Framework announced the Framework 13 Pro including full Linux support right from the beginning.
Some quick information about the Device:
- will use Intel Core Ultra 300 (Panther-Lake)
- updated Battery Design with (up to) 20h Battery life
- custom designed Display Panel with Touch support (keeping the 3:2 aspect ratio)
- LPCAMM2 for upgradable/replacable RAM without compromising on Speed/Low Power of LPDDR5X
- milled Aluminium Unibody chassis
- Full Linux support right from the start (including Firmware update via LVFS, Fingerprint Reader, etc.)
- Haptic Touchpad
- and all the repairability features Framework is known for
You can watch their YouTube Video for a quick summary:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnOpIQJnYWU
- Invidious: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?__goaway_challenge=js-refresh&__goaway_id=5a21ef489cbc0e9e48ccded2c92f2b68&__goaway_referer=https%3A%2F%2Finv.nadeko.net%2F&v=GnOpIQJnYWU
I was looking for a new laptop to replace my old Lenovo Yoga 370 and initially disregarded the Framework 13 because of some downsides (low Battery Life, bad Camera, etc.) and was looking to go with one of the following devices:
- HP Elitebook X g1a
- the new Dell XPS 14
- Asus Expertbook PM5 G2
or also a MacBook pro. I am using Linux since more then 10 years and never touched MacOS at all. So I was not sure if MacOS would work for me. But this announcement made it easy: It will be a Framework 13 Pro with Intel X7 358H!
Doesn’t change the fact that the new input cover is 200€, vs 100€ for the 2nd gen one and discounted 45€ for the 1st gen.
That’s about the same price as a MacBook Pro touchpad replacement. Just the touchpad.
Ouch. And I guess it’s slightly more involved than removing 5 screws and a connector…
In fairness, from MacBook Neo teardowns I’ve seen, it’s only slightly more involved. But then again, the Neo doesn’t have a haptic trackpad. For the Pro’s haptic trackpad, yeah, I would bet it’s a pretty huge pain to replace.
price has been the one thing keeping me away from framework and it looks like that’s not going to change anytime soon.
It’s slightly more expensive than a similarly-spec’d laptop from another company. It’s really not crazy.
i bought a laptop almost 9 months ago and the nemo brand offered a 32-gig, i7 equivalent amd, with a terrabyte harddrive for the same price as a 16gig, i5, 256 terrbyte drive for the same price; more than double in some respects.
Those nine months are a pretty consequential nine months for your point, though. How much would that laptop have cost today if released new? How much is repairability and build quality worth to you?