(all these locations are respective to when the lid is closed)
I assume that the display scratches are due to a combination of lid flex when the lid is in a bag and the subpar fit of the touchpad and spacer modules (they protrude ever so slightly above the thin metal frame) and the edges being quite sharp.
Okay, after looking closely at the key switch, I have determined that the support latch which keeps the two scissor pieces together has broken off. So I’ll have to RMA at least the keyboard. I think I will write an email to support where I will describe both problems.
After you get a replacement, consider selling or offering up the broken keyboard on the Community market. Someone should be interested in it for parts. Spare keycaps if nothing else, but also perhaps someone interested in it to get whole key mechanisms to prototype a custom keyboard module.
Yes, it would, but the scratches are there now. I’d need a screen replacement and then use the cloth (which is a very good recommendation and I thank you for it!).
I might take it apart myself afterwards to see if I can make something with it. If I don’t get around to that though, I gladly will offer it to someone who wants to play around with it!
Having a very similar issue with my display getting scratched by the sharp edges on the touchpad and spacer modules. I would contact support and ask for a new display, but I have every reason to believe the new one would get scratched again in exactly the same way due to the underlying design flaw (module edges too sharp, lid too flexible). A laptop should be able to be closed and withstand some mild compressive force on the lid without getting damaged.
I’m well aware I purchased an experimental product that’s prone to flaws like this, but if I’m going to keep this thing for years to come, I would really like to know that the Framework team is aware of the problem and working on a permanent solution. The cloth idea is a nice interim fix, but I do not want to spent the next several years positioning a cloth on my daily driver every time I close the lid.
If anyone from Framework reads this, are you guys still iterating on the physical design of the laptop in smaller ways like this? Might I one day be able to purchase replacement parts with design modifications to eliminate these problems?
I have had my replacement screen for some time now and I’m using the paper the new display came wrapped in as a screen protector. I place it on the keyboard before I close the lid, it works reasonably well. Haven’t had any problems so far and it’s not too bothersome to do. Though I do agree that the underlying design issues should be fixed.
Not to bump a 3-4 month old thread, but: This. Please. Framework. I’m afraid to put things in my messenger bag with the laptop because of this. It’s insane that I have to have this anxiety over a laptop, two 45-60 card decks (for Tabletop gaming), a token box (for said tabletop game) being in the bag with the Framework 16 (which is in a cushioned laptop sleeve with it’s charger in front of it in another cushioned sleeve) AND still getting scratches even if I move the bag gingerly and make sure the weight is distributed to where it shouldn’t be fully on the keyboard.
I would happily replace the current 16 with a more “robust”/harder shell that won’t flex instantly under 5-10 pounds of weight in a messenger bag over this. The scratching on the screen is getting worse even with a laptop cover/screen cleaner cloth x 2 on it. I have no idea what can be making it worse than it should be other than repeatedly putting the same amount of weight on it.
This is probably the most disappointing thing on the FW 16 for me: It can’t withstand some mild weight (that a student or someone doing work) on it. It’s an “alpha product” sure, but hopefully some stress-testing happens in the future over typical use cases, because I don’t think “carrying some food, some deck boxes, a token box, and the laptop that I’ll be using to run a tournament” or “a book [not a thick text book, but a fiction paperback or hard-back], a laptop, a notebook” is an abnormal use case and should(n’t) cause the keyboard to scratch the screen and continue to make the display look worse under sitting directly in front of it AND have the scratches be noticeable in all-white background/word-processor like MS Word or OpenOffice/LibreOffice.
