What new Expansion Card types do you want to see released?

Josh_Cook · August 5, 2021, 9:45pm

@Jacob You are in luck! I have ordered a few modules aswell as casing. The wireless chargers are coming from china though. They will be 10 watt.

Frosty · August 6, 2021, 1:43am

Very niche, but perhaps some “safety” USB-C and USB-A ports which are opto-isolated, to prevent sending 5V through data pins if accidentally [very] bad prototyping is done

jeshikat · August 6, 2021, 10:22am

That would be fantastic for use with data logging sensors that are sensitive to electrical noise, like thermocouples.

Paul_Krizak · August 6, 2021, 8:11pm

I’ve seen a number of requests for a docking station type expansion card, and I agree. Since it would be a docking station and thus portability/size isn’t necessarily a big deal, I think it would be just fine if it were designed in a “U” shape so that it slotted into two expansion bays while sticking out to the side of the laptop. That extra space could then be made “thicker” than the rest of the laptop, enabling larger ports like a robust RJ45 Ethernet port to be provided. Plugging into a pair of USB-C ports would deliver more power and more bandwidth – necessary for a good docked experience.

Galorbean_Sausage · August 6, 2021, 9:43pm

Wireless and or wired earbud expansion card

The wired ones would be, a expansion card as a case, the earbuds are connected to the usb c connector inside the bay, and the case has a spring loaded retractor. So, when we want to use the earbuds you would pull them out, and when you are done there is a small button on the bottom of the card to retract them.

Wireless ones would be similar, but this time we use the card as a charging case. The end of the card (The side that faces outward from the laptop) would have a cap that can be opened and closed, and inside is the earbuds where you can pull them out as needed.

I think this would be for a minimalist type person, where your desk is not crowded with so many things, this would erase one of those things. By having your earbuds sit inside the computer, your desk will look ever so slightly cleaner.

Simon_Pearson · August 6, 2021, 11:21pm

Niche, but a logic analyzer like (or collab with) Saleae Logic, where the analyzer becomes part of the laptop rather than a USB accessory.

Like so many others, form factor is likely a killer.

I would also be content with a USB dongle-like form factor for “double wide” expansion cards in order to increase the available PCB real estate.

ajp_anton · August 7, 2021, 1:32am

Apparently there exists a HDMI+Displayport combo connector.
http://www.rego.com.tw/product_detail.php?prdt_id=76
https://imgur.com/t/hdmi/0MIFd9y

Could this be used to save space? Or would this kind of connector break easily?

Jordan_Huitema · August 7, 2021, 11:51am

What about a recessed type-A suitable for wireless mouses?

Edward_Gray · August 7, 2021, 1:32pm

Having finally seen the size of the expansion cards, there may not be enough height to allow such a hidden design. It would be nice for the tiny usb-a flash drives as well.

Kimberlee_Model · August 7, 2021, 3:17pm

expansion card with a USB-C and a mouse-wheel/scroll-zone, or something so you can browse in bed.

edit: to be clear, the usb-c is just there because hopefully it also fits so that you still have the port. but it doesn’t need to be there.

gs1 · August 7, 2021, 5:55pm

A side-mounted scroll wheel card is a cool idea, never would have thought of that!

Ecca · August 8, 2021, 4:20am

@McEistee For SDR, the Nooelec Nano 3 can be disassembled and fits within the enclosure size limits when the USB A pads are soldered to USB C. May need a small heatsink sticking out of the side or bottom (unless the heat can disperse through the expansion card rails into the laptop frame).

Frosty · August 8, 2021, 12:59pm

To expand on this, making the wheel programmable (or even two distinct ones on a single card) would be great. I know I would absolutely use a volume wheel too.

Sxm_63 · August 9, 2021, 11:10am

That is plain brilliant. Would be awesome if it’s a physical wheel with “clicks” for fine tuning in various apps.

Ian_Darwin · August 9, 2021, 6:26pm

So, tell them anyway. We as a community need to do all we can to promote this product (realistically, of course). Even if people can’t use it today, they will be able to later, if and only iff they are made aware of it. So please, spread the word!

Ian_Darwin · August 9, 2021, 6:28pm

P.S. @nrp Really hope the gig Ethernet (and the marketplace opening) comes along soon after the August shipping mad rush

Colin_Williams · August 9, 2021, 10:04pm

Big +1 to the full size SD card reader. I’m hesitating getting the laptop right now, and knowing I could get a full size SD card reader would have sealed the deal. As-is I don’t know how long I could be waiting until the adapter is released. 6 months is no big deal. 3 years is a problem.

Would love to be enlightened as to why micro SD was chosen first. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a micro SD card but, as far as I’m aware, full size SD is still the standard in photography (and why I’m wanting it). Are photographers now using micro SD more frequently? Is there some other super common use case for micro SD?

Robbie_S · August 9, 2021, 11:19pm

@Colin_Williams I’m also excited to see a full sd slot because I think it’s more versatile, but contra your experience I can’t remember the last time I saw a full-sized sd card. Microsd has enough capacity for most use cases (mostly 3d printers in my case), and even most of the photography hobbyists I know put a microsd to full-size adapter in their camera because micro is easier to connect to their laptop.

Colin_Williams · August 9, 2021, 11:38pm

Fair point about using an adapter in the camera. I guess I naturally lean away from that since it’s introducing a possible point of failure. But now that you mention it, the dash cam I recently purchased does take a MicroSD card. Didn’t realize it as it hasn’t been installed yet (waiting on the vehicle it will be installed in to arrive).

For $30 I might just pick up a MicroSD card and adapter for my camera and go ahead with the Framework laptop.

njf · August 10, 2021, 11:07am

I know the concept of the laptop is to minimize dongles but is something like this really a dongle? It is small and, in my experience, very fast. They also make a version with both USB-C and USB-A. I haven’t even bothered to order a microSD expansion card because I prefer to use this when needed. I suppose someone, like a photographer, might need constant access to a card reader but I think it would be sad if anyone saw its lack as a dealbreaker.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to create one but didn’t I see somewhere that Framework said that it cannot be done in the size of a standard expansion card?