Can anyone educate me on this? What happens if the company goes bust? Can I still swap the CPU and GPU on it, or am I entirely relying on parts made by Framework?
Here’s the third party mainboard that’s available today. Nice thing is they don’t have to design a whole laptop to experiment with a new architecture, cause they can just build off Frame.Work’s… framework. https://deepcomputing.io/product/dc-roma-risc-v-mainboard-iii/
This crowdfunded solution has new expansion cards (like a double type-c) and also a laptop dock that uses expansion cards so you can customize your own dock. https://dockframe.com/
Yeah the crowdfunding is supposed to start “soon™”, but no mention of what that means. Let’s see, maybe they’ll open source the schematics if it doesn’t work out
The company is absolutely not “going bust”. In fact they often have trouble producing enough to keep up with demand. They’re just not going to blow away Dell or HP anytime soon.
It was a hypothetical. If their product becomes unusable without them, I wouldn’t have considered their products particularly repairable. But I got my answer above, and I’m happy. Will consider a framework when my Thinkpad says goodnight.
Can anyone educate me on this? What happens if the company goes bust? Can I still swap the CPU and GPU on it, or am I entirely relying on parts made by Framework?
Actually other companies are making framework compatible parts now. There are third party ports and third party mainboards available now.
Their design is open source, you can make your own if you want to. I’ve 3d printed parts for my frame.work using their published specs.
Thank you, I’m sold
Here’s the third party mainboard that’s available today. Nice thing is they don’t have to design a whole laptop to experiment with a new architecture, cause they can just build off Frame.Work’s… framework.
https://deepcomputing.io/product/dc-roma-risc-v-mainboard-iii/
This crowdfunded solution has new expansion cards (like a double type-c) and also a laptop dock that uses expansion cards so you can customize your own dock.
https://dockframe.com/
A little over a year ago, Prusa partnered with them to make a framework 3d printing contest. The winner was an open source project to use a frame.work mainboard to build a SteamDeck clone.
https://www.printables.com/contest/449-framework-computer-mainboard-case
Uuuh, the dock is nice. Never knew someone build a docking station for framework components. Thanks for the link
I’m a little concerned about the lack of updates. I’m not sure about what their planned timeline is.
Yeah the crowdfunding is supposed to start “soon™”, but no mention of what that means. Let’s see, maybe they’ll open source the schematics if it doesn’t work out
Did a little more digging, and they’re actually really active on the frame.work forums. Their last post was only a week ago.
Progress looks very promising.
https://community.frame.work/t/dockframe-modular-usb-c-hub-with-framework-compatible-expansion-cards/78648/34
Nice, looks like it might actually start rather soon
My wallet did not need to find out about that dock but I have been considering one…
The company is absolutely not “going bust”. In fact they often have trouble producing enough to keep up with demand. They’re just not going to blow away Dell or HP anytime soon.
It was a hypothetical. If their product becomes unusable without them, I wouldn’t have considered their products particularly repairable. But I got my answer above, and I’m happy. Will consider a framework when my Thinkpad says goodnight.