I generally like running hardware into the ground. My current HP laptop works well enough (8th gen i5) and was basically free ($40 for screen repair and wifi card upgrade). I also prefer bigger screens (15 inch). Lastly, I prefer macOS and I dont think the chip in the framework are supported yet. But as soon as this laptop becomes slow and framework makes a 15 inch model, I will be jumping over to a framework!
If Framework is reading this (and I know they are), here are the most common requests!
āAvailability in more countries (I know this is actively being worked on and is quite a challenge)
āMultiple screen sizes (15in, 17in. Would require a redesign of the casing)
āMore CPU choices (this will obviously be extremely challenging). These include AMD Ryzen 5th gen, Intel 12th gen, Arm/RiscV
āMore GPU power for power users (even more challenging as framework would have to change the mainboard design and/or design a new port to support a DGPU)
āMore expansion cards (thank you for the dev program)
āMore expansion card ports (in the bigger models)
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The ability to have a numpad, a Ryzen option 5000 or 6000 series, and
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Shipping and availability problems with the battery as a standalone component.
Availability in Australia, but at this point Iām desperate and looking at buying it and forwarding it to myself.
My Surface Pro 3 is on its last legs - Bluetooth is straight up gone (I use a BT dongle) and wifi is temperamental at best. The front webcam has never worked thanks to a botched firmware update from Microsoft. The keyboard is peeling off layers like a Shrek. The battery lasts an hour (honestly not too bad considering). The pen doesnāt have BT functionality. The screen is peeling. The fan sounds like a plane at takeoff, much like the PS4 (probably full of dust but canāt clean it out). Overheats and thermal throttles all the time to the point that HD YouTube plays at 10fps with nothing else happening.
Itās time for a Framework, please. I also have disability funding in the process of being approved because I need a device to be able to have my telehealth appointments. Fingers crossed I get approved.
Edit: I forgot that the only USB port is falling out on the inside of the chassis. This means that my DSLR which is currently a glorified webcam often disconnects or experiences audio problems in video calls, sometimes cutting out completely. It also means I canāt use the BT dongle during video calls, so I have no mouse functionality.
Please release in Australia soon Framework! 
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Manā¦ what a wreck! Sympathiesā¦
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Speaking for someone else, itās the lack of a OLED screen, they refuse to go back to IPS after using OLED for some time.
I can definitely relate, but Iād rather wait a few months and get QD-OLED instead as itās objectively better in every way, especially power usage.
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Wow! My sympathies, I thought my laptop was on its last legs, but this is something. My 2015 13ā MBP is failing on me very badly and the repair costs are not worth it.
I was holding back as Framework wasnāt shipping to my location (not really holding back ad being held back).
Finally, but the bullet and bought one through a friend in the UK and waiting for them to now come here.
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If I was to buy the framework, it would be to support the company and maybe flex it to fellow nerds that also know what it is.
In terms of the actual product, I really struggle to see the value in it, especially at the price point. I am currently using an x250 from 2015. Obviously, not everyone can do with an old laptop like that, but for me itās a clear choice. The battery lasts me for about 12 hours while working, it has all the ports I need (minus an hdmi, which i use a dp dongle for). Going from a laptop that consumes about 3.5W while browsing to one that:
- takes 1.5 watt just to have an unused hdmi port plugged in
- you canāt really just throw in a backpack without worrying
- has a very āmehā performance for the pricepoint
- has no external battery
- has reports of mainboard parts randomly melting with no solution yet
- I am unsure about the promises of upgradeability so far.
It just feels like such a massive downgrade that I would struggle to justify it. Framework also prides itself on repairability. However, I dont think that there is anything more repairable about it than any old thinkpad prior to the XX80 series, where some still beat the FW in perfomance if you need a āmodernā laptop. Plus, you can get parts much cheaper and have a great selection from multiple vendors.
I am incredibly greatful that framework exists, as there is a lack of current gen products with a promise of repairability, but my next laptop will probably be a cheaper, sturdier and more performant t480 from 2018/19 for less than 500ā¬ or something like an T14. Those are probably even more upgradable than the framework (e.g. heatsinks, dGPU, magnesium caseā¦) Unless aesthetics and an additional 5mm of slimness are that important to you, I feel like it is only the ābrandā that would make anyone choose the framework over these.
If I was shopping for a paid for work laptop or had a high income I would buy the framework, but I currently canāt afford paying a 500ā¬ premium for ideological reasons. Plus, I believe a used laptop will always be more sustainable than a new one. Maybe there will be an aftermarket for a potential framework pro in 3-4 years.
EDIT: I agree with the posters above that the lack of customization upon ordering is also a sustainability problem. If I ordered a FW now that is not my dream config due to current availability and then have to throw away a working screen/ keyboard/ mousepad to get the one I would like, I would just not upgrade it
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Coreboot
Ability to disable Intel ME/AMD PSP
Qubes support
It would be a massive bonus if you could specify coreboot and which O/S is shipped with the laptop.
