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The new and upgraded Framework Laptop

(community.frame.work)
1680 points etbusch | 2 comments | 19 May 22 12:19 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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sryie ◴[19 May 22 14:02 UTC] No.31434782[source]▶
I recently received my first framework laptop after being a loyal Thinkpad user for years. I am loving it so far. I run Ubuntu 22.04 daily and have not had any issues with battery life or the lid (but I do typically leave it plugged in during lunch and overnight). The expansion cards are brilliant and the keyboard is comparable to my old t-series. The aspect ratio is great for coding and I'm happy to see upgradeability is being taken seriously as promised. If I can get 5-10 years out of it like my old ThinkPads (all while upgrading piecewise along the way) I will be a fan for life.
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Goronmon ◴[19 May 22 14:10 UTC] No.31434877[source]▶
I recently received my first framework laptop after being a loyal Thinkpad user for years.

I get excited about different laptops occasionally...and then I remember that I won't have a trackpoint if I switch to a different brand, and I get disappointed. Literally happens every few months.

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pedrocr ◴[19 May 22 14:48 UTC] No.31435374[source]▶
Yep, same here. And with increasing urgency as Thinkpad quality control seems to have fallen off a cliff. Framework seems uniquely positioned to fix this though. Someone just needs to do a compatible top cover that takes Thinkpad keyboards. I'd take a stupid one without touchpad at all as I just disable it anyway. That shouldn't be too hard, it's mostly getting the plastic right and adapting the connector to the motherboard.
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csdvrx ◴[19 May 22 16:25 UTC] No.31436698[source]▶
> Yep, same here. And with increasing urgency as Thinkpad quality control seems to have fallen off a cliff.

Not really, they are among the rare laptops to still offer S3 for Linux.

And the X1 Fold is a technical marvel (working on Linux support right now, if I'm successful it may become my next toy device to try to use Linux on as a daily driver)

> Framework seems uniquely positioned to fix this though. Someone just needs to do a compatible top cover that takes Thinkpad keyboards.

This. I will buy one as soon as they make a thinkpad like keyboard [+] or the possibly to disassemble and mount a genuine Thinkpad keyboard.

+ : A keyboard qualifies as a "thinkpad keyboard" if has all of the following:

- PageUp above Left, PageDown above Right: to me, that's the most important thing ever!

- PrintScreen between right Alt and right Ctrl: very important too

- Delete above Backspace

- A trackpoint between the {G,H,B} keys with 3 buttons below the Spacebar: I'm not a trackpoint fanatic but I appreciate the precision it offers when I need it, and badly felt its absence when I tried a macbook (no, can't do!)

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josephcsible ◴[21 May 22 06:39 UTC] No.31455784{3}[source]▶
All of your attributes of a "thinkpad keyboard" are downsides that would make me less likely to buy it. Keyboards should be as close to 104-key ANSI as possible.
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1. csdvrx ◴[21 May 22 16:56 UTC] No.31459542{4}[source]▶
> Keyboards should be as close to 104-key ANSI as possible.

Yes, bring on the numpad on a laptop... not!

Form determines function: ANSI 104 had its time, when we were using desktops!

Now except for gaming and CPAs, numpads have outlived their usefulness.

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2. josephcsible ◴[21 May 22 17:04 UTC] No.31459645[source]▶
I don't mean a laptop has to have all 104 keys. I mean the subset they do have should be arranged the same way that they are on ANSI 104. E.g., I want a laptop with keys up to 80% at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ANSI_Keyboard_Layout...