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Framework Computer

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Junaruga (talk | contribs) at 17:56, 13 November 2022 (Added Cory Doctorow's another article about Framework. Updated the cited website to the "pluralistic.net" that is mentioned at his comment <https://twitter.com/doctorow/status/1591762284896215042>.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Framework Computer Inc
IndustryComputer hardware
FoundedJanuary 2020[1]
FounderNirav Patel
Headquarters
Burlingame, California
,
United States
Area served
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Ireland, Austria, The Netherlands, Australia
Key people
Nirav Patel (founder, CEO)
ProductsLaptops
Websiteframe.work
Framework team member's names printed on a part of the Framework Laptop.

Framework Computer Inc, commonly referred to as Framework, is an American laptop manufacturer.[2][3][4][5] The company positions itself as a proponent of the electronics right to repair movement,[6][7][1] and their laptops are designed to be easy to disassemble, with replaceable parts.[2][3] The company's approach has earned them praise from Louis Rossmann,[8][9] Linus Sebastian,[10] the latter having invested $225,000 into the company,[11] and Cory Doctorow.[12][13] In November 2021, Time magazine listed the Framework Laptop on their list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2021.[14] Fast Company listed the Framework Laptop on their list of the Most Innovative Companies of 2022.[15]

History

In January 2020, the company was founded by Nirav Patel who was the head of hardware at Oculus.[1][7] In the first half 2021, the company was funded with a $9 million seed round.[16][17] In January 2022, the company was funded with an $18 million series A.[18][19] The company shared their series A pitch deck with reducted parts.[16]

Products

For the products repairability and upgradability, the company's website provides guides for the replacement and repair[20] and the marketplace.[21]

Framework Laptop

Framework Laptop

In July 2021, Framework started to ship their first product Framework Laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 chip to the US and Canada.[22] In December 2021, Framework opened pre-orders to the UK, Germany and France.[23] In February 2022, pre-ordering became available for Ireland, Austria and The Netherlands.[24] The Framework Laptop received a 10 out of 10 in iFixit's repairability score.[25][26] The standard Framework Laptop ships as a fully assembled laptop, while the Framework Laptop DIY Edition ships with the RAM, storage, operating system, and in 11th Gen, the WiFi module uninstalled. All of these modules can be ordered with the DIY edition, or left out and purchased separately.

In May 2022, the company launched their second generation Framework Laptop with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 chip that ships with an upgraded back panel, alongside their 12 Gen Upgrade Kit, to allow 11th Gen users to upgrade their laptops. In September 2022, pre-ordering became available for Australia. [27]

In September 2022, the company started to pre-order the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition to the US and Canada.[28][29][30][31]

Mainboard

In April 2022, the company partly open sourced their mainboard with CAD and electrical documentation,[32][33][34][9] being available in their marketplace, giving away 100 mainboards to makers and developers.[35][36]

There does appear to be an issue with the first generation mainboard with 11th Gen Intel Core, that requires complete removal and reconnection of both main battery and RTC coin cell battery, if the laptop is not charged for a relatively short period of time.[37][38] The company said that the issue is by 11th Gen Intel Core silicon bug, and they would work to swap out a replacement RTC coin cell battery or 11th Gen mainboard to the people seeing the issue.[39][40]

Expansion Cards

A core feature of the Framework Laptop is the detachable Expansion Cards that provide the primary input/output for the laptop. The laptop has four expansion slots that can each accept one of seven expansion cards. These consist of USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, 256GB storage expansion, 1TB storage expansion, and MicroSD.[41] A 2.5GbE Ethernet expansion card is currently under development. In addition, each expansion slot has a recessed USB-C port, which can both be used to connect expansion cards, or as a standard USB-C port, though connecting a USB-C expansion card allows for easier access to the port. The company launched the Expansion Card Developer Program to open card development, released documentation, CAD templates, and reference designs for Expansion Cards, all under open source licenses to make it easy for both hardware companies and individual makers to create new card designs.[42]

Firmware

The laptop uses a proprietary BIOS firmware, InsydeH2O UEFI BIOS by Insyde Software[43] and an open sourced embedded controller (EC) firmware based on CrOS EC[44] by Framework. In April 2021, the company mentioned that open source firmware was well aligned to their mission.[45] In January 2022, the company open sourced their EC firmware.[46][47] The company modifies the BIOS source code they bought from Insyde Software to meet their specific BIOS needs. The company's Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) with fwupd is in testing state.[48]

