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In a way, I kinda don't get the idea of an expansion card for ethernet, rather than just a dongle. Specifically, as in this case, where it sticks out from the s
by kelnos 4mo ago
In a way, I kinda don't get the idea of an expansion card for ethernet, rather than just a dongle. Specifically, as in this case, where it sticks out from the side of the chassis.
If I'm on the go, I'll have to take it out of the chassis while it's in my bag so I don't damage it. In that case, it's easier to have a regular USB-C card in that port, and toss a dongle in my bag instead of the expansion card.
If I'm not on the go, I'm at a desk, and I'd still rather plug in a dongle than regularly swap an expansion card.
I'm not saying you'd never want the expansion card, but it feels pretty niche.
- NewJazz 4mo agoI'd also add that at a fixed location/desk, having a dock with ethernet is also very normal. Anyway it is probably just there to demonstrate the possibilities to consumers. What if a lower profile standard for networking gets popularized?
- RiverCrochet 4mo agothey had very flat (on one side) Ethernet pigtails in the PCMCIA days.
- mjevans 4mo agoThose sucked so hard, were extremely finicky to plug in, and I was in constant terror of breaking it. Even the popout jack things were horrific in that respect. I'm 1000% for wired connections where possible, but for laptops too thin to have one built inside of the frame the best choice is a proper docking station, ideally with a cable that isn't impossible to user replace.
- kelnos 4mo agoOh god, bringing back memories I don't want. They were always so fragile.
- kps 4mo agoix (IEC 61076-3-124)
- getcrunk 4mo agoA lot of people use their laptop as a desktop replacement and kinda leave it in one spot or only move it between two spots (home desk/office desk) rather than as an actually portable take anywhere use anywhere situation
- Gigachad 4mo agoIn that case I'd rather just have one of those big usb hubs that has every port on it. Rather than an adapter designed that it only works on one laptop. Sure in theory you could plug them in to any but the design of it is such that you'd snap the connector if you plugged it in to a normal port. While a regular usb-c ethernet adapter has a flexible cable between the laptop and the bulky rigid part.
- geerlingguy 4mo agoThunderbolt hubs are rather amazing now; in the past they'd either get super hot and have reliability issues, or had severe bandwidth limitations (especially if using larger displays). The current crop has been great for my needs — a couple models have 10G Ethernet built in (CalDigit is the one I'm using now), and most now have more than one Thunderbolt port that allows a high speed storage device to be used as well (in addition to a 5K or 4K display or two!).
- californical 4mo agoMy TB5 dock from OWC on a M4 Pro MacBook can run dual 4k 240hz displays, 2.5gb ethernet, and several peripherals no problem. It also provides 100W of power. All over a single cable. So good these days
- kstrauser 4mo agoI may have the same one and I love it so much. Plug one USB C-looking cable into my laptop, and two 32” monitors and a host of accessories light up as it starts charging. It’s the greatest docking station ever.
- 4mo ago
- alex43578 4mo agoIsn’t that kind of most things Framework? Sure, a replaceable color bezel is fun, but pretty niche.
- SV_BubbleTime 4mo agoI fell out of love with frameworks after buying one for myself and a few employees. The economics/upgrade math just does not make sense.
- Gigachad 4mo agoFramework feels like a case of giving HN users what they asked for, but not what they actually needed.
- alex43578 4mo agoLike the constant cries for an iPhone Mini, which subsequently sold terribly, because people like good battery life, a generous screen size, and feature-rich cameras. Apple didn’t learn because they went on to do the Air, but whatever.
- Dylan16807 4mo agoThe minis, despite being sold at the same time as SEs and having to share demand, did fine. And if you want to improve that situation the obvious answer is to pick one or the other, not to cancel both. If you want even better stats, much more than needed, wait 2-3 years between releases. My best guess for Apple's actions is that despite there being a very real demand for a smaller phone, they don't think the discomfort is bad enough for people to switch to Android, so they don't even try. A small phone makes a lot of profit, but ignoring the demand also makes a lot of profit. The Air was a real flop.
- iamnothere 4mo agoI agree, every product should only be as large as possible, have top of the line specs, and a price to match. Literally nobody exists in different market segments. There should only be one product in each category. You will purchase your Phone(tm) and be happy.
- deleted 4mo ago[deleted]
- db48x 4mo agoThere’s nothing to “get”. The circuit doesn’t fit inside the slot for expansion cards. You could plug in a dongle instead, but then you’d have a big hole in your laptop with a cable sticking out. Or you could just get a wider laptop bag. They make them in multiple sizes, you know.
- Jtsummers 4mo ago> you’d have a big hole in your laptop with a cable sticking out No, you wouldn't. You'd have one of these instead: https://frame.work/products/usb-c-expansion-card?v=FRACCQ0002 https://frame.work/products/usb-c-expansion-card?v=FRACCQ000... (or the one matching a color you prefer and your particular model)
- db48x 4mo agoNow you’ve got two things plugged into your laptop, instead of one that sticks out by an inch. :)
- kelnos 4mo agoEr, no, then you'd use the regular USB-C expansion card and plug the dongle into that, and then the port becomes generally useful. A wider bag doesn't solve it. The part that sticks out could still easily snag on something. I wouldn't want to take that risk, and I doubt many people would. I feel like you're arguing just to argue...
- RobotToaster 4mo agoI don't get it either. If it had a hinged or expanding[0] ethernet port so it could sit flush with the chassis when not in use it would make a lot more sense. [0] It's easier to show what I mean https://www.reddit.com/r/TechnologyPorn/comments/hvlxep/origami_ethernet_port_1400x1400_anybody_know/ https://www.reddit.com/r/TechnologyPorn/comments/hvlxep/orig...