I've been tracking the Frame.work modular and repairable laptop for about a year, and it was just well-review by Linus Tech Tips on YT - and I took the plunge.
https://youtu.be/0rkTgPt3M4k
The good:
I want to support the right to repair, as I believe companies could do much more to give products a longer lifespan and save customers money. I want to spend my dollars supporting companies who will support my ability to use products longer, upgrade them further and not go to a landfill because of a bulged battery, bad memory or an outdated processor. When you place an order with Frame.work the payment is fully refundable prior to the computer shipping and there is a 30-day return policy once you recieve your item.
The bad:
Frame.work has been around for 1.5 years, comprised of engineers from DELL, Apple and other tech companies, but has no track record. Furthermore, they are just now shipping their first batches; my order will ship in September, but others are shipping now, August and October... after which, they hope to have units available for immediate purchase. Since this is their first offering, you
can order an 11th gen Intel Core processor - it would have been nice if they were the 12th gen, OR other architectures that they PLAN to offer: AMD, ARM and
possibly even Risc! It would have been nice to 'dial-in' your needs now.
The ugly:
While its great to be able to put your money where your mouth is and support a company trying to change hardware, its also a scary notion. While some of the hardware MAY be upgradeable even if Frame.work wasn't around, what happens when
they are dead in 1, 2 or 3 years when users are going to have to start replacing things? Guess thats what the bet is all about... I hope that other users believe in what they're doing, because for me this is the perfect laptop - if they stick around... do you think they might make it??
At any rate, I'm personally excited - I think they WILL produce the order I've made, and even if they flop I think that, for me, the Frame.work laptop will be
powerful enough for me to use for years... and I'm OK with the price. Since its
been engineered with such a mindset towards repair and replacement I think there WILL be sources for replacement parts in the future. I'm HOPING that they
make it so in 5 years I might be able to just order a new mainboard and move into the next processor upgrade. Time will tell, but I am investing in this...
[The Linux video does a nice job of explaining everything thats cool about the company; take a look.]
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