The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room
The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room
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The Framework Desktop and Linux have shown me the path to PC gaming in the living room
I don't understand why anyone would buy this when you can build a PC that's 2-3x as capable for the same price, that's actually repairable and upgradable.
Likely to support those ideas and signal that there is money in it. I'm not big on "letting the market figure it out", but there is logic in voting with your wallet.
I bought a System 76 for similar reason five years back. The price was comparable to a XPS, came with coreboot, and disabled Intel ME.
What ideas? The whole idea is that they're repairable/upgradable. The went into a market where those things already existed and stripped them away. Why?
That combo was interesting enough to me to order one to mess around with. I could build a more powerful (but probably more energy hungry...) computer in a traditional desktop form factor. I don't think I could build a better SFF computer myself though, and I'm really curious to see just how far I can push the integrated GPU in this thing...
Comparing to just building a desktop, I don't think you can easily build one that isn't officially supported on linux...?
The unified memory is the only part of this machine that can't be had for way cheaper with a custom build, and it's interesting only for super niche reasons anyway.
You can build a pc with a minisforum BD795i SE (also an integrated CPU, but not LPDDR RAM, its a standard desktop mobo but small, itx, and you can't remove the 7945hx CPU)) and an AMD 9070, for under $1500, (thats including everything in the pc) and that'll do basically everything you could possibly want at 1440p.
I have a wish list on newegg that is just barely above $1500 (at least pretax), including also a decently good 32", curved 1440p monitor.
These kinds of uh, high grade laptop cpu but on an other wise standard, but small pc mobo, that can be the size of a large lunch box... these are pretty common in China, but fairly few in the West seem to have caught on.
PC part picker still doesnt even list these mobos in the right way, you can't plan a build with them, because wtf its a mobo and a cpu at the ssme time? That breaks how our website works!
Except for the small form factor I bought a second hand PC with those specs for £300. I think the only reasons to buy it are you really want small form factor, or you want to play with local AI and don't want to use a Mac (which is still better value for money on that front).
Not to downplay the small form factor - I do think that is cool. Just... Not £1k cool.
Framework is a scam. Components you are likely to actually change out are just as upgradeable/replaceable as any other laptop with non-soldered components (keyboard, drives, memory, battery, wireless adapters, screen). In order to upgrade a part like CPU, you still have to replace the whole motherboard and pay a premium close to the cost of a laptop, anyway. At that point, what is the value of holding onto a likely-several-years-old case and screen that have probably suffered wear and tear...? It doesn't really make any sense...
You nailed it for the desktop. The only reason why someone should buy one is because they specifically want this AMD APU for unified memory that comes in it
Bring on the downvotes by fanboys coping with buyers' remorse
Which other laptop let's you swap out the main board? Or the mobile GPU? Which other brand open sources their designs, schematics and repair manuals? Which other brand let's you pick and choose your storage, ram, display, keyboard, etc. (or none at all), all at market value? Nah. Framework laptops are great (albeit way too expensive).
I think the desktop was a chance to capitalize on AI nonsense for profit. When it came to the RAM they were like "well we really tried to make it repairable but AMD said they couldn't do it but oh well we just shipped it anyway 🤷"
I dunno, I have a Framework laptop and had a keyboard issue with it. It still worked, but one of the keys didn’t register well. So they sent me a new keyboard and I sent them back the old one after I’d swapped it. Not a single day was I without my laptop, which sounds quite unlikely compared to other laptop brands and the support you get (or not) with those. No buyer’s remorse here.