How about bios for the 12 gen hardware that’s over due by almost a year and a half sense it was announced publicly.
3 Likes
A lot of other people have stated this, but please, please, please build out your ecosystem more before tackling any major new products (AIO, tablet, printer, etc.). A much more mature ecosystem around the laptops with things such as more first part expansion cards, partnerships with other companies (Fairphone?), and just generally more options around your laptops like OLED displays and touchscreen options (yes I’m aware of the cable issues).
5 Likes
I did. However, he is using all external components (such as a USB/HDMI attached touchscreen, among other things). While he did an admirable job with the battery, it is more or less a one-off.
I have suggested using the on-board eDP connector for a better direct connection, but sourcing the panels is not going to be the easiest.
Because I am in a position where I need to have … hm.
I dailied a Inspirion 3511 with a USB attached Wacom tablet, but it is a absolute clunker to actually work with, my neck is always somewhat twisted, and there is no way to use the pen in a realistic environment like in a work setting. I have to sit at my table and lay everything out.
This is why I literally daily a Thinkpad X230T from over 10 years ago, and I do not regret it.
And speaking of Tablets, yes, Lenovo built a 1.3 inch (or over 2 inches, if you dock it) thick tablet that, I don’t mind carrying around. With expansion you have no idea of, including a SATA 2.5 inch, a mSATA slot, and Expresscard, or full VGA/DisplayPort. It weighs 2 kilos (without the dock, with big battery), and somehow that’s lighter than my plastic-frame Dell.
I don’t know about $2K (about retail price for X230T, or most 2 in 1), but I will definitely consider that over any surface.
Didn’t see the Twitter thread, but just to return to the idea of repairable toasters, this seems like an idea that you could take and run with:
1 Like
I dont know if. this has been brought up - but cellphones.
a few years ago Motorola teased Project Ara that would modularize the cellphone and make components user replaceable. Then google bought the company, stripped that patent, and sold the rest of the company off.
I honestly think we need Cellphones that are upgradable. the amount of ewaste phones i have at my work office is stupid.
6 Likes
Framework approved filament/resin/paint. As in color match approved by Framework for DIY builds of expansion cards and bays, etc. Would be nice to have filament and/or paint colors matched for 3D printers and makers. Not necessarily made by Framework though. Could be a partnership with an external company.
9 Likes
These are all ones I would actively be interested in purchasing:
Printer.
Coffee machine.
Smoothie maker.
Washing machine & dryer. In fact, my university is actively looking for a new vendor for 8 years down the line. Current machines do NOT fully cater to what university students and university staff are looking for.
Touchscreen.
EGPU.
Headset.
Mouse.
Smart watch.
Router.
3 Likes
I fully agree! Modular printers with huge ink tanks and open source software. That would be a fever dream of every person who ever interacted with printers these days.
2 Likes
I would say Prusa, but then you do have to put things together, even though it’s not a ramshackle mess of aluminum extrusions.
Repairable toasters already exist. White Dualit | 3 Slice Vario Toaster | Classic Toaster | ...
We have one. Changed the elements and the timer control. Just need a screwdriver. I expect to hand it down.
4 Likes
Thinkpad upgrade kits. I am loth to part with my X230, despite my nice new FW13. I’m sure there’s room in that case for a FW motherboard. Just need a screen solution and a way to connect the Thinkpad keyboard and touchpad. A bit of bodging required to bring out the HDMI to the exterior.
5 Likes
It would be awesome if Framework were to tackle trackpad feel to get it to the same level as Apple. After using the Magic Trackpad in Linux, it’s clear that the gap is completely addressable via software. It could be a great differentiator between Framework laptops and other competitors if Framework had best-in-class trackpads.
FOSS Consumer Motherboard, that works with Coreboot and actually offers modern processor support.
5 Likes
A ruggedized chassis for work environments. could be a corporate offering that you just slap the mobo into. Concept similar to toughbooks.
3 Likes
I was just thinking, mice seem like a product that creates a lot of E-waste as people throw them out when problems arise. A framework mouse would be sort of cool. If it had replaceable parts, it’d be pretty cool to have a mouse and never need to replace it again.
5 Likes
The switches are what kills mice. All switches have a limited life. There is just no avoiding wear with tiny moving mechanical components.
One brand has replaceable switches using plug in sockets. Unfortunately, they acquired a patent on it. As if plugging a pin into a socket hasn’t been done before. And as if mice modders haven’t been doing it long before them. But the patent office will approve anyone who submits.
But Framework could put the switches on tiny daughterboard carriers. I really hope they do make a mouse because we do need more options for open mice. Ploopyco is the only one I know of. Open source QMK firmware, open hardware, open 3D printable body.
7 Likes
Probably it already has been mentioned here already, but I would suggest to build a TV.
Why?
First, a lot of users in technical sector I know would love to see a very dumb TV without any of these smart features as they use “their” fire tv stick, Chromecast or whatever anyway. I assume that there are many people that would be happy with this. So best here would be to have a software that just does at least as possible, making the tv basically a big screen. In other words: Software could be relatively simple.
Second, you could use the modules from the Laptops to extend your TV. Need 5 HDMI ports for Xbox, Playstation, Switch, Pc and Dvd player? You get it. Need another Displayport? There you go. There would be enough physical space for those slots.
Third you could build in mainboards with the same form factor as for the FW laptops. The idea would be to have an old, cheap CPU for the basic system as default. But if somebody wants, he could just transform his TV in a standalone pc by upgrading the mainboard. You could maybe also have the option to plug in a storage card and boot any system you want. If you then would add the option to plug in a GPU like it is done in fw16 you would get a Steam machine in your living room - for those who want. For those who dont it is just a simple connector for consoles and Tv sticks.
6 Likes
I’m gonna go against the grain here and say you shouldn’t build some giant new product. Framework doesn’t need to become some giant corporation trying to be involved in every single type of technology. I’d like to see Framework focus on being a really good laptop company.
I’d like to see more modules (expansion cards, expansion bay modules, input modules, etc) as well as laptop accessories like docking stations (it’d be cool to have a docking station that uses Framework’s expansion cards).
In terms of expansion cards I’d like to see some dual port expansion cards such as dual USB-C (with charging and/or display support, ideally at the same spacing as on MacBooks in order to be compatible with some of those accessories) as well as other dual port combinations like headphone jack + USB-A. It would also be nice to see an ethernet jack that doesn’t extend past the width of the laptop (either some complex mechanism or maybe a thicker than normal card that the laptop would rest on like a foot, likely requiring another thicker card on the opposite side for symmetry).
In terms of expansion bay modules I’d like to see a wider selection of GPUs plus other interesting modules. Personally I would be interested in a Raspberry Pi CM4/CM4 module, which could act like a whole second computer (ideally with some quick toggle to route the keyboard/trackpad to the Pi and the PI’s display output back to the main display).
In terms of input modules I would be interested in some kind of display input module (either a small E-ink like has already been shown off or a larger full colorful display like either a double height medium input module or possibly even a setup like the ZenBook Pro Duo).
4 Likes
I totally agree! I would love to have a “dumb” TV. Smart TVs, and IoT in general, tend to not have very good security so one less security hole the better. I also like the idea of being able to upgrade a TV when new technology comes out without completely replacing the TV. (Might mean more TV upgrades for me rather than a TV that’s like 10 years old.)
6 Likes