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I imagine the point isn't for you to keep on switching the ports out every day. Rather, it's so everyone can get the ports they want with minimal overhead for

I imagine the point isn't for you to keep on switching the ports out every day. Rather, it's so everyone can get the ports they want with minimal overhead for Framework the company (fewer SKUs, less spare inventory, etc.). It's like LEGO: You can put together exactly what you want using exactly the bricks you want, and you aren't expected to take it all apart and build something new the next day just because you could either.

jefurii 4y ago
I occasioanlly set my Framework down in a place where it's more convenient to have power and/or HDMI on the other side and it's simple to rearrange the modules.
rhaway84773 4y ago
It’s also standardized, so you don’t have to only pick ports that Framework decides are valid. You can also add 3rd party ports of your own choosing.
mtlmtlmtlmtl 4y ago
I think one model with the bog standard stuff and one with the modules is a good compromise, or will be when they're more established and can afford the overhead you correctly point out. Right now they're very much a startup, and so I agree with you that it makes sense for them as a company right now.
- Dalewyn 4y ago
  >bog standard stuff That's the question, though: What is "bog standard"? Apple will tell you bog standard is two USB-C ports. A tech enthusiast will tell you bog standard is at least 10 mixed USB-A and -C ports, at least three DisplayPorts, at least one ethernet jack, and a headphone jack. Jane Average over there will tell you bog standard is a power button. A DIYer will tell you bog standard is GPIO and serial. USB-IF will tell you bog standard is USB4.11 For Workgroups Revision 5 Type D 50gbps 2x4.
  - IYasha 4y ago
    There was one laptop made by ASUS. It had SO much connectivity in a 12" case no one attempted ever since. And it would be the best if not for poor battery life. But the battery was swappable. The model is U6Sg. If I could buy anything like that today (with good battery life and AMD processor), I'd be happy.
  - mtlmtlmtlmtl 4y ago
    Pretty sure Jane Average would also include a charging port ;) Joking aside, to my mind bog standard is by definition not given by Apple, enthusiasts, hardware hackers, USB-IF, or someone who never needs a port ever. My mom is very tech illiterate and even she uses a cheap wireless mouse, and other USB stuff. It's obviously something Framework would have to research and think about. But I don't think it's unreasonable to say there is some definition of bog standard that should be able to serve 80% of customers. Where the 20% is made up of various niches that are happy to pay a premium for the modularity because they really need it.
  - djur 4y ago
    Well, the Framework doesn't give you most of those options. You get 4 total of any of the following: USB-A, USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, MicroSD, Ethernet. (In practice a USB-C is mandatory for charging.) Plus built-in headphone. If you want any more than that, or anything different, you're gonna need a USB dongle like any other laptop.
  - tracker1 4y ago
    At this point, for better or worse, and I know some may not like it... would be almost all USB-C. With thunderbolt, power delivery and video adapter options over the port, there's really not much reason to go otherwise, noting that some ports are not the same. One option might be to have a backplate adapter similar to ATX motherboards, where that just slots into the case itself attached to the motherboard... so Gen 3 could have 3x usb-c, 1 usb-a and a 4-pole headphone jack... Then all usb-c + headphone a generation after... but the horizontal spacing pre-defined like ATX backplane.
    - regularfry 4y ago
TomK32 4y ago
Bricklink list 76527 unique Lego parts, including Duplo. So much for the "fewer SKUs". There's also 15155 mini figures.
- cstrahan 4y ago
  Compare 76527 unique Lego parts to number of elements in the power set of those 76527 Lego parts — imagine if each combination also had its own skew. That’s the sort of comparison being made — providing simple components and letting the user combine them as they see fit means managing fewer SKUs than otherwise. This logic does not change with respect to the number of simple components — if Framework wanted to provide module for 76527 distinct peripherals, that’s 1 SKU for the laptop plus 76527 SKUs for the modules… which is a lot less than selling 2^76527 distinct laptops for every set of peripherals (leaving aside size constraints, and the fact that many people actually want more than one of the same peripheral). Additionally, fewer is fewer, regardless of scale. 999,999 of something is fewer than 1,000,000 of something. So yes, the "Lego approach" would mean fewer SKUs.
- aqfamnzc 4y ago
  I agree with your point, but generally when people say "like LEGO" they mean "modular". Not that you can build literally any shape the way you can with actual LEGO.
warner25 4y ago
My wife and I each got an 11th Gen Framework in late 2021, and I think it's mostly this - e.g. my wife wanted an HDMI port and I didn't - but I've also found reason to switch ports around a few times. It's certainly not everyday, but I've had a few different workspace arrangements where sometimes it was better to have my charging port on one side or the other; not strictly necessary, but nicer for cable management. Next month I might borrow my wife's HDMI port when I need to give a few presentations.

