Introducing the Framework Laptop 12

Probably because Intel can keep up with the chip demand better on a device that is more affordable such as this.

According to this LTT video (@ 11:50), the 48GB max. results from it being only able to handle a single RAM module.

It’s very difficult to waterproof a laptop that uses active cooling.

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The 13th Gen still uses DDR4, at least the one I have does. So I’m not sure DDR5 is going to fly.

but still, if you got your FW13 with a Ryzen chip, you should be able to place it there…
this is the real positive thing about this company… or at least this should!

Seems its not gonna be EMR then, I would be pleasantly surprised if it was, but the battery part suggests its not. Thanks for the quick answer!

Most likely not, since framework 12 has a different chassis and a smaller motherboard. It should theoretically be possible to use Framework 12 motherboard into Framework 13 chassis though.
In order to upgrade Framework 12 motherboard to AMD, we would have to wait for Framework to launch an AMD motherboard for it or launch Framework 12 with AMD. Which I think they would do over time.

This is an interesting idea for a mod - file down the two bays for expansion cards on one side and try cramming the 13" mainboard into it. You’d have two USB-C fixed ports on one side and two expansion card bays on the other :smiley:

Wonder if someone at Framework have thought of that.

PS. Yeah, the display cable will most likely be incompatible… and the keyboard cover…

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that would be a pitty.

that’s true, even what matter is the case size. And both sizes are very very similar, as said, screen bezel is quite wide…

That is yet to be known.

I’ve had it with hearing about AMD over the course of the product launch and am happy with whose branding is on the CPU as long as the product is as aesthetically and ergonomically satisfying as it seems to be.

That said, this model seems a better place to offer ARM processors which would seem to offer a means of passive cooling and long battery life. Sure there might be the usual compatibility concerns relating to esoteric or especially demanding software but that might be a benefit. If the target market is students you don’t want to make gaming too easy for them :grimacing:

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It could be because AMD chips are already less available compared to demand.

And the target market just don’t care whose sticker is on the main chip (or any of the others for that matter). For those who do, the answer is to stick with the 13".

That’s why I think the 12" would be the perfect opportunity for Framework to test market response to an ARM based chip: they don’t care whose name is on it but will be sold on the longer battery life and silent cooling with the basic array of native applications (no x86 emulation) they are unlikely to deviate from.

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It’s not really about making it cheaper for pre-existing fw13 owners. IMO its a lot more about making a product that is attractive to schools/institutions/companies, and it is.

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I 100% agree with your point on the expansion cards. To me they are not much beyond a nice gimmick from the first day (my old ThinkPad X1 can have more peripherals plugged in at the same time without using dongles, albeit without the flexibility of swapping ports), and later turned out to be a problem for me, although that can be largely attributed to me being an idiot – I shoved a Type-C plug into a Type-A expansion card in the dark one day because I forgot what card was installed in that position. It must have caused some damage to the motherboard because both ports on the right side of my machine are still flaky to this day.

I also share the concern that Framework might be trying to fight on too many different fronts. I hope their latest ventures wouldn’t divert too much energy from their existing product lines.

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There’s an entire thread about this: What pen technology is being used?

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where is that picture from? i didn’t know there were releases of the boards’s design like this… really interesting!

and yeah, kind of disappointing that it’s a new board and Intel, I actually don’t understand the latter as it seems to me you’d want to cram better power usage in there, especially given the size.

is it the same battery as the 13"?

Looks like the battery in that picture has a different part number and smaller capacity, so probably no.

Picture is probably from the LTT video on the Framework announcement

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Yes. https://youtu.be/-lErGZZgUbY?si=p1qjbId8_XLN3kkI

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I did some measurements on screenshots of the marketing video, that gave me ~287x214mm.

Details

(I took the 30mm width of the expansion card as reference for the shot from the side where components are swapped out of the FW12, and then measured the aspect ration from the beginning of the clip where there is a pen writing on the screen.)

Comparing to the 297x229mm of the FW13, I think it’s going to be pretty difficult to fit in a FW13 mainboard with the same expansion cards. You’d have to somehow shave off 5mm on each side, and that’s going to be pretty hard considering that the width of the mainboard with plugged in expansion cards is almost exactly the width of the FW13.
Also, I’m pretty sure they would have at least mentioned the compatibility if it was actually there.

Then, of course, the next question would be why they didn’t “just” make the FW12 that 1 cm wider, but I assume the engineers and product folks thought about that too (and in much more depth than we can) and would have gone for compatibility if it was possible. Would still be interesting to hear the reasoning, tho.

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