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I love the idea of modular, upgradable, and especially linux-friendly. But, because modular, I'd like a Framework Surface. Having the screen, keyboard, touchp

I love the idea of modular, upgradable, and especially linux-friendly. But, because modular, I'd like a Framework Surface. Having the screen, keyboard, touchpad, computer, etc all integrated into a single device, seems like far too many factors and constraints to be able to reach perfection. Better to split at least the keyboard and pointing device, so you can pick and choose.

kall 5y ago
That would be very interesting. Maybe I could finally fulfill my dream of a portable system that can raise the display to eye level while keeping the keyboard at an ergonomic level. I‘m surprised no one else seems to want this. Imagine if you could clip your screen onto the headrest in front of you. Wouldn‘t that be a huge improvement?
- d3nj4l 5y ago
  Imagine if you could clip your screen onto the headrest in front of you That's just a VR headset!
  - spicybright 5y ago
    Not really.
    - d3nj4l 5y ago
      Yes, it's worse than a VR headset!
- fleaaaa 5y ago
  This sounds a lot promising, why haven't I thought this? Portable builtin monitor arm must be painful HW engineering but I can see myself very easily enjoying this feature.
- Hemospectrum 5y ago
  For a few years now I’ve wished for this kind of thing. After I sketched out a couple of concepts, the approach that looked most viable was to build a folding keyboard case where the lid opens up into a tablet stand. This hugely reduces the scope of the design problem, because PCB mounting holes for mechanical 60% keyboards are more or less standardized, and tablets are obviously commodities. Even so, this is easier said than done. I didn’t (and still don’t) have enough experience designing things with hinges; I don’t know how to make things thin, light, easy to build, yet still strong enough to throw around; and I could never decide what to do about mice.
  - kall 5y ago
    I‘ve been thinking about it more from a "what I wish one of the 20 OEMs building crazy windows convertibles should build" than a " what can I DIY“ angle. Here‘s what I would want: Computer is maybe the size of new 16" MBP (large but reasonable). All the components in the base, the screen is thin and light. Instead of a flimsy ribbon cable the screen is connected with a removable flat cable that has an auto roll-up mechanism like a tape measure. Screen is held to the base with some "simple“ protruding hinges that it just can slot in and out of without crazy tech (because the hinges are a not super small). The screen has a magnetic back and there would be a couple of different mounting accessories: - magnet to VESA, so you can easily plop it into a nice stand on your desk and really utilize it in a multi-monitor setup - an "external“ raising arm that slides a plate under your base and is secured by it‘s weight (maybe clips in) then raises it up a little and holds it by magnets - suction cups - gorilla pod type mount and/or clamps - … whatever else like tripod and mic stand adapters This hodge-podge idea is probably not realistic for a commercial product but we can dream. My planned solution is M1 13" macbook air + portable USB-C screen and macgyvering it with a gorilla pod or suction cups. Unfortunately I am kind of married to macOS right now and that doesn‘t have tablet options.
    - raihansaputra 5y ago
      On the same boat with macOs, my dream would be an 13" iPad running macOs, with MBA bottom shell as battery + keyboard + trackpad + speakers + etc. But currently an external monitor (or ipad + sidecar) is the best choice. I'm also trying to work on a stand design for the second monitor, but it's not easy.
- lupire 5y ago
  Sounds like an iPad Pro.
- rowanG077 5y ago
  I used to do exactly this with the surface pro. I used this portable tablet stand: https://www.octa.com/products/spidermonkey.html https://www.octa.com/products/spidermonkey.html
luke2m 5y ago
Yeah, that would be awesome. I’d pick a X12 detachable like keyboard for mine.
leephillips 5y ago
Me, too. I’ve bought my last laptop. The attachment of the keyboard to the display is an ergonomic disaster. Fortunately, several Surface models work well with Linux; there’s even a special kernel for them.
- smoldesu 5y ago
  I really wish I could get my Surface Pro 3 to play nice with Linux. I've even used the custom kernel, but every time, without fail, it seems to heat up until the entire system freezes, at which point I have to shut it down. Maybe it's a hardware issue?
  - calebkaiser 5y ago
    That seems hardware related. I'm currently running a more-or-less out of the box install of PopOS on my Surface Pro 3
    - smoldesu 5y ago
      Funny that you bring that up, I've heard multiple accounts of Ubuntu-based distributions running without issue on the device. Maybe it's my own damn fault for trying to run Arch on this thing... EDIT: tried it, and i'm still idling at 50-60c :(

kall 5y ago

That would be very interesting. Maybe I could finally fulfill my dream of a portable system that can raise the display to eye level while keeping the keyboard at an ergonomic level. I‘m surprised no one else seems to want this. Imagine if you could clip your screen onto the headrest in front of you. Wouldn‘t that be a huge improvement?

