Are there any known plans for a more robust/durable shell for the FW13/16, somewhat like the FW12? Ore any thirdparty-projects building new shells like that?
For me, being used to thinkpads, that would be perfekt.
Idealy including some testresults for dropping, spill-resistance etc.
Keeping the Focus not just on being repairable but also on not needing many repairs.
(P.S. Also, in many engineering jobs, a thinkpad-style premium workstation has has a better image than a glossy macbook-Style laptop - but that’s just a bonus)
Anyway, would be great for framework to have something like that. And also ideal for framework, because unlike every other laptop company, there is no need to redesign the shell with every new version. And people could even switch from one shell to the other, that is quite a unique trait for any laptop!
What’s not robust about the chassis’ as is? The fact that they’re made of metal not plastic?
Granted, I’ll admit I’m more confortable dropping my Thinkpad than my Framework, but that’s also possibly because it’s old and only worth ~$100. I use it as a cat toy right now so my kitty can watch bird videos.
Cannot imagine a better stress test than giving it to your cats to play with ^^
Robustness now is not terrible, but not outstanding either.
The material has a lot to do with it, shock absorptions and vibration resistance tends to be a better with good quality plastic - i’d also rather drop a thinkpad than a macbook.
Also for the FW12, framework advertises with MIL-STD 810 tests (though i haven’t seen details which ones exactly) - for framework 13 and 16 that is not the case at all.
The thought is also, that framework could just adapt the shell of the framework 12 to the 13 and 16 (maybe adding a simple black colour for business purposes), saving a lot of development work.
I’ve been wanting other, more robust, shells for the Framework 16 (and 13) for years. I ended up having to get a rugged laptop (Dell Pro Rugged 14) because Framework doesn’t offer anything that I can do field work with.
If Framework ever gets around to offering a rugged or semi-rugged chaise for their Framework 16, I’ll be batch one.
Until then, my Framework 16 is for RDP and office only.
