innkeeper_77 t1_jdfpgqq wrote
Reply to comment by yelahneb in The Framework Laptop 16 promises the “holy grail” of upgradable graphics. by SUPRVLLAN
It’s cheaper than buying two whole laptops… and the 11th gen original motherboard can theoretically still be used as a low power desktop or something.
JimNixon t1_jdhns79 wrote
Not just theoretically, Framework released the 3D printable files to make a case to use the 11th gen motherboard as a standalone desktop PC.
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innkeeper_77 t1_jdhouje wrote
Oh certainly- but there are important components that would need to be purchased as they are needed for the laptop if you are upgrading- ram, storage, etc.
Old laptop motherboards certainly make more sense to use for small home servers than purpose built hardware though! This would theoretically make a strong reselling market for old framework components, and reduce demand for brand new hardware.
DriftingMemes t1_jdfxwvw wrote
Or, since nobody really needs a low power desktop, it can be shipped to Africa for an impoverished child to strip the gold plating from.
This is a solution that's been tried many times, it never works, but each time evangelists pop up to explain why this time it will definitely work!
innkeeper_77 t1_jdfykib wrote
The bigger benefit is making them easily repairable. This HAS been done, older thinkpads stayed in service way way longer than most of their comparable laptops simply because they were so serviceable.
One thing the framework does right is their charger setup- you are likely to break and wear out the charging port on a modern laptop- and when that happens on a framework you simply swap out the module and keep going. This is a much bigger deal than replaceable / upgradable motherboards, but keeping it all compatible makes parts easier to source for those repairing, not upgrading. (I’ve seen plenty of laptops discarded for a bad charging port, making it repairable without even opening up the laptop is AMAZING. I no longer have a modern thinkpad because they went to a delicate usb-c directly soldered to the motherboard instead of the old wired in charging port that you could repair by unplugging the broken one)
Iintl t1_jdgxi9s wrote
They're still doing miles better than a typical laptop company. If you bought a HP or Dell or Apple and you wanted an upgrade, your only options are to sell it second hand or throw it away. Framework provides a third option of repurposing the mainboard, should you wish to so, plus it creates less e-waste because the screen, keyboard, battery, chassis etc. don't have to be replaced if they're working fine
Indolent_Bard t1_jds3m55 wrote
The draw has always been that if any component breaks, you can just replace it. Most laptops make you replace the whole screen assembly if the screen breaks. Here you can just buy the screen, or the fan and heatsink, or the hinge, or literally any component that breaks. And the whole thing can be disassembled by the screwdriver they package with it, no glued parts to pry apart. They aren't doing it to get rich, they're doing it to make a revolution. Oh yeah, and you can upgrade the CPU too.
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