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

Chunmeista · July 27, 2021, 7:12am

Super basic, but a sunk-in version of the USB port. Just flip the laptop upside down to unplug a dongle.

Josh_Cook · July 27, 2021, 7:17am

@Barryn_Chun Maybe we could create something that puts it inside of the expansion card, there is circuitry inside of the expansion cards but from what I understand we do not exactly need that, we can just get the USB-C plug broken out to the USB 2.0 standard and attach a female USB A all enclosed so you would be able to have them in a sealed unit and not hanging out.

Joshua_Kyles · July 27, 2021, 7:56pm

It would be kinda cool to have an xqd card reader for an expansion card but I’d imagine the form factor would be too small. It would definitely set you all apart from any other laptop manufacturer.

Skyline1029 · July 27, 2021, 11:10pm

But even if It took up 2 slots and was a bit bigger than the laptop would be nice, wether that be adding length down the side for more capacity it would be worth the 2 port give up especially since USB-C passthrough would be easy to implement a single one from 2 but allows for the battery to be more secure.

dkter · July 27, 2021, 11:57pm

How about a port with a USB port as well as a barrel plug for charging? That would take up far less space, potentially allowing for a full USB (A or C) port in addition to charging if the space constraints work out

dkter · July 27, 2021, 11:59pm

How about a module with a USB port as well as a barrel plug for charging? That would take up far less space, potentially allowing for a full USB (A or C) port in addition to charging if the space constraints work out

Josh_Cook · July 28, 2021, 1:50am

@dkter I’m unsure with that as I would have to find a brick that would be the right voltage and I do not think they can be regulated unless there was a regulator which is tricky to fit, the circuitry takes up the whole depth of the board.

Josh_Cook · July 28, 2021, 3:03am

@Mansour_Behabadi As much as I would love to have firewire on a laptop I would have to convert thunderbolt 2 to 3/4 for the firewire adapter as they only support TB 2, as for magnetic chargers there is a risk as the magsafe chargers were tested a fair bit to make sure static would not kill the laptop, here is the thread on magnetic chargers. Magnetic usb-c Charching Adapter - #8 by aquaticDolphin

Frederic_La_Madelein · July 28, 2021, 3:12pm

Would it be possible to have a empty expansion card of just the mecanical rail with a open front face and a hole for a USB-C at the back so that we could make our own expansion card?

FaultedBeing · July 28, 2021, 3:20pm

They released a CAD model of just that exact thing! (Link to GitHub page)

ajp_anton · July 28, 2021, 4:55pm

Ideas for expansion cards (some probably already mentioned):

Dual USB-C thunderbolt. Won’t have full bandwidth when in use simultaneously, but when only used as USB, 40Gbits shared is plenty.
Internal USB-A port. The expansion card will be hollow, with the top (hidden) side able to open. Inside is a USB-A port for permanently connected dongles. Maybe even with another USB-A port on the outside.
Multi card reader, microSD and SD being the most important but whatever you can fit.
Charging ports. Able to charge using whatever proprietary charging ports different manufacturers have been using over the years. Very limited market, but would be cool.
HDMI input, for recording an external source or using the laptop as an HDMI display.
HDMI and Displayport combo. I don’t care if they have to be so close that they touch each other, I would be happy to just have the choice and use only one at a time.
NFC reader.

Elijah_Hackett · July 28, 2021, 7:38pm

I posted this in a security thread elsewhere - For a very basic theft deterrent, an expansion module with maybe a USB-C and a kensington lock combo would probably be enough to deter an opportunistic thief in a cafe or shared work space. Obviously they could flip the laptop over and release the module but even that would slow someone down and be conspicuous and that’s assuming they know the module can be removed. The casual observer who doesn’t know might just see the cable lock and move on. For a more complicated solution - a dock that uses the two rear expansion slots and locks together such that you can’t remove it without unlocking the two from each other. The bar underneath would provide a secure tether point, would lift the back up maybe .5in for wrist ergonomics and airflow and also provide a lot of real estate for ports on either side (where they’d normally be) and along the back (under the laptop facing towards the hinges). Another theft deterrent suitable for a cafe or shared work space would be an expansion module with a sensor on the bottom. Placing the laptop into some sort of secure mode would sound of some sort of full volume alarm if the laptop is ever removed from the surface it’s on while in secure mode.

Elijah_Hackett · July 28, 2021, 7:38pm

(post withdrawn by author, will be automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged)

Josh_Cook · July 28, 2021, 8:52pm

Everyone, only post the same topic ONCE in the whole community, because stuff gets confusing while looking through all the threads.

Skyline1029 · July 28, 2021, 9:30pm

But even if It took up 2 slots and was a bit bigger than the laptop would be nice, whether that be adding length down the side for more capacity it would be worth the 2 port give up especially since USB-C passthrough would be easy to implement a single one from 2 but allows for the battery to be more secure.

Skyline1029 · July 28, 2021, 9:34pm

eSATA card? Would fit the size requirements and allow for easy hard drive connection since the full SATA connector is too long to fit and would not give the card and the hard drive enough support for it to be secure for mobile and constant connection.

Nich_Trimble · July 28, 2021, 11:20pm

Had an idea that seems like it could be pretty useful: a Qi charging pad. This would be an oversized card, say double the depth of the current ones, so that you can place your phone/other Qi device next to the laptop to charge. Might be kind of niche because if you’re at your laptop anyway, why not just plug in via USB, but it could be useful.

Jacob_Padgett · July 28, 2021, 11:40pm

Not enough space, unfortunately.

I like it. Somebody could make a MagSafe-like expansion card, as LTT mentioned. Patents probably prevent Framework from doing anything like this themselves (though USB-C cables with a magnetic disconnect are available).

I wish it were doable. Inherent limitations and alternatives were discussed earlier:

Vincent_Jansen · July 29, 2021, 7:57am

although this would probably be a patent violation but turning the usb-c expansion card into a magsafe option would be awesome. These magsafe cables and connectors are sold via aliexpress shops. If a expansion card would be made that is fitted to house that connector but not add the connector (so you would need to fit that yourself) would that still be a patent violation?
I really don’t know.

Also, would 3d printing your own cards cases be allowed and possible?

The_Cyber_System · July 29, 2021, 8:45am

To add to the already long list of suggestions: 1/4" input would be fantastic for opening it up for professional audio, in my case for electric guitar and violin. Not sure how good the audio shielding would be, or even if the jack would fit since it’s a long internal connector, but if it fits, I sits!

I also wanted to +1 the Sim idea, but like eSim/ physical Sim/microSim/nanoSim (could possibly be a single card depending on the circuitry needed + antennae)
I did want to +1 the RFID (but perhaps someone might make a mod for the fingerprint reader that adds RFID functionality)
I wanted to +1 the RJ-45, so hopefully the compact folding connector fits (don’t know if 2.5, 5, or 10gig actually works in the compact format)
~ Jamie