FRAMEWORK laptops: Modularity or Miniaturization?

Wynona · Feb 3, 2022

TheMystic said:
So if they come up with a 17" option, would you prefer a laptop like this or stick with the traditional options which are increasingly locked down and difficult to repair/ upgrade, but have a nice compact design?

Of course I would. I built my own systems for many years; just stopped a couple years ago because it's more convenient and a bit cheaper to buy off the shelf. Add to that the inability to easily upgrade a laptop . . .

However, cost would have to also come into play. As we all know, new technology, no matter how convenient or flashy, can be quite pricey.

Wynona · Feb 3, 2022

Haydon said:
I often lie down on the sofa with my laptop on my chest, and I am content surfing the web that way. But I would happily accept an improvement where I could project a giant screen on the ceiling

Yehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

But I can't lie down on the couch because of neck and shoulder issues. Recliner works, though.

Ghot · Feb 3, 2022

Hazel123 said:
So where can you find these Mouse computers and what are they exactly?

Japan, I would assume.
As far as I know they are just regular laptops made by a company called: Mouse brand laptop Japan

The commercial it seems, is from a while back.
I found a review of one from 2014...

fmw · Feb 3, 2022

I like the idea of the DIY model. My laptops are cheap and need to be cut at the glued seams to get inside. I actually dislike laptops. I do use one for website maintenance because it is a boring process. I can sit on a sofa, put it on my lap, pull a table up close for the mouse and listen to music as I work. The music helps me deal with the ennui. I can turn a TV on in the background too if that strikes me.

The big screens and keyboards on the desktop computers make computing easier and more pleasant. I have 25" monitors on most of the systems and they allow me to have high resolution that is easy to read. If I actually used a laptop as a portable device the DIY version of the Framework would get my attention.

jimbo45 · Feb 4, 2022

Haydon said:
Well, back on topic, I don't think that there is a 'module' vs 'miniature' issue as such, you can have both, case in point is shown in the picture below that comes from the Framework website itself.

View attachment 20647

However, you see that the miniature modules are packed like sardines in a can, which makes it difficult to provide a lot of configuration options, IMHO.

Small surgical tweezers helps --incidently so do those multiple "Hand" things with crocodile clips on them.

If you attempt this type of work having the correct tools makes it far simpler and you are less likely to break anything.

@Haydon

that laptop though has everything marked clearly and in English -- some I have worked on have components all marked in what I assume is chinese text although it's usually pretty obvious what the major components are. That laptop actually looks if the CPU could easily be replaced if required -- however even if it can it's not always a given as the MOBO / BIOS might not support it.

Cheers
jimbo

Haydon · Feb 4, 2022

Here is a Wikipedia article, I wish them well

Framework Computer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Winuser · Feb 4, 2022

Wynona said:
Yehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

But I can't lie down on the couch because of neck and shoulder issues. Recliner works, though. :)

I have a small table I bought from a discount store called Ollies that I use when I'm in my recliner. It's made something like a hospital bed table. The legs are low enough that they slide under the recliner. Not the best quality but for less than $50.00 it's not bad.

Haydon · Feb 4, 2022

That makes me think of the massage chair that I tried out in a department store long time ago. It massages your everything, makes you feel sooo gooood

But there was no servicing anywhere near me, so I passed

Wynona · Feb 4, 2022

Winuser said:
I have a small table I bought from a discount store called Ollies that I use when I'm in my recliner. It's made something like a hospital bed table. The legs are low enough that they slide under the recliner. Not the best quality but for less than $50.00 it's not bad.

I have one that will fit over my lap while in my recliner. It has short legs and a "bar" across the "lap edge" so the computer won't slide off. It's just wide enough so I can use my mouse, and has a small drawer on the end for pencils and such. Mine was less than $50 too, but can't remember the price now.

Wynona · Feb 4, 2022

Haydon said:
That makes me think of the massage chair that I tried out in a department store long time ago. It massages your everything, makes you feel sooo gooood

But there was no servicing anywhere near me, so I passed

Yes, I've tried those out too, but too rich for my blood. I have a tins unit that I should use more often.

Wynona · Feb 4, 2022

Ghot said:
Japan, I would assume.
As far as I know they are just regular laptops made by a company called: Mouse brand laptop Japan

The commercial it seems, is from a while back.
I found a review of one from 2014...