18 Months with a Framework 13
18 Months with a Framework 13
I've been using a Framework 13 laptop as my main/only computer for a little over 18 months now.
This is essentially a very personal review. I've broken it down into a summary of My Framework, a short Laptop Autobiography, then The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Rest. If you're impatient then skip to the end with the Bottom Line.
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Where I'm critical of Framework in this post it's not because I want them to fail. They're a hardware startup that's proven their ability to ship good products, and I know how crushingly tough that is. I'm hopeful that they'll continue to grow into a mature hardware company with a strong maintenance track record, and demonstrated mature in-house development processes. I hope in a few years to write a follow-up post with even more "Good" points and barely a concern.
In the meantime, I'd encourage almost everyone to consider a Framework for their next laptop - but first read up on whatever features matter most for you.
Thanks muchly, I appreciate the long term view so much more, media gives us a week or so then the cycle is over (and from a fellow Oz linux dev pundit, also I speak from a T580, upgrade your desktop..., so there's that as well). It seems like my next laptop (but likely an AMD 16, I'm in no hurry, but the potential for a 8xOculink for LLM is highly attractive, have you been keeping an eye on that, local is king..., )
I really should do another review. I've had my Framework for about the same time. Most of the time it is hooked up to my dock and a 4 port KVM. My biggest annoyance is that switching back to my Framework on the KVM it often doesn't wake up or properly display. My work computers running Windows rarely have that issue and my Linux desktop never does. (I run Linux on the Framework.) I suspect that there is a setting I need to adjust for diving to keep it from going into hibernation, but I haven't put that much effort into it yet.
When not docked, my biggest issue is the touchpad. I think some form of dirt got into it and the clicking doesn't always register. But I'm too lazy to fix.
And if I watch videos it gets pretty hot. Again, there are probably things I could do to fix that.
So, really the laptop is great, I'm just a shitty owner/user.
My hinges are not the floppy ones.