Replacing original keyboard with screen

Framework Laptop 13
#1

I have my own preferred 34-key keyboard layout. Is there a way to take the screen and put it where the keyboard currently is? This way I can use the laptop as a tablet (without the touch, of course) and not waste desk space occupied by the unused keyboard.

The rationale for this is a compromise between using my own ergo tiny keyboard and the physical reality of this laptop. Building a preferred keyboard directly into it seems very difficult. There is this project where they successfully hacked a Thinkpad, but I think the clearance for that project was much higher than ours. See this discussion for more details.

I imagine hardware-wise this won’t be super challenging, since the screen only needs some connectors from the board; it should still work if we place it where the keyboard was. But making a good connection between the base and the screen might be challenging?

What are your thoughts? Is there something I missed? Are there any potential pitfalls?

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#2

You would have to machine your own top cover, or figure out some way to attach a panel to the bottom cover. Technically I think its pretty feasible, as long as you don’t mind it being really jank.

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#3

Not sure this would be doable since you’d need an additional display connector internally on the system, at least if I’m understanding your use case right.

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#4

The socket on the motherboard is a standard 40-pin eDP to my knowledge, so in lieu of the touchpad cable, you’d have the display’s cable connecting to the new ‘display cover’. I think they’re talking about removing the top screen, and instead having one on the bottom chassis.

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