My Framework Laptop After a Week

I’ve been trying to decide on a new laptop for several years now.

Yes years. Seriously. I think about big decisions for a looong time. And a computer is the source of almost everything I do, so it’s a big decision for me.

My Macbook Pro is getting increasingly frustrating to use, and I am determined to never buy another Apple product. So I shopped around… a lot.

I had never considered a non-Apple computer before. I was so bought into their ecosystem, nothing else would do. I was woefully uneducated when it came to other computer companies.

I’m also not a fan of Microsoft, for many of the same reasons that convinced me to leave Apple. No privacy, anti-competitive megalomaniacal billionaires, etcetera, etcetera, you’ve heard it all before. At this point both mega corporations seem like two sides of the same coin.

So software wise, that leaves one option, and an option that I have wholeheartedly embraced the last couple of years: Linux.

But who makes Linux computers? I was under the impression that this was a niche thing, and it would be hard to find a good manufacturer for Linux machines.

But boy was I wrong!

System76 #

Frequent visitors to my Uses page will note that this isn’t my first Linux computer.

And you’re right: four years ago (geez has it really been that long??) I bought a desktop from System76, called the Thelio.

Honestly, looking back, I think I probably bought the Thelio almost exclusively because of the gorgeous walnut enclosure. I had never seen wood used in a computer before, and I loved it. Sure I’m a software guy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good looking piece of hardware.

Fortunately for me, the Thelio isn’t just a pretty face.

I have nothing but good things to say about System76. I have had a lovely experience with their support, and the computer is great.

System76 was one of the first companies I found that supports the users of their laptops when it comes to repairing them. They design their hardware for easier access, and give you full instructions on swapping out major components. And if you mess something up, they will help you fix it.

It’s great, and I love them for it. BUT there’s one thing I don’t like about S76: they’re mostly using stock parts. And most laptop parts are designed to be as small as possible, they are not designed to be replaced. So ultimately every S76 laptop has a shelf life. It might be a little longer than an Apple product, but in the end, some component will fail that will force you to replace it.

Many years ago, my first Macbook Pro (a 2012, for those keeping track) had a graphics card issue. I thought it was a bad hard drive (back when you could do such a thing), so I replaced the hard drive, but the issue didn’t go away. So I took it to the Apple Store, they ran diagnostics on it, and told me it was the graphics card. I found out recently that this is technically (cough) repairable, but not according to Apple. For lack of the ability to swap out a $50 GPU, I had to pony up $2,000 for a new Macbook Pro.

That laptop lasted me a long time, almost ten years, so I wasn’t too bothered. But in the back of my mind, I wanted more than ten years, and I knew it should have been possible.

So when I heard about the Framework, it blew my mind.

The Framework #

I’ve been around computers my whole life.

My brother bought six old Dell desktops at a garage sale once, and we pulled them apart and reassembled then numerous times. Even though I’m not a hardware guy, I recognize the patterns. I can tell RAM from an SSD, a CPU from a GPU. You might say I’m knowledgeable enough to get myself into a lot of trouble.

But I’ve never seen anything like the Framework.

The Framework is a laptop that has been redesigned from the ground up with a single purpose: to make it as easily repairable and upgradable as possible.

It’s not the thinnest laptop, the cheapest laptop, or the fastest laptop. But it is, head and shoulders above the rest, the easiest to work on.

And to me, that is worth a few compromises.

Framework 16 #

So I pre-ordered the Framework 16 several months ago.

Their 16” laptops are in high demand right now, so it took a while to come. I didn’t mind the wait.

I ordered the “build it yourself” version, which is several hundred dollars cheaper.

I got it last week.

And reader: I love it.

Even for a software guy, assembly was a breeze, and I marvel at the engineering that went into this thing.

Everything is designed for the layman. There are big labels on every component to tell you what it is, along with links to articles on how to swap or repair those components. The screws are relatively large and easy to use, and they are “captured” screws, which means you never need to worry about losing one. The components are even designed to be as easy to remove as possible: remove one screw, and the SSD hinges outward on a spring, so removing it (and adding a new one) is as easy as pi.

