I am and have always been a happy user of medium screen laptops (FW 13, before 14 inch and below, also UMPCs) therefore Framework 12/13 prices which fit my preference are quite OK for me (given that there are also many offers regarding 13), but some of my friends (for some reason) think anything below 16 inch is small therefore would only buy FW 16 and they think its too expensive compared to other 16 inch laptops in the market.
So what can be done about that? Some people love big screens for some reason and for them FW16 is too expensive. They even like the philosophy, I fully convinced them regarding open hardware but they keep saying that they can just buy a workstation with more power with that price tag and that they are also customizable even if bulkier. I know this discussion is done million times and Framework team is well aware of the situation but its still a persistent barrier for many to hop in. Maybe a cheaper, less feature-rich âsimplifiedâ version of FW16 can be done so those big screen lovers are satisfied. Is it possible?
Framework is currently unable to compete in the bang-for-buck space. Unfortunately, this prices a lot of people out, probably the majority of people. This includes some people close to me who are interested in a Framework.
I think the closest youâll get for now is their âoutletâ storefront, where they have sold refurbished, factory seconds/blemished hardware. The mindset around that storefront though is reducing waste, and so stock comes and goes as manufacturing and products move through their lifecycle. If someone wants a new Framework on a budget, checking that every couple months to see if the production line had a âbad-batchâ is probably the best way to do it.
Note that since you asked the community, Iâm answering from a community memberâs perspective in terms of what we can do. Iâve never found much utility in future product speculation.
Niche products are expensive, because R&D gets spread out between less units. Framework is a niche, FW16 is a niche within that niche. A cheaper FW16 is a niche within a niche within a niche. Niches are expensive. Therefore a cheap FW16 is expensive. There is just no way around that. If you need a price for performance laptop, Framework is just not the brand to go to.
I agree, and the very fact that its kinda open hardware alone makes it appealing. I convince people to buy FW12/13 thanks to that reason, but some of those who are stubborn on 16 inch simply canât afford FW16 even if they are fully on board with niche because it is literally more than the bank account of some of them. For that reason I wonder if a âshrinkedâ 16 inch FW ever possible. Like a FW with common FW13 (heck, FW12 if it costs less) motherboard with port extenders and a 16 inch screen. Some people are really, really stubborn when it comes to screen size even if they are broke, and that stops them from buying it even if they genuinely love the niche with a budget.
If itâs the eco-impact aspect of Framework that people are on-board with, then Iâd also suggest they look at reducing e-waste by picking up a used gaming laptop from somewhere like eBay. Before my framework I had a used Razer Blade 15 that served me very well.
I mean laptop workstation. They say laptop workstations cost less performance wise and still upgradable. Ofc those are not open hardware at all, there is that.
You canât upgrade the mainboard and GPU board on any of those. You canât customize the ports. And depending on the model, you canât change the battery when it goes bad without hassle.
Oh, and you canât customize your input deck or add the cool led matrix modules.
Honestly, if they donât care about any of the above, then a Framework isnât for them.
2OK this is perfect response. Actually yes, the whole expansion card + bay ideas are solely enough reasons to support Framework. This is the only laptop that has that much customization. Not even MNT Reform that markets towards full blown open hardware hackaers is that customizable in practice.
But as I said, for some the sole problem is the price tag of FW16 and the stubborness to not buy a FW12/13 instead because âmeh, small screenâ.
Has seamlessly detachable controllers like the switch
Has a seamless docked â> handheld experience (like the switch, not like the steam deck)
Has at least 32GB of ram
USB-4 support (e.g., supports eGPUâs)
Is no more than $700
Fits in my (large) pockets.
Unfortunately, this doesnât exist. I could knock a several items off this list and there still wouldnât be a product that fits the bill. Fact is, if you want something thatâs exactly what youâre looking for, youâll generally have to make it yourself. The more stipulations and criteria you add, the shorter the list of options becomes. I donât doubt that Framework is being as cost competitive as they can, they need product to move just like any company. They donât have the luxury of standing behind a walled garden ecosystem and arbitrarily raising prices knowing people will pay it.
Well, I guess then all they could do is to monitor Frameworkâs Community Market to score a bargain second hand FW16 by chance. I wish them good luck!
I invested 5 times the max amount I had invested in a new laptop so far into my Framework 16, quite a big part of it to support the sole company offering a repairable, upgradeable laptop.
And being a first gen product, I already had quite a few parts of it get replaced under warranty, something unthinkable for non-repairable laptops (The Screen, Keyboard, Numpad and Mainboard). Thatâs all costs, Framework has to include into their calculations, even more so for their first few generations of a new product. If you buy directly from Framework, they are required by law to provide at least a given warranty period. Thatâs 2 years in germany and just one in the US, and that also impacts the purchase price differently for both countries.
Furthermore, no other laptop vendor offers this level of customization and allows you to order it without any RAM, SSD or even OS, but that all comes at a costâŚ