Open source everything possible and the community will grow exponentially. This would become the go-to laptop for those who want to step up their security/privacy/tinkering game. Iām asked pretty frequently which computers I recommend in my social circle and this would be it without hesitation.
I just want a real CPU and some interesting expansion cards.
So far thereās been nothing going on with the cards and it seems that there isnāt TB certification still.
Iāll definitely consider it when we can get more than 4 cores and a decent igpu or dedicated option. As of right now thereās not a pressing need to replace my current laptop (ya know, and create ewaste), since going from 4c8t to 4c8t doesnāt feel great, especially when thereās no cool cards to catch my eye.
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Loose hinges & screen wobble being conclusively addressed. nrp has commented on reddit/r/framework that tighter hinges could be available on the Marketplace. But AFAIK thereās no ETA for these yet. This is a must-have for me. Having a stable screen is far far far more important to me than one-handed opening.
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Improvements to battery life. Possible gains from firmware updates, understanding why expansion cards draw abnormal power when not in use, etcā¦
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Availability of a matte screen option
Basically I want to be able to feel fairly confident Iām getting a solid laptop I can get work done with as opposed to a cool tinkering project that happens to have an ideological objective I align with.
Iād love for there to be a centralized changelog document for the hardware revisions where we can keep up to date with what fixes have been made based on feedback/issues since release.
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Would like AMD and wired ethernet.
But mostly the pre-built options donāt fit my needs very well and donāt want a DIY (Iāve been thru that in the desktop world and had hassles with defective components and Windows setup getting confused by the bios and/or hardware combination). Would prefer a system built and tested before shipping.
If I were DIY-ing Iād go for large storage and medium-low CPU. If standard Iād get the high-end and add 1TB card, MicroSD card or external thumb drivesā¦
How about offering build-to-order? Some extra cost would be ok, especially with complete and documented testing.
I want an AMD version. I refuse to support Intel any further.
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Mainly that thereās no Norwegian keyboard available. Other than that, I have two laptops that work fine, but their age is starting to show. Iād sell both of them and get a framework laptop in a jiffy if other language keyboards became available.
Still gathering information; Iām moving pretty soon so Iāll need to know how long itāll take to arrive in order to figure out whether to send it to my current or new address. In addition I like to know typical points of failure for laptops since Iāve had some kinda weird things happen in the past.
In addition to what other users have said, I would love to see an option for ādudā expansion cards ā something that would cover the large holes that the expansion card slots leave if left unplugged, but donāt draw power like the memory sticks or other cards do. Iāll probably only be using one USB-C port and nothing else day-to-day, and maybe occasionally plugging in that extra memory drive when I need it, so being able to maximize efficient power usage while minimizing the amount of large chunks of my laptop being missing would be nice :]
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quite simple: a 17" body. although it being a 3:2 screen 16" would be acceptable, but it still has to fit a full keyboard (including num-pad and preferably full height arrow keys)
Being that big, I do assume more than 4 expansion slots would be possible and wired Ethernet should fit easily.
It has to combat the connectivity of my gen 1 i7 XPS 17 (Dell):
2x USB-A
1x USB-A/eSata combi
1x fire-wire
1x Ethernet (rj-45)
1x HDMI
1x DisplayPort
1x VGA
3x audio (mic, headphone/line-out)
1x ExpressCard slot
1x full-size SD-card slot
1x dvd Ā±RW slot (space better used for a spare battery though)
1x Barrel-plug POWER
During its lifetime I used about every slot/connector. Including the EC slot to put an additional 2 USB 3.0 ports on it for high-speed data transfers. (other USB-A ports are 2.1 iirc)
so with only 4 ports and one fixed 3.5mm mic/hp-combi-plug they would be full in a base setup, without any spare room to plug in anything extra:
- 1x USB-C for charger
- 1x USB-A for mouse (no wireless mouse allowed)
- 1x USB-A/C for a RJ-45 network ādongleā (no wireless ehternet allowed)
- 1x DP/HDMI for a secondary monitor (bare minimum)
no room left for the required RSA key-fob, no free room for a thumb-drive or sd-card reader or any other quickly switching media or temporary devices like a usb conference speaker-phone.
So I need at minimum 2 more ports to be barely workable.
With the key-fob needing to be plugged in and having at least one port free for sw
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The #1 thing to me would be a larger screen (15.5 min, 17 best)
My 6 year old Lenovo ideapad 700 is about to die, I managed to expand itās life for maybe another year, but I would have bought a framework if a larger screen was available.
Iām a developer, so I would love something that was more of a workhorse.
Features Iād like
- More ports, Iād like 2 USBC, 1 USB3, 2 HDMI, 1 Ethernet
- Faster processor, I prefer AMD over Intel
- Dvorak keyboard, extra-duper-double-take-my-money points if the layout is the same as my typematrix 2030
- Ship with ubuntu (Iād probably still install from scratch, but that at least would mean that it was fully tested with linux)
You cannot increase the ports, its a limitation of PCIe lanes. Most modern laptop CPUs donāt have many lanes.
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