The Framework is turning laptops into the maintainable machines of burden that I always knew they could be. At the macro level laptops aren’t so complex: we should all be able to “change the oil” or the tires on our laptops without a professional.

So I’m on the Framework train, and I expect to be for a long time.

Upsides of the Framework #

As I mentioned, I love the modularity. The ability to customize this laptop over time as my work demands change is huge. I can afford to buy a laptop with a little less storage space or a little less ram, and upgrade it later (or not, if it performs well without it). This could save me a lot of money, with very little risk.

My last Macbook Pro I purchased refurbished, and it was underpowered. I was always struggling with it, and bought all sorts of accessories to try to make up for its lack of power, but it remained a headache. But there was nothing I could do, short of selling it and buying a new one. Not only was it underpowered, but it had terrible battery life and a horrible keyboard (Apple got sued for this keyboard and was forced to offer free repairs). It was easily the worst Apple product I have ever used, and a big reason why I swore off Apple.

If that computer had been a framework, it would have been a completely different story. Defective keyboard? Buy a new one and swap it out. Not enough storage? Add a new SSD, or a storage expansion slot. Heck, you can even swap out the Motherboard if you really want to.

I also look forward to never having to put up with a bad battery again. At the first sign that my battery is going, I’ll buy a new one and swap it out. Sweeeeet.

It’s great, and it really allows your computer to grow with you over time.

I was worried about Linux support on the framework, since it’s a Windows and Linux computer. But surprisingly Linux seems to work best on this hardware. I’ve had a few minor issues, but no more than is typical when you’re working with niche operating systems.

Downsides of the Framework #

I’m definitely still in the rose colored glasses phase with this laptop. I spent a lot of time and money on this thing, so I am invested in its success. But that doesn’t mean that I only have good things to say about it.

Of course, with great modularity comes some downsides. There’s a reason why few have even attempted this before.

I consider this to be a “bleeding edge” product. Every new idea has a “break in” period. If the framework continues to succeed, I suspect the framework laptop in 10 years will be much sleeker, more polished, and even more modular.

But for now, there are some growing pains. Here are some of the issues I have discovered in the last week:

• The laptop is a bit thicker and heavier than I’m used to. I am happy to compromise on this, but it is something to keep in mind. This laptop is plenty portable, but maybe not as portable as a Macbook.
• Aesthetically, the panels can be a bit gappy, which annoys me more than expected (photos below). I don’t like seeing seams in my laptop, and if there was a “full width” trackpad option for the Framework 16 I would buy it in a second (interestingly this isn’t an issue with the smaller laptops)
• The trackpad also has a small gap around the edges
• I have been experiencing some buzzing when listening to the speaker. If I hold down the left panel with my thumb, the buzzing goes away, but that is not a permanent solution. I’ve tried tightening all of the screws and adding rubber washers under the panels, and neither one fixed the problem. Still looking for a permanent fix for this.
• Installing NixOS was a bit of a challenge, although I did eventually figure it out
• The default Linux kernel at one point made my machine unbootable. Still not sure why, but I switched kernels and the issue went away.
• Probably my fault, but I ordered a ethernet expansion adapter without realizing that it’s too long, and sticks out an inch from the side of the laptop. So for now I have an empty expansion slot, which is only slightly less annoying than a slot that sticks out. If I had realized, I’m not sure I would have bought that slot.

Some of my software woes are definitely self inflicted, but you should know that this laptop will likely require more “fiddling” than a lot of stock laptops. If you’re interested in a Framework then you likely already know that, but it’s worth noting.

Conclusion #

For now I am extremely happy with my purchase, and I expect to get many years of service (hopefully decades) out of this machine.

It is very much a niche product, but I’m happy to be a beta tester on the way to mainstreaming this thing. I truly believe that this laptop contains the key to a better future for computer hardware, and I’m happy to support it in any way that I can.

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