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Except that the ports are essentially custom dongles that lock into the case. So instead of relying on the full market to make a usb-c to whatever dongle in the

by websites2023 5y ago

Except that the ports are essentially custom dongles that lock into the case. So instead of relying on the full market to make a usb-c to whatever dongle in the future, you’re relying on Framework to do it. A single company. This is not better.

gorjusborg 5y ago
As long as the specs for the mechanical port are stable, which there is incentive for as users would be angry if they had to rebuy, it is better. Third party companies could make compatible parts. I look at this laptop as a proof of concept for something we should all want to exist: a modular and repairable laptop. Just because it isn't perfect doesn't make it bad.
- websites2023 5y ago
  There’s a better chance that someone will release the design for people to 3D print their own.
  - cge 5y ago
    It appears the company is pretty serious about trying to create an open market for the expansion cards. They have CC-BY licensed reference designs of the expansions cards (https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards), and employees are in the forums answering questions and giving pretty forthright design advice (eg, https://community.frame.work/t/dual-usb-c-expansion-card-mockup/2325 https://community.frame.work/t/dual-usb-c-expansion-card-moc...). It also appears that they're giving funding to people developing them (eg, https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expansion-card/2487 https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expans...). I was enormously skeptical when I first heard about the company, as the history of computing is littered with the devices and prototypes of startups that suggested they were going to make something different and open and extensible, only to have those promises be completely overblown, and usually have communication become shady and vague. But while I'm not quite confident enough to buy one yet, and I'll be very interested to see how their ecosystem evolves over the next few months, it actually looks like they might be succeeding here.
    - AbuAssar 5y ago
      is the port used to connect the expansion card proprietary or does it use USB-C?
      - Joff 5y ago
        Yes, so the Usb-C dongle is Usb-C to Usb-C.
vlmutolo 5y ago
This comment doesn't make much sense. First off, allowing you to customize the ports on the laptop is strictly better than not allowing you to customize them. If you want to use your USBC-to-whatever dongle, you're still free to do so. Also, the expansion card design is open source and on GitHub, so that should encourage experimentation, and maybe even smaller for-profit manufacturing operations if FrameWork gets big enough. If you want something to complain about re: the ports, it should be that you can only have four of them (including the charging port over USBC, I believe).

gorjusborg 5y ago

As long as the specs for the mechanical port are stable, which there is incentive for as users would be angry if they had to rebuy, it is better. Third party companies could make compatible parts. I look at this laptop as a proof of concept for something we should all want to exist: a modular and repairable laptop. Just because it isn't perfect doesn't make it bad.

websites2023 5y ago
There’s a better chance that someone will release the design for people to 3D print their own.
- cge 5y ago
  It appears the company is pretty serious about trying to create an open market for the expansion cards. They have CC-BY licensed reference designs of the expansions cards (https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards), and employees are in the forums answering questions and giving pretty forthright design advice (eg, https://community.frame.work/t/dual-usb-c-expansion-card-mockup/2325 https://community.frame.work/t/dual-usb-c-expansion-card-moc...). It also appears that they're giving funding to people developing them (eg, https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expansion-card/2487 https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expans...). I was enormously skeptical when I first heard about the company, as the history of computing is littered with the devices and prototypes of startups that suggested they were going to make something different and open and extensible, only to have those promises be completely overblown, and usually have communication become shady and vague. But while I'm not quite confident enough to buy one yet, and I'll be very interested to see how their ecosystem evolves over the next few months, it actually looks like they might be succeeding here.
  - AbuAssar 5y ago
    is the port used to connect the expansion card proprietary or does it use USB-C?
    - Joff 5y ago
      Yes, so the Usb-C dongle is Usb-C to Usb-C.

vlmutolo 5y ago

This comment doesn't make much sense. First off, allowing you to customize the ports on the laptop is strictly better than not allowing you to customize them. If you want to use your USBC-to-whatever dongle, you're still free to do so. Also, the expansion card design is open source and on GitHub, so that should encourage experimentation, and maybe even smaller for-profit manufacturing operations if FrameWork gets big enough. If you want something to complain about re: the ports, it should be that you can only have four of them (including the charging port over USBC, I believe).