I dislike the current Ethernet slot, since it sticks out of the laptop. I generally only connect it when I specifically need the Ethernet port. Since otherwise it changes the size of the laptop, and I Don’t want it to catch on something.
Is there any plan to release a smaller Ethernet plug in that doesn’t stuck out, or just have 1 integrated into the future boards?
Like a folding ethernet jack? My guess, nope, not a chance!
The size of the ethernet plug itself is the reason the expansion card has to stick out, it’s too thick. There is a thread where several people looked at the options for folding ethernet jacks, but they take up all the room inside an expansion card! There are pictures of a folding jack held against an expansion card. No room for the electronics, at all. Not happening.
Could it be moved to the back? Should be easy for the ones with usage of internal GPU. Also could be designed into the next generation GPU Cards.
For those that have no interest in a GPU module, Dual SSD module, or Oculink kit, sure. But it’s reducing the market. Also cuts out all Framework 13, 13 pro, and 12 users. And the amount of people who use ethernet wasn’t that large to begin with. The number who’d buy a product needs to be large enough to make sense and pay for the significant development costs which come will all products.
It’s easy to overestimate the space available & underestimate to room components take. People often do it with the expansion cards as well. If you look at the GPU module circuit boards, they are full. Nrp said the reason the 1st Nvdia module didn’t have more ram was that they couldn’t make it fit, at least with the ram chips available at the time.
One path that feels possible is an expansion bay made to house 2 or 3 more expansion cards, with one or more slots set in deeper. People have talked about doing that. Wouldn’t be exactly cheap unfortunately, since thunderbolt hub chips are costly.
The only other option would be for the expansion card to have a non-standard connector, and an adapter cable to convert to the standard connector. Some of my Lenovo laptops have this configuration, and it works, but it means you have to ensure that you always have the adapter cable when you want to connect.
I’ve just bought a USB-C > Ethernet cable to get around this exact issue - seems to work absolutely fine, although I’m not sure it’s better than a USB-C hub (with additional ports) and a standard Ethernet cable…
I think I’ll try this. Sounds easier than swapping the ports out.
Rather than 10G RJ45 copper connector, i would probably prefer a single mode or multi mode fibre connector in bidi mode.
The fibre cable is much smaller and more flexible than cat6 cable.
The connector is also smaller than rj45, so could probably be a smaller slot card.
The problem is probably more a heat problem. Usb to 10G ethernet chips tend to get hot.
Heat is probably not a big deal, the realtek usb to copper 10Gbit module pulls like 2W doing full speed which is less than the storage expansion cards use.
The issue there is noone makes an integrated usb to 10gbit fiber chipset, if they did it would likely use even less power than the copper one.
But for fiber there is even less point in having it be an expansion card as having loose network cables floating around is somewhat common, use fibers much less so so if you are carrying a cable you may as well carry a cable with an usb nic on it.