jefurii 4y ago

I occasioanlly set my Framework down in a place where it's more convenient to have power and/or HDMI on the other side and it's simple to rearrange the modules.

rhaway84773 4y ago

It’s also standardized, so you don’t have to only pick ports that Framework decides are valid. You can also add 3rd party ports of your own choosing.

mtlmtlmtlmtl 4y ago

I think one model with the bog standard stuff and one with the modules is a good compromise, or will be when they're more established and can afford the overhead you correctly point out. Right now they're very much a startup, and so I agree with you that it makes sense for them as a company right now.

Dalewyn 4y ago
>bog standard stuff That's the question, though: What is "bog standard"? Apple will tell you bog standard is two USB-C ports. A tech enthusiast will tell you bog standard is at least 10 mixed USB-A and -C ports, at least three DisplayPorts, at least one ethernet jack, and a headphone jack. Jane Average over there will tell you bog standard is a power button. A DIYer will tell you bog standard is GPIO and serial. USB-IF will tell you bog standard is USB4.11 For Workgroups Revision 5 Type D 50gbps 2x4.
- IYasha 4y ago
  There was one laptop made by ASUS. It had SO much connectivity in a 12" case no one attempted ever since. And it would be the best if not for poor battery life. But the battery was swappable. The model is U6Sg. If I could buy anything like that today (with good battery life and AMD processor), I'd be happy.
- mtlmtlmtlmtl 4y ago
  Pretty sure Jane Average would also include a charging port ;) Joking aside, to my mind bog standard is by definition not given by Apple, enthusiasts, hardware hackers, USB-IF, or someone who never needs a port ever. My mom is very tech illiterate and even she uses a cheap wireless mouse, and other USB stuff. It's obviously something Framework would have to research and think about. But I don't think it's unreasonable to say there is some definition of bog standard that should be able to serve 80% of customers. Where the 20% is made up of various niches that are happy to pay a premium for the modularity because they really need it.
- djur 4y ago
  Well, the Framework doesn't give you most of those options. You get 4 total of any of the following: USB-A, USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, MicroSD, Ethernet. (In practice a USB-C is mandatory for charging.) Plus built-in headphone. If you want any more than that, or anything different, you're gonna need a USB dongle like any other laptop.
- tracker1 4y ago
  At this point, for better or worse, and I know some may not like it... would be almost all USB-C. With thunderbolt, power delivery and video adapter options over the port, there's really not much reason to go otherwise, noting that some ports are not the same. One option might be to have a backplate adapter similar to ATX motherboards, where that just slots into the case itself attached to the motherboard... so Gen 3 could have 3x usb-c, 1 usb-a and a 4-pole headphone jack... Then all usb-c + headphone a generation after... but the horizontal spacing pre-defined like ATX backplane.
  - regularfry 4y ago

TomK32 4y ago

Bricklink list 76527 unique Lego parts, including Duplo. So much for the "fewer SKUs". There's also 15155 mini figures.

cstrahan 4y ago
Compare 76527 unique Lego parts to number of elements in the power set of those 76527 Lego parts — imagine if each combination also had its own skew. That’s the sort of comparison being made — providing simple components and letting the user combine them as they see fit means managing fewer SKUs than otherwise. This logic does not change with respect to the number of simple components — if Framework wanted to provide module for 76527 distinct peripherals, that’s 1 SKU for the laptop plus 76527 SKUs for the modules… which is a lot less than selling 2^76527 distinct laptops for every set of peripherals (leaving aside size constraints, and the fact that many people actually want more than one of the same peripheral). Additionally, fewer is fewer, regardless of scale. 999,999 of something is fewer than 1,000,000 of something. So yes, the "Lego approach" would mean fewer SKUs.
aqfamnzc 4y ago
I agree with your point, but generally when people say "like LEGO" they mean "modular". Not that you can build literally any shape the way you can with actual LEGO.

warner25 4y ago

My wife and I each got an 11th Gen Framework in late 2021, and I think it's mostly this - e.g. my wife wanted an HDMI port and I didn't - but I've also found reason to switch ports around a few times. It's certainly not everyday, but I've had a few different workspace arrangements where sometimes it was better to have my charging port on one side or the other; not strictly necessary, but nicer for cable management. Next month I might borrow my wife's HDMI port when I need to give a few presentations.