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Framework Laptop 16

(frame.work)
465 points susanthenerd | 2 comments | 26 Aug 25 15:12 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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vzaliva ◴[26 Aug 25 15:51 UTC] No.45028241[source]▶
The idea of Framework laptops sounds great! But I’m wondering: has anyone done an economic analysis comparing buying a Framework laptop a few years ago and gradually upgrading it, versus buying a similar popular brand laptop and just upgrading by getting a new model? I’m not trolling, I’m genuinely considering Framework as my next laptop.
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simpaticoder ◴[26 Aug 25 16:00 UTC] No.45028370[source]▶
I have a 1st gen Framework 13, Intel 11th gen CPU, running Ubuntu 24. It had a faulty design around the BIOS battery on the motherboard that I had to fix, and do some soldering on[1]. It's remarkable because they didn't say "Send the laptop in and we'll fix the design defect" they said, "First take a photo of the inside of the laptop to verify the serial number, then place an order, then do the repair yourself." This left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Additionally, and non-trivially, the laptop's battery life is not good, and it drains very quickly on suspend. I have taken to leaving it plugged in when not in use. This may be a Linux issue, but still.

I agree with you: the idea is a good one, but my experience with the company has been not good.

1 - https://guides.frame.work/Guide/RTC+Battery+Substitution+on+...

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kibwen ◴[26 Aug 25 16:16 UTC] No.45028603[source]▶
> then do the repair yourself

This is awesome though, and exactly the sort of thing one buys a Framework for.

> the laptop's battery life is not good

Mine is great, I share a single USB-C cord among all my laptops (of which I have despairingly too many) and I often use my Framework all day while forgetting it's not plugged in. (Fedora, if the OS matters.)

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bevr1337 ◴[26 Aug 25 16:35 UTC] No.45028910[source]▶
I'm going to assume soldering on the main board is far outside the ability of most users. They're not through hole, big green boards like I learned on.

It is certainly awesome for those that can, of course!

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simpaticoder ◴[26 Aug 25 17:00 UTC] No.45029272{3}[source]▶
It does not make sense to praise a company for selling defective products because some of the customers have the ability to repair the defect.
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yellowapple ◴[27 Aug 25 00:23 UTC] No.45033997{4}[source]▶
It's a massive step up from the status quo of companies selling defective products without customers having the ability to repair the defect.
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1. simpaticoder ◴[27 Aug 25 13:11 UTC] No.45039205{5}[source]▶
Well then, you live in the best of worlds because every laptop is repairable even at the chip level or individual capacitor/resistor/connector level. All you need is a workshop, a multimeter, oscilloscope, probes, a hot air gun, a microscope, a variety of soldering tools, a variety of solder, solder mask, access to schematics and donor boards, and a lifetime of experience. Here's a guy who repairs Dell laptops all day every day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDsP1--ttQc
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2. yellowapple ◴[29 Aug 25 16:17 UTC] No.45066025[source]▶
That's all a massive step beyond "order a free part from the vendor with instructions on how to solder it on yourself".