for the sake of simplicity I would see this as being a module that wouldn’t need the locking mechanism of the “conventional” expansion cards. that way removal would be as simple as pulling it off without having to flip the laptop over.
Numpad should be configurable to act as more than a numpad (think macros)
maybe expansion slot. otherwise I would be fine with fixed ports like 2 USB A (or 1 USB A and 1 MicroSD) and an HDMI. really lean in to the office dock/productivity idea.
EDIT I just had to double check pictures since I don’t have mine yet (Batch 4 cannot come soon enough) but I think this “dock” should be right side only so it wouldn’t cover the only non-changeable port, the headphone jack (sorry crazy left hand numpad people!).
Ooh to get extra fancy, it can have a screen under transparent buttons… though that would make it too expensive. Maybe just keys you can popoff? So it defaults to a numpad, but you can fully customize what it does, inclduing how it looks? I mean, you can already customize what a numpad does with AutoHotKey so I don’t know if it’s worth it to build in more customization than that.
I have a feeling Corsair (Elgato) wouldn’t like this… they’ve sued BIG names like Valve for copyright infringement (something about the Steam Controller idk).
Ethernet will work if you go back to a folded RJ45 connector where the latch part is a spring close to hold it, removing the size problem since the importance is the pin connection.
Like below.
The “double-ender”. A double-ended expansion card intended to join two framework laptops at the hip.
It would have different modes:
Hardware KVM switch mode. Whichever laptop is “active” gets control of all peripherals of the other including screen, keyboard, other expansion cards, etc. so you can use it to get dual displays.
Software KVM switch mode (think synergy). Mouse can be moved from one screen to the other, files copied across, etc. but each laptop still controls its own hardware.
P2P mode. Simply networks the two laptops together.
You could also have a variation where they’re connected by a flexible cable rather than fixed in place to allow the two laptops to be used independently (gameboy link cable…).
Bumping for an optically isolated USB port. Piece of mind for those fiddling with breadboards, Arduino, and the like. Personally I haven’t fried a machine, but a friend in undergrad managed it. However, this is stupidly niche, but given the DIY aspects of Framework there is probably a fair intersection of those two groups to justify an attempt at it.
Yeah, opto-isolated ports would not be used for your extremely intensive data tasks. I was thinking of it as an extra layer of security for prototyping, hooking up to TCs, home built sensors, or what have you, while supporting USB-C PD as a wishlist item so you still have a good charging option
I was actually doodling with this tonight, figuring out if a Seeedstudio XIAO with a USB C M/M adapter would fit inside one of the cases.
I’m thinking that the custom case would stick out about 10mm (due to the USB adapter), and would fit some DuPont breadboard connectors in there for I/O.
I’m thinking a dock with 2 parts that use all 4 ports, increasing the height and increasing the number of expansion ports… Perhaps it can also have a metal frame that bolts on so you can mount the laptop (like the laptops in police cars or on industrial equipment.)
Alas, from other posts I’ve seen re: people wanting HDMI in, I’m almost certain this is electrically impossible, or at least wildly infeasible. You’d basically need custom software running on the laptops and the connector would have to contain one or more video capture devices. At the very least, it’s not going to fit in something the size of 1-2 expansion cards, nor will it be particularly easy to use.
+1 for an embedded Software Defined Radio with an SMA antenna jack.
And gigabit Ethernet, of course.
A microcontroller with DuPont compatible pins is also a great idea. I don’t use microcontrollers often, but when I have an active project it’d be nice to have that built in.
Oh, and a second wifi card with good driver support for pen testing.
It might be cool to see some sort of tracking device, like a Tile or preferably something open-source. Just a little module you can ping in the unlikely event you lose your precious Framework.
