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An interesting effect of the DIY model is that you can see just how large the markup is on individual components, and source them otherwise if you desire. 500G

An interesting effect of the DIY model is that you can see just how large the markup is on individual components, and source them otherwise if you desire. 500GB - WD_BLACK™ SN850 NVMe™ for $189? I can find that exact item for $139 from quite a few places. 32GB (1 x 32GB) DDR4-3200 for $256? I just ordered one for my current laptop for $149 (+ $11 shipping since I live in the country and can't just drop by a store), though no guarantee on it being the same brand (some start at $20-30 more).

suprjami 4y ago
A little markup like this is not unusual, especially considering the USD-AUD exchange rate is weak and volatile. Plus the labour for someone to install the drive is not free. At least it's not the Apple markup. To go from 256G to 512G in an M2 Air is an extra AU$450.
- chrismorgan 4y ago
  That's where the DIY aspect makes it more interesting: you're putting it together anyway, so the labour aspect is removed and it's pure markup. And I wouldn't call 30-60% a little, though it's not dissimilar from other non-Apple OEMs (Apple being in a league of their own). (I didn't sample any but those two items. Others may vary.)
  - tuatoru 4y ago
    Not exactly pure. There's labor involved in getting things packaged up nicely for a good DIY experience. And possibly testing/qualifying them beforehand.
    - chrismorgan 4y ago
      From a quick glance at someone’s unboxing video, they’re shipping these components in their original, unopened packaging for the DIY edition. I therefore reaffirm pure, because what they’re doing is part of standard retail markup and equivalent to what’s other retailers provide.
  - esperent 4y ago
    > the labour aspect is removed It's worth pointing out that for Apple the labor cost is essentially zero. The factory workers in India/China/Vietnam are being paid around $2 an hour¶, and they would be installing RAM anyway. So charging $450 for an extra 256gb of RAM that probably costs Apple around $100 to $150 has zero relationship with the labor cost. It's pure profit. ¶I live in Vietnam and I know Samsung factory workers are paid about $200 a month here. I assume it's similar for Apple. China wages are a bit higher.
- threeseed 4y ago
  > To go from 256G to 512G in an M2 Air is an extra AU$450. It's an extra AU$300 = US$200 for just the storage. Your upgrade includes extra 2 GPU cores + better power adapter.
  - suprjami 4y ago
    Still a ripoff. A Samsung 980 Pro 1T is AU$209. That's not an upgrade, that's the entire new device, double the size.
chadash 4y ago
I really appreciate the transparency from them. They even lost out which models of RAM they have tested for compatibility so you can buy on your own. I just ordered a computer from them and I sourced those parts separately for something like $70 savings but I’m actually having second thoughts because 1) if I source from them I’m more positive that they’d be able to help me if I have problems within the warranty period, so maybe saving $70 on a $1600 purchase isn’t worthwhile 2) peace of mind vs the mess of counterfeits from Amazon third party sellers 3) they are a small company and I want them and help them to succeed because I love what they are trying to do (but also, selfishly, I need them to stick around if I want to order parts in the future)
- gbin 4y ago
  Same reasoning for me. I preferred to order everything from them. I had a very weird screen/UEFI issue and their support has been amazing. This is business done right at so many levels they totally deserve a markup.
- 2muchcoffeeman 4y ago
  Supporting the company is fine. I truly wish these guys succeed. This is an awesome project. But the bring your own options are great. How many of use have spare SODIMMs and NVMes lying around from buying base models and upgrading HD and RAM ourselves. You can get a stock Frame Work and shove your spares in there. Or PIF your parts to someone that can't afford a spiffy new machine. You can even reuse your USB-C charger. It's still not "cheap" but saving a couple hundred dollars and reducing electronic waste is nice. I think the the DIY spec should price in 2 USB-C modules, a HDMI module and a USB-A module though. You really can't use it without a few modules. Or Even 2 USB-C and 2 dummy modules (make dummy modules are release 3D model to print) if you already have a USB-C hub.
flatiron 4y ago
That’s the best part of DIY. Go get those parts wherever and slap them in yourself.
nrp 4y ago
Yep! You're welcome to bring your own memory and storage, and we encourage it. The pricing we get on retail memory isn't all that much better than what consumers can buy memory for, and occasionally even higher than when promotions are running, so it is certainly possible to save money on a DIY Edition purchase that way.
- justinclift 4y ago
  Awesome. :) Any idea when a model with anything-other-than-intel cpu's will be available? eg Ryzen, (or anything) Asking because I swore off Intel a few years ago. :)
- 2Gkashmiri 4y ago
  can you tell me if a market like India is on your radar? i mean i use an old dell e7440 because the current sold laptops on amazon are basically the same with mostly structural differences and now epidemic of having windows license prices baked in to the product and no way to get without it. sure, the OEMs have their local websites and you can order from there without windows but your options are seriously limited. then you have included ram limited to like 8GB for upwards of around 50k inr which is just insane. if one were to do a BOM on these brand new laptops, the markups would be insane. with something like framework, i could potentially get the products at a same/cheaper rate because it is "upgradeable" and also because i dont have to pay for windows
  - redditor98654 4y ago
    If you have someone in the US and they are visiting India soon, might be easier to ask them to get you one.

