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No one wants all the different ports though, they usually just want the correct ports. If you're plugging more than 4 things into your laptop at once you should

No one wants all the different ports though, they usually just want the correct ports. If you're plugging more than 4 things into your laptop at once you should be using a dock.

kzrdude 5y ago
Maybe a great laptop would have 4 usb-c, hdmi and sd card reader? We can be ambitious :)
yepguy 5y ago
If Framework opens this up for other companies to make modules, you might also see something like a USB port module with an integrated Logitech wireless mouse receiver. So then your mouse isn't even taking up a port. I know Bluetooth is a thing but you get the point. All of those tiny devices that people keep plugged into their laptop ports 24/7? This is a much better form factor for them, and you don't necessarily need to sacrifice a port for them either.
- tantony 5y ago
  > If Framework opens this up for other companies to make modules From what I can tell, they already did that: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards > USB port module with an integrated Logitech wireless mouse receiver This guy seems to be making something like that (minus the USB port): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_uOzNt-xwY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_uOzNt-xwY People are working on some interesting stuff. Example: RP2040 expansion card: https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expansion-card/2487/15 https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expans... The engineers at framework seem to be very active on the forum engaging with the community.
Jap2-0 5y ago
I don't want all the different ports at once, but I definitely use more than 4 in total. My current laptop the following (and I'd love to have more): - 2 USB-C (1 of which is used for charging, I'll probably have reason to use the other at some point with increasing USB-C adoption) - 2 USB-A (1 for a wireless mouse, 1 frequently used for flash drives and whatnot) - SD (used occasionally - cameras and with an adapter for micro SD in phones) - RJ-45 (used occasionally, probably more often soon) - HDMI (used somewhat regularly) - Headphone jack (also built into the Framework) So with the Framework I'd be missing out on 3 ports. I could survive with that, but it'd be pretty sub-optimal. Thankfully I shouldn't be in the market for a new laptop for 5+ years, so hopefully Framework will have more options by then.
- iSnow 5y ago
  I'm using an external display connected via Thunderbolt/USB-C instead of HDMI so I can use the display to - power the laptop - plug in the mouse plug into its USB-A port
  - kzrdude 5y ago
    I do exactly the same, it's been really smooth that way (on Ubuntu)
  - Jap2-0 5y ago
    That would work if I got an external display (which I should at some point), although I think it harms the portability a little bit.
- stupidcar 5y ago
  If you don't want all the ports at once, then it sounds like modular ports is perfect? You can just attach whichever combination you need on any given day / moment. Or am I missing something?
  - Jap2-0 5y ago
    Fair enough, that wasn't really something I was thinking of. Of course, at that point you're really just changing from having to carry around a bag of dongles to a bag of ports. Not having to remember to have to put in/bring my HDMI port to a presentation is a little bit convenient.

No one wants all the different ports though, they usually just want the correct ports. If you're plugging more than 4 things into your laptop at once you should be using a dock.

kzrdude 5y ago

Maybe a great laptop would have 4 usb-c, hdmi and sd card reader? We can be ambitious :)

yepguy 5y ago

If Framework opens this up for other companies to make modules, you might also see something like a USB port module with an integrated Logitech wireless mouse receiver. So then your mouse isn't even taking up a port. I know Bluetooth is a thing but you get the point. All of those tiny devices that people keep plugged into their laptop ports 24/7? This is a much better form factor for them, and you don't necessarily need to sacrifice a port for them either.

tantony 5y ago
> If Framework opens this up for other companies to make modules From what I can tell, they already did that: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionCards > USB port module with an integrated Logitech wireless mouse receiver This guy seems to be making something like that (minus the USB port): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_uOzNt-xwY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_uOzNt-xwY People are working on some interesting stuff. Example: RP2040 expansion card: https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expansion-card/2487/15 https://community.frame.work/t/rp2040-microcontroller-expans... The engineers at framework seem to be very active on the forum engaging with the community.

Jap2-0 5y ago

I don't want all the different ports at once, but I definitely use more than 4 in total. My current laptop the following (and I'd love to have more): - 2 USB-C (1 of which is used for charging, I'll probably have reason to use the other at some point with increasing USB-C adoption) - 2 USB-A (1 for a wireless mouse, 1 frequently used for flash drives and whatnot) - SD (used occasionally - cameras and with an adapter for micro SD in phones) - RJ-45 (used occasionally, probably more often soon) - HDMI (used somewhat regularly) - Headphone jack (also built into the Framework) So with the Framework I'd be missing out on 3 ports. I could survive with that, but it'd be pretty sub-optimal. Thankfully I shouldn't be in the market for a new laptop for 5+ years, so hopefully Framework will have more options by then.

iSnow 5y ago
I'm using an external display connected via Thunderbolt/USB-C instead of HDMI so I can use the display to - power the laptop - plug in the mouse plug into its USB-A port
- kzrdude 5y ago
  I do exactly the same, it's been really smooth that way (on Ubuntu)
- Jap2-0 5y ago
  That would work if I got an external display (which I should at some point), although I think it harms the portability a little bit.
stupidcar 5y ago
If you don't want all the ports at once, then it sounds like modular ports is perfect? You can just attach whichever combination you need on any given day / moment. Or am I missing something?
- Jap2-0 5y ago
  Fair enough, that wasn't really something I was thinking of. Of course, at that point you're really just changing from having to carry around a bag of dongles to a bag of ports. Not having to remember to have to put in/bring my HDMI port to a presentation is a little bit convenient.