Kensington lock port for Framework desktop

Framework Desktop
1

The Framework Desktop is currently being marketed for business. Can you include a Kensington lock port for the Framework Desktop?

It is in the complete interest for businesses to secure their assets; likewise it would be a great default feature for the average consumer as well.

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The desktop has an attachable, screwed down handle, you can use this to fixate it with a steel cable or similar.

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Pardon for sounding persnickety, but some things need to be addressed.

  1. Form over function issue. Don’t conflate form with function. I understand that the handle can be used to secure the desktop, but as a business, does that look presentable? Does it look clean? Presentation matters, image matters. Businesses are not looking for a handle, that’s a convenience feature for LAN parties. That’s why major brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo etc. rule the business space with their sleek looking and unobtrusive offerings.
  2. A handle is not a Kensington lock. Not only are they functionally different, structurally they’re different too. One is an attachable accessory that’s screwed the frame, another is a thick steel structure secured to the frame, either held by studs, or something other maybe that is not exposed externally. Have you seen how the handle is installed? The handle can be manually disassembled in seconds. That is inconceivable as a solution for security!!! This is not a “fixated” structure, and no solution of any kind wrapping itself around something that is not fixated will be secure. If anything, I can deeply guarantee that Framework will never, and should never, market the handle as “secure”.
  3. Kensington lock slot is an industry standard. Is Framework willing to market the handle is a solution for security? That’s a large liability if they ever did, explained in the point above. Neither the handle or the Kensington lock slot prevents theft, but merely acts as a deterrent; however, the Kensington lock has the advantage of being an accepted industry standard for the last three decades, if not more. In terms of liability, it’s a very low risk on Framework’s side if the Kensington slot was properly installed per manufacturer’s guidelines.
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There are Kensington Lock kits available for desktop PCs. So it is possible with some DIY to attach it to the framework laptop, since it does not have such a lock by default.

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Apologies for sounding quarrelsome… Please keep in mind, the context of this thread is related to businesses.

“DIY” is not synonymous with “business friendly.” If anybody has to DIY a PC chassis for anything other than aesthetics, the PC chassis clearly did not meet a need. If DIY is not meant to meet a need, it is to fulfill a personal interest. We’re not talking about personal interest, but business interest.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind modifying my personal desktop. There are “anti-theft chassis lock security screw” products available on the cheap, but nowhere on this Framework desktop’s chassis has a place to screw in anything, except for the handle. Everything on the case surface is easily removable by merely held by plastic, popping things out, and nowhere else to place a screw. That’s the very unfortunate part.

The Framework Desktop is very simple and user-friendly. I like the fact I can get my 7 year-old son to assemble this as his first desktop; modularity and repairability is great for businesses in terms of upgrades and maintenance. Unfortunately the product is at the moment not security-minded for consumers beyond the average-Joe/Jane space.

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I suspect we will already be too late.

I suspect the only real option would be an expansion card with a lock slot. I know that would be even more pointless than a lock already is, but at least IT can tell the executives that they checked the box.

I don’t get it. There are a lot of companies that require a lock to be present, and if you include it early on in the design, it shouldn’t even be that hard. Retrofitting a slot is definitely a lot harder (as evidenced by the suggestions this thread and the other Kensington lock thread).

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