d3nj4l 5y ago
Imagine if you could clip your screen onto the headrest in front of you That's just a VR headset!
- spicybright 5y ago
  Not really.
  - d3nj4l 5y ago
    Yes, it's worse than a VR headset!
fleaaaa 5y ago
This sounds a lot promising, why haven't I thought this? Portable builtin monitor arm must be painful HW engineering but I can see myself very easily enjoying this feature.
Hemospectrum 5y ago
For a few years now I’ve wished for this kind of thing. After I sketched out a couple of concepts, the approach that looked most viable was to build a folding keyboard case where the lid opens up into a tablet stand. This hugely reduces the scope of the design problem, because PCB mounting holes for mechanical 60% keyboards are more or less standardized, and tablets are obviously commodities. Even so, this is easier said than done. I didn’t (and still don’t) have enough experience designing things with hinges; I don’t know how to make things thin, light, easy to build, yet still strong enough to throw around; and I could never decide what to do about mice.
- kall 5y ago
  I‘ve been thinking about it more from a "what I wish one of the 20 OEMs building crazy windows convertibles should build" than a " what can I DIY“ angle. Here‘s what I would want: Computer is maybe the size of new 16" MBP (large but reasonable). All the components in the base, the screen is thin and light. Instead of a flimsy ribbon cable the screen is connected with a removable flat cable that has an auto roll-up mechanism like a tape measure. Screen is held to the base with some "simple“ protruding hinges that it just can slot in and out of without crazy tech (because the hinges are a not super small). The screen has a magnetic back and there would be a couple of different mounting accessories: - magnet to VESA, so you can easily plop it into a nice stand on your desk and really utilize it in a multi-monitor setup - an "external“ raising arm that slides a plate under your base and is secured by it‘s weight (maybe clips in) then raises it up a little and holds it by magnets - suction cups - gorilla pod type mount and/or clamps - … whatever else like tripod and mic stand adapters This hodge-podge idea is probably not realistic for a commercial product but we can dream. My planned solution is M1 13" macbook air + portable USB-C screen and macgyvering it with a gorilla pod or suction cups. Unfortunately I am kind of married to macOS right now and that doesn‘t have tablet options.
  - raihansaputra 5y ago
    On the same boat with macOs, my dream would be an 13" iPad running macOs, with MBA bottom shell as battery + keyboard + trackpad + speakers + etc. But currently an external monitor (or ipad + sidecar) is the best choice. I'm also trying to work on a stand design for the second monitor, but it's not easy.
lupire 5y ago
Sounds like an iPad Pro.
rowanG077 5y ago
I used to do exactly this with the surface pro. I used this portable tablet stand: https://www.octa.com/products/spidermonkey.html https://www.octa.com/products/spidermonkey.html

luke2m 5y ago

Yeah, that would be awesome. I’d pick a X12 detachable like keyboard for mine.

leephillips 5y ago

Me, too. I’ve bought my last laptop. The attachment of the keyboard to the display is an ergonomic disaster. Fortunately, several Surface models work well with Linux; there’s even a special kernel for them.

smoldesu 5y ago
I really wish I could get my Surface Pro 3 to play nice with Linux. I've even used the custom kernel, but every time, without fail, it seems to heat up until the entire system freezes, at which point I have to shut it down. Maybe it's a hardware issue?
- calebkaiser 5y ago
  That seems hardware related. I'm currently running a more-or-less out of the box install of PopOS on my Surface Pro 3
  - smoldesu 5y ago
    Funny that you bring that up, I've heard multiple accounts of Ubuntu-based distributions running without issue on the device. Maybe it's my own damn fault for trying to run Arch on this thing... EDIT: tried it, and i'm still idling at 50-60c :(