Laptop 16" recently purchased (Feedback)

Framework Laptop 16 Linux
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Which Linux distro are you using?
Linux Mint

Which release version?
(if rolling release without a release version, skip this question)
22.1

(If rolling release, last date updated?)
N/A

Which kernel are you using?
6.8

Which BIOS version are you using?
3.0.5

Which Framework Laptop 16" model:
Ryzen™ 9 7940HS - Radeon™ RX 7700S (DIY)

I recently took the leap and purchased a 16" Laptop. Probably over spec’d for my needs (I don’t game or do heavy graphics) but have always preferred a little extra horse power.

Ordering, payment and delivery were prompt, spot-on and no issues here.

The build was much simpler than I expected, the manuals and instructions easy to follow and the videos a great help. Overall very happy with the precision, quality of components and design.

Re OS… I was definitely doing a Linux install but wanted to evaluate Fedora, Ubuntu and Mint. So I nstalled and trialled each distro and interestingly found issues with both Fedora and Ubuntu. In the end I settled for Mint which I still am running now and loving the stability of this distro.

Like many… I’m a recovering Windows user and since switching to Linux I have never looked back. The invasiveness of Big Tech (eg Microsoft) and recent encroachments on our privacies forced me to look more closely at alternatives. Hail Open Source!

Re the finger print reader… happy to wait until Mint 22.2 which adds fingerprint login and authentication support through a new desktop app called Fingwit.

Re monitors… I have dual monitors and am able to power the laptop via one of the monitors and all other USB peripherals via the USB-C cable connected to the rear graphics module. So few cables… I’m a minimalist so I really like this.

I am looking forward to future upgrades (eg PCIE 5.0) but for now I’m a happy chappy and this rig as it is will serve me fine for the next few years.

So… overall I’m a satisfied Framework client and would like to offer the team a 10/10 for their efforts.

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Welcome to Linux Mint on the FW16. I’ve been running Mint since I got mine in one of the first batches. I also tested several other distros, but have been a happy Mint user for dang near a decade. You can get the fingerprint reader working on Mint 22.1, but it’s a bit of a chore if you aren’t comfortable with Bash.

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Thanks @Will_McCoy, getting the fingerprint reader working not high up my list so happy to wait for Mint 22.2.

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Nice! Your post makes me wonder what percentage of Framework users buy the laptops because they want the increased privacy and configurability of Linux compared to those who just want maximum modularity, like myself (who uses Windows 11). Furthermore, among the many, which recent encroachments on privacy have set you over the edge? Just curious.

Either way, I’ve maybe heard of Fedora having some issues before, but not Ubuntu, which is surprising. Maybe I’ll give Mint a try as well. Cool to hear you’re enjoying your FW 16!

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Thanks for your comment and feedback @RattleMcSnake155 ,

For me it was the modularity of the Framework that was my primary motivator. Variations of Linux will run on almost any hardware and much cheaper than the Framework Laptop 16”. I could have purchased a more powerful Laptop at a much cheaper price but I didn’t. The modularity and option to be able to upgrade components when the day comes won me.

The shift away from big tech to alternatives has been a gradual transition for me. After de-googling some years back I decided to take a closer look at the Telemetry between Windows and Microsoft (even after enabling all privacy settings) - using Wireshark I took a closer look at the data going back to Microsoft and was shocked at what I saw. More recently reading about client-side scanning in the AI context was even more alarming. In a general sense… protecting my privacy, staying secure and still being able to leverage and take advantage of tech has become a personal hobby.

I have used Debian based distros such as Ubuntu since 2005 but the stability and reliability of Mint wins me over hands down.

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I originally bought the FW16 for the modularity but I started looking into swapping to Linux for a few reasons:

  • Performance issues, Windows is extremely heavy and it put unnecessary strain on my system
  • Very fast battery drain, I would only get ~2 hours of the the laptop before needing to charge it
  • Fan noise, this goes hand in hand with performance issues but the fans would randomly spin up when at idle

With the announcement of windows recall and Microsoft forcing more and more useless LLM bloat into the system with no way to turn it off I finally decided to make to switch. Naturally, as someone who had only ever used Ubuntu in a server environment, I settled on Arch Linux for my first ever experience with desktop Linux. It took me 7 hours to install. 10/10 would to again. Linux fixed all the problems that I had with windows simply by being lightweight and not backed by a multi-billion dollar mega cooperation intent on sucking the souls out of the people using its products.

TLDR: fuck Microsoft, Linux forever

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