dude 15w is even not enough for my iPad Pro
Playing back a 720p video file draws a bit under 7w on linux WITH the borked hw accelerator, on windows you can do the same for like 4w. Pretty sure the ipad is even batter at that.
I really want to replace my MBP and just get away from MacOS altogether, but that would mean a huge downgrade in speakers and overall build quality! Iām willing to give it a try though. I know the performance would smoke my 2018 MBP.
Given how much demand there is for the FW16, if you donāt end up liking it, Iām sure you could recoup a majority of the cost if you sold it.
Fewer gimmicks and more robustness please.
The positive thing I see about the Framework laptops currently lacking in any area is that given its modularity, Framework (or a third party) could release better speakers for it later on. After all, Framework did already release a second generation of speakers for the 13 that were better than the first gen.
It may not be a solution now, but it does potentially mean you donāt need a whole new laptop just for better speakers.
A lot of the quality of the parts also has to be countered by the fact that they had to find manufacturing partners who were willing to make these parts and are able/willing to continue making them so that they can be replaced if they break. Given that they seemingly expected lower volumes of orders, they probably werenāt able to negotiate for better pricing and were also being conscious about the cost of the laptop (given that many of itās modular features have already increased the cost). I would suspect future models and replacement parts could be of better quality if for no other reason than the slew of preorders has proven the market for this product exists and the volume of parts to be orders is likely to be quite high.
Iām also super psyched about the prospect of an aftermarket parts ecosystem though.
Yeah, you know, I donāt think upgradeability has to refer to just things referred to as modules. If you can unscrew and disconnect it, Iād call that upgradeable (provided an upgraded version physically fits). The speakers, the screen, and Iām sure much more are technically upgradeable but donāt get viewed as such because they arenāt advertised as neat, handy modules. As long as they eventually release better versions, of course.
All that to say there are very few issues that canāt be fixed later on, which is kind of the point. The beautiful, beautiful point.
The speaker quality being not great I think is a non-issue for most, since if you really care about audio fidelity, youāll have a set of nice cans on your head while using a laptop, or plug in to an audio system on the desk. If you need to understand what someone is saying in a video call, you just need something a little better in quality than a potato, in my opinion. How these speakers compare to a potato is subjective, but I think that for most users, having speakers that work at all is what is needed from a laptop.
Take it with a grain of salt, but my original first gen FW13 speakers do the job fine, and I donāt see the need to upgrade them even though I can now, but I do use a USB/BT DAC and balanced 4.4mm headphones as an alternative when I really want quality audio.
30 day money back.
I donāt knowā¦ people may not know what theyāre missing. Having laptop speakers good enough to listen to music enjoyably was something of a revelation for me, who finds headphones inconvenient, uncomfortable, or inaccessible, most of the time. (I love good headphones, but I havenāt been wearing them much lately.) Iāve got an original Framework too, and Iāll use the speakers, but always with a mild undercurrent of hatred.
Then again, most people are also blind to pixels, colors, and aspect ratios.
Iām hopeful that the framework 16 speakers can be improved with an EQ profile. The speakers on the 13 were awful in my opinion, but they were greatly improved with a simple EQ profile that I use easy effects on Linux to apply. Iām pretty sure thereās similar solutions for Windows as well. Iām not sure why framework doesnāt do this treatment in the smart amp, but it uses very little resources on the computer to have it running at all times, and it really improves the intelligibility of speech, and the balance of the mids and highs. The low end on the framework 13 is still pretty anemic, but the framework 16 has much more competent hardware, so Iām hopeful that an eq profile on that will go even farther.
The last couple of written reviews Iāve seen had some pretty encouraging things to say about the sound quality (if not the max volume). Iām not expecting anywhere near a MacBook or even Asus gaming laptop, but if theyāre closer to that than the (sorry! but letās be honest) disgraceful sound of the FW13, Iāll be stoked.
Same idea here.
Iāve bought a UMIK-1 (a calibrated measurement mic) which Iāve used with Dirac Live and REW to improve the audio quality of my desktop and my surround systems.
Since Iāve already got it, Iāll use it on my Framework 16 and translate the results to filters in either EasyEffects or CamillaDSP.
Of course thereās quite a lot of variables to account for. Mostly the immediate surroundings of the laptop, like is it on a flat/soft surface, on your lap or somehow suspend in the air (like on a small laptop mount). Also, each Framework 16 might sound a bit different, not sure how big that variance is though.
Iām a newbie with this calibration stuff though, so I donāt know how good and repeatable those results are. If they are any good Iāll make sure to publish them here and see if others like them as well.
Iām in batch 5, so donāt expect my post before April most likely.
True. Like this one here:
The 2W stereo speaker array is top quality, delivering a rich and mellifluous sound with plenty of bass. The speakers only registered a maximum volume output of 71dBA, which isnāt anything remarkable, but the system sounds much louder to the ear.
Source:
So Iām gonna test it by myself, before drawing any conclusions.
Iām more excited than when I saw the initial reveal on LTT.
I just bought a 13" AMD to get me through the backlog delay and Iāll give it to a relative who needs a new netbook-type laptop when my 16" finally shows up. Heās really hard on keyboards and now heāll be able to replace them easily.
Iām somewhat perturbed by some of the issues, like the screen flex, fan noise, heat, and poor palm rejection of the trackpad. But Iām sticking with my pre-order, for two reasons. Firstly none of the issues are a deal breaker when measured against the benefits I perceive from buying into the Framework system. Secondly I believe in the vision of this company, so I want them to succeed. Cancelling my order would not help them succeed.
Perhaps the FL16 wonāt be an immediate success; it may be a rocky path. The next model will probably be better. But Iām willing to take that journey with Framework. If things work out as I hope, Iāll be able to upgrade and repair this laptop over the next 5 - 10 years, and perhaps iron out the worst of the issues in the process.
@Igby Were did you hear bed stuff about the Palm Rejektion.
Im mostly worryed about the Keybord not being to my liking but i like the 13s so shuld be fineā¦
I am genuinely disappoint with limited SSD storage and just two sodimm slots. I was hoping framework 16 could be used as a powerful mobile workstation.
Hopefully the next iteration would include at least two 2280 m.2 slots, 4 so-dimms slots.