cover frame running between the keys like it does, the 13’s shell, as it is now, probably can’t support that easily. I presume the cover frame was designed like it is to provide needed structure and stiffness without adding thickness. Making the FWL13 thicker, at all, is not something some users would want, as some very much want a thin & light FW option. If alternate layouts prove popular enough with the FWL16 then perhaps a hypothetical FW 14" or 15" which doesn’t aim for thin & light would support it.
Thanks. I figure the switch to ortholinear would require a complete replacement of the top cover where there is metal between the keys (each key has a discrete hole for itself). It would have to be engineered properly to mitigate keyboard flex and avoid adding thickness. That said, I don’t think this is going to be challenging for Framework to figure out. The real challenge, I think, it economic–will there be enough people who choose the ortholinear option, and how many customers can Framework draw from competing brands by offering an ortholinear option?
I’ll take QMK as an option. I suppose maybe I will tackle the challenge myself if I have the spare time to design a thin PCB.
UPDATE: I started looking into adding QMK to the FW13.
It should be 100% doable by modifying the input cover only. The Keyboard’s ribbon cable would be redirected to a shim flexible PCB with an RP2040 and supporting circuitry on it. I would probably steal the USB connection from the Fingerprint Reader to connect the RP2040 microcontroller. It might be possible to have the RP2040 pass-through the Fingerprint Reader’s USB connection, but I would not expect this to be possible.
Thanks to Framework for listing the exact connectors they use. I think the hardest part would be getting the custom ribbon cable fabricated for the shim. I have no connections to any mfg. that would make a small run of custom ribbon cables.
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agreed. I love the adapters. I would still take the current FW13 adapter setup over any other 13 thin-and-light’s IO config in a heartbeat - but it would be real nice to not have to swap constantly.
But looking at my chassis, there’s no room for an additional expansion card slot unless Framework either creates a smaller expansion card standard (breaking compatibility), or thickens the chassis and removes the contour (breaks compatibility with existing accessories - which I guess is unavoidable with a chassis redesign anyways).
Definitely firmware. If I give up on FrameWork it will be entirely due to the poor quality control of the firmware releases. The bugs and regressions in the last few releases of the AMD firmware are enough of a reason to stop recommending FrameWork until they get their firmware act together.
Also today I’m returning an AI 300 board, because it shipped with firmware that causes errors to be logged constantly while a charger is connected. Lastly the firmware is missing basic functionality which limits board reuse in a standalone configuration.
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I literally feel this. I use my laptop on my lap a lot while commuting (I’m not driving), and both the AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370 laptop and my jeans get noticeably toasty very quickly, even when doing something as simple as web browsing with the Windows power profile set to Best Efficacy. Oddly, I don’t hear the fans running at that time. This might be something that can be fixed by updated fan profiles or fan curves, but I’m wondering if I should ask support for a lower-spec board (fewer cores == less heat?) while I’m still in the 30-day return window.
It looks like there would be plenty of room on each side the laptop for a vent.
The majority of laptops intake from the bottom for a reason. Those that don’t normally have to make major sacrifices. It’s just physics that thin blower fans need a large area intake above or below to work best.
Honestly, it’s not a problem to me, at all. You just keep the fan from being blocked by putting your laptop on any kind tray, plate, pad, other hard surface. I use a 2mm aluminum plate. And since I often use a laptop where that’s needed, I just applied small circles of velcro to each corner & the plate stays there unless it’s going into a bag, then I pull it off and place it over the screen side to protect it. Anything will work for this, aluminum, wood, stiff plastic sheet, carbon fiber for a more premium feel. Sellers will cut carbon fiber to a custom size for you. Framework 13 damaged from backpack transport, Any recommendations for fixes? - #12 by lbkNhubert
If you just want something dead easy, there are a few laptop lap pads available
MacBooks vent out the back without any problem.
The problem with those solutions is, I’m moving in a van with stop-and-go traffic. None of the items you mention would have good grip and would slide right off the surface of my lap during travel. I stopped using a MacBook for that reason. None of the grips on the corners of the laptop made contact with my lap, so it slid right off. The Framework 13 is the perfect size for my needs, and the grips keep the laptop in place while in traffic.
I briefly used a tray designed for my wheelchair with success, until I realized what might happen to me if the passenger airbag went off with a plexiglass and metal tray right between the airbag and me.
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Current macbooks use apple-made ARM chips that run cooler. Not a mature option at this time for windows or linux. When macbooks still used x86 I read they thermally throttled due to the cooling being inadequate.
I ran into that since my aluminum was not textured. I was thinking I should have mentioned that. I first considered adding this neoprene foam rubber adhesive sheet, amazon.com/dp/B07VZBVWDJ, but decided it would’ve been overkill for my use. Instead, I got a sheet of adhesive textured rubber. Such as is used for stair or ramp traction grip. You’d want no “grit”, and rubber or “rubberized”, not mere textured vinyl. Plain untextured adhesive rubber sheet would have been enough for my use honestly.
Oh, yeah. Not good. I haven’t needed it, but I thought vehicles have a control to disable the passenger airbag these days. I know it’s absolutely needed if the driver has a child in a rear-facing child seat. And I would think needed in some cases at least, in vans equiped for wheelchair use.
A laptop itself would seem bad, with its glass screen and metal shell.
Hell, I could have probably just added that to the bottom of the MacBook I just sold. It would probably have killed the resell value though. 
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I do have one simple idea that can probably be completed via firmware: automatically turn the keyboard LEDs on and off, and adjust the brightness using the ambient light sensor.
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Huh, so they do.
Macbooks haven’t as far back as at least 2009, so very much still x86. I believe they intook from the side, similar to where the speakers are on the framework. Or they just ran on negative pressure.
Another reason Apple has absolutely nailed the laptop I guess. Repairability excluded, obviously.
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A GPU that can run ROCm
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