FW12 cracking issue and ordering a DIY machine

[truffaldino]

I’ve been following the other mega-thread about bottom cover cracking with interest while keeping my rallods (remember them?) in the cookie jar.

Can anyone, Framework staffer or someone who has taken delivery of a complete FW12 recently, confirm that any order placed from this point forward will include the remediations to prevent bottom cover cracking?

I wish to buy a FW12 for my partner and the half-baked, problem-ridden devices I have foisted on her in the past in order to wave the flag of FOSS and flip the bird at tech bros have left her a little wary of my enthusiasm for shiny new things that seem to align with our personal philosophies but are inevitably made with best intentions and no concept of transparent, hassle-free, daily-driver.

That said, she’s observed my on-going satisfaction with a 12th-gen FW13 and she really likes the aesthetic and yoga function of the FW12 and the professed philosophy of Framework. If I buy a 12 I will probably deploy Mint Cinnamon because she’s condemned to use Micro$oft $hite for her work and in my workplace experience, Cinnamon users slip back and forward with Windows without jarring.

If the bottom cover of the next lappy I buy her were to crack without percussive intervention, any hope that the subsequent purchase will not be a Toshiba or a Dell running Windows 11 will be smashed against the rocks. I don’t doubt that Framework would make good but my wife isn’t considering a career as a product tester.

If you’ve read this far you’re a special kind of person who probably empathises with my situation. Keen to hear your thoughts about the experience of buying now.

[BigT]

Unfortunately, I suspect that even Framework can’t be 100% sure that every unit shipping at this point has the updated cover design and materials. Maybe they will chime in and say otherwise.

However, I will say that while I’ve been dealing with the cracking issue for a while, it has never actually affected my use of the machine. As far as I can tell, it has only ever been a cosmetic issue so far. Granted, others have experienced other issues, besides the cracking issue, that I consider to be a much bigger problem. But the more severe issues seem to be far less frequent, and to be fair, any laptop can have issues.

I tried a brand new HP Omni-Book X to compare to the Framework 12. Since that comparison I’ve noticed far more light bleed around the display than the FW 12 has. Also, it gives an error and says it has to re-do memory training every third or fourth re-boot.

I had an HP laptop ages ago (15+ years, I think) that one of the ports simply never worked. Though it did helpfully lock up file explorer when anything was plugged into it, lol. Attempted firmware updates, Windows re-installs, etc. Never got it working.

I had a Toshiba for work (holy cow, that was 19 years ago) where the hinges came loose internally, requiring disassembly to fix it.

I bought a Pinebook, which are super cheap, in part, because they have no warranty. The hinges were SUPER stiff. It was difficult to even open the lid. Literally the first time I opened it, there were clicking and creaking noises, which I eventually found out were some of the hinge mounting points cracking. It got worse every time I lifted the lid, and maybe the 10th time I opened it (yeah) the hinges sheared the last of the mounting points off the frame and started twisting everything to the point that it started splitting the metal bottom cover open. I pulled it all apart and there was no way to fix it. The thin plastic frame was completely shredded around both hinges. Bits of plastic were literally falling out of it while I was taking it apart.

Just saying, lol.

Either way, good luck with whatever direction you decide to go.