suprjami 4y ago

A little markup like this is not unusual, especially considering the USD-AUD exchange rate is weak and volatile. Plus the labour for someone to install the drive is not free. At least it's not the Apple markup. To go from 256G to 512G in an M2 Air is an extra AU$450.

chrismorgan 4y ago
That's where the DIY aspect makes it more interesting: you're putting it together anyway, so the labour aspect is removed and it's pure markup. And I wouldn't call 30-60% a little, though it's not dissimilar from other non-Apple OEMs (Apple being in a league of their own). (I didn't sample any but those two items. Others may vary.)
- tuatoru 4y ago
  Not exactly pure. There's labor involved in getting things packaged up nicely for a good DIY experience. And possibly testing/qualifying them beforehand.
  - chrismorgan 4y ago
    From a quick glance at someone’s unboxing video, they’re shipping these components in their original, unopened packaging for the DIY edition. I therefore reaffirm pure, because what they’re doing is part of standard retail markup and equivalent to what’s other retailers provide.
- esperent 4y ago
  > the labour aspect is removed It's worth pointing out that for Apple the labor cost is essentially zero. The factory workers in India/China/Vietnam are being paid around $2 an hour¶, and they would be installing RAM anyway. So charging $450 for an extra 256gb of RAM that probably costs Apple around $100 to $150 has zero relationship with the labor cost. It's pure profit. ¶I live in Vietnam and I know Samsung factory workers are paid about $200 a month here. I assume it's similar for Apple. China wages are a bit higher.
threeseed 4y ago
> To go from 256G to 512G in an M2 Air is an extra AU$450. It's an extra AU$300 = US$200 for just the storage. Your upgrade includes extra 2 GPU cores + better power adapter.
- suprjami 4y ago
  Still a ripoff. A Samsung 980 Pro 1T is AU$209. That's not an upgrade, that's the entire new device, double the size.

chadash 4y ago

I really appreciate the transparency from them. They even lost out which models of RAM they have tested for compatibility so you can buy on your own. I just ordered a computer from them and I sourced those parts separately for something like $70 savings but I’m actually having second thoughts because 1) if I source from them I’m more positive that they’d be able to help me if I have problems within the warranty period, so maybe saving $70 on a $1600 purchase isn’t worthwhile 2) peace of mind vs the mess of counterfeits from Amazon third party sellers 3) they are a small company and I want them and help them to succeed because I love what they are trying to do (but also, selfishly, I need them to stick around if I want to order parts in the future)

gbin 4y ago
Same reasoning for me. I preferred to order everything from them. I had a very weird screen/UEFI issue and their support has been amazing. This is business done right at so many levels they totally deserve a markup.
2muchcoffeeman 4y ago
Supporting the company is fine. I truly wish these guys succeed. This is an awesome project. But the bring your own options are great. How many of use have spare SODIMMs and NVMes lying around from buying base models and upgrading HD and RAM ourselves. You can get a stock Frame Work and shove your spares in there. Or PIF your parts to someone that can't afford a spiffy new machine. You can even reuse your USB-C charger. It's still not "cheap" but saving a couple hundred dollars and reducing electronic waste is nice. I think the the DIY spec should price in 2 USB-C modules, a HDMI module and a USB-A module though. You really can't use it without a few modules. Or Even 2 USB-C and 2 dummy modules (make dummy modules are release 3D model to print) if you already have a USB-C hub.

flatiron 4y ago

That’s the best part of DIY. Go get those parts wherever and slap them in yourself.

nrp 4y ago

Yep! You're welcome to bring your own memory and storage, and we encourage it. The pricing we get on retail memory isn't all that much better than what consumers can buy memory for, and occasionally even higher than when promotions are running, so it is certainly possible to save money on a DIY Edition purchase that way.

justinclift 4y ago
Awesome. :) Any idea when a model with anything-other-than-intel cpu's will be available? eg Ryzen, (or anything) Asking because I swore off Intel a few years ago. :)
2Gkashmiri 4y ago
can you tell me if a market like India is on your radar? i mean i use an old dell e7440 because the current sold laptops on amazon are basically the same with mostly structural differences and now epidemic of having windows license prices baked in to the product and no way to get without it. sure, the OEMs have their local websites and you can order from there without windows but your options are seriously limited. then you have included ram limited to like 8GB for upwards of around 50k inr which is just insane. if one were to do a BOM on these brand new laptops, the markups would be insane. with something like framework, i could potentially get the products at a same/cheaper rate because it is "upgradeable" and also because i dont have to pay for windows
- redditor98654 4y ago
  If you have someone in the US and they are visiting India soon, might be easier to ask them to get you one.