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Framework Laptop 16

(frame.work)
465 points susanthenerd | 2 comments | 26 Aug 25 15:12 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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bodge5000 ◴[26 Aug 25 16:12 UTC] No.45028546[source]▶
I'm glad the AMD GPU option still exists, I don't have great experience with NVIDIA on Linux. The rest of the upgrades, like the new top cover and keyboard, are very welcome
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jvanderbot ◴[26 Aug 25 16:37 UTC] No.45028941[source]▶
It'd be nice if I could upgrade my old Framework into this spec. Infinitely upgradeable is nice on a per product line basis. But new product lines still lead to obsolescence and in this case regret.
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chpatrick ◴[26 Aug 25 16:50 UTC] No.45029123[source]▶
You can upgrade your old Framework 16 to this. Framework 13 wouldn't work anyway because it's a different chassis.
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jvanderbot ◴[26 Aug 25 18:28 UTC] No.45030397[source]▶
That's exactly my point. When I bought the 13 I figured there would be these kinds of upgrades down the road. You're right to say that was stupid and it was. And next there will be the framework 17, a 16 that's not backwards compatible or something?
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ffsm8 ◴[26 Aug 25 20:34 UTC] No.45031992[source]▶
As framework doesn't produce their own hardware, they're also forced to live with the reality that generations are also bound by the whims of the producers.

E.g sockets and chipsets change and will force incompatible changes, no matter how much framework would like to keep things stable.

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1. kelnos ◴[26 Aug 25 21:59 UTC] No.45032870[source]▶
Not sure what you mean by "produce". Nearly no PC/laptop brand actually manufactures their own hardware.

Framework does work with ODMs (Compal, I believe, is their main one?) to design mainboards for their chassis, which are designed specifically for Framework. It's not like they just take an off-the-shelf design and build it without any modifications.

And yes, chipsets change. (A "socket" changing isn't really a thing when we're talking about a laptop where the CPU/SoC is soldered in.) Generally this isn't a problem, though: as long as you can design something that physically fits in the chassis and supports the features you want, you're fine.

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2. ffsm8 ◴[27 Aug 25 04:55 UTC] No.45035597[source]▶
The socket still has a significant impact, even if the CPU is soldered on. It puts constraints on where things can be.

I believe the framework CEO himself mentioned in an interview how the chipset and socket are kinda at the core of designing the whole laptop, because it necessitates the placement of the cooling and all other components. I sadly didn't bookmark that YouTube video, so I cannot provide a link however

And fwiw, Apple is the only company that could make their laptops fully compatible and upgradeable, because they've got the relevant stack under their own control. Sadly, they're not interested in reducing ewaste, as that would mean less profit for them