BIOS firmware on the mainboards
Mainboard BIOS product Upstream BIOS vendor Initial BIOS version Latest BIOS version
11th Gen Intel Core InsydeH2O UEFI BIOS Insyde Software 3.02 3.10[49]
12th Gen Intel Core InsydeH2O UEFI BIOS Insyde Software 3.04 3.04[50]

Marketplace

The Framework Marketplace is an online store service hosted on the Framework website that primarily sells parts and tools that can be used to repair the Framework Laptop. These include, but are not limited to, replacement mainboards, audio modules, entire screen assemblies, and additional RAM and storage drives. The Marketplace also sells customization parts, including different colors of screen bezels, different keyboard layouts, and additional expansion cards. Notably, a "Carbon Capture" may be purchased for $100 US that makes "your Framework Laptop carbon neutral by buying one unit of carbon capture and sequestration."[51] This essentially donates money directly to Running Tide, a company that is dedicated to removing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

Battery life

The battery life has been described as mediocre.[4][52] The battery drains in a completely shut down state in BIOS version 3.07 or earlier with the 11th Intel Core mainboard,[53] however the BIOS unofficial version 3.08 and later versions fix the issue.[54][55]

Company or individually driven projects

Mainboard Terminal, a retro-style round display PC that uses the Framework's mainboard with Ubuntu.
Framedeck, a Framework mainboard based cyberdeck with clear acrylic and brass influenced by TRS-80 Model 100.
Framework-Tablet, a 3D printable tablet case for Framework Laptop.

Third party companies and individuals make their projects[56][57] in a Framework ecosystem.

Decoration

  • Framework Laptop skins & wraps[58][59]
  • Screen protector film[60]
  • Arts & wallpapers[61]

Expansion card

Hardware using expansion card

  • Box, a hardware for cloud storage alternative that uses Framework Expansion Cards.[67][68]

Mainboard based

Display

Software

  • Embedded Controller Modifications, an EC tool that changes the colors of LEDs and the keyboard layout on the firmware level, plus a suite of tools for talking to and manipulating the EC.[85][86][87][88]

Others

  • Framework input cover controller, a RP2040-based controller for the palmrest, connecting to the keyboard matrix, touchpad, power button, fingerprint sensor LEDs, keyboard backlight and CAPS LOCK LED.[89]

Support

The company supports by their knowledge base articles, community forum, QR codes on the products and parts, and inquiry form.[90][2] The company's customer support is controversial. It has both positive reviews that they are transparent, honest, and customer-focused[52][40] and negative reviews that they close the door.[91][54]

Supported countries and regions

Framework Laptop is available for order in the US, Canada, The UK, Germany, France, Ireland, The Netherlands and Austria. The company announced they will add additional countries in 2022, introducing their region selection page.[92][93] In December 2021, the company announced that they chose the additional supported countries UK, Germany and France based on both the number of people who registered interest through the region selection page and on logistical complexity.[23] In February 2022, pre-ordering became available for Ireland, Austria and The Netherlands.[24] Pre-orders also opened in Australia in September 2022, with shipments arriving from October.[94]

For people asking to buy Framework Laptop in their region,[95] the company recommended them wait until the company officially launches in their region before ordering.[96] The company mentioned that if an import service was used, they would not be able to support the laptop or warranty.[97]

Linux

In December 2021, the company released a statement asking users who are not using Ubuntu 21.04.3+ or Fedora 35 to troubleshoot with Framework's Linux community[98] instead of contacting Framework support as no other Linux distribution has been verified by the company for hardware compatibility, mentioning that the company could troubleshoot general product usage issues on a supported OS, but could not troubleshoot OS related issues not related to the product functionality.[99] In April 2022, the company announced their Linux compatibility page.[100][35]

BSD operating systems

The company doesn't support BSD operating systems. In June 2022, the FreeBSD Foundation announced their work to ensure that the experience running FreeBSD on the Framework Laptop matches the stability that FreeBSD users expect.[101][102]

ChromeOS

In September 2022, the company announced the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition with the pre-installed ChromeOS is available for pre-orders.[28][30][31]

Electronics right to repair movement

Framework Laptop as part of the exhibition 'Waste Age: What can design do?' at the Design Museum.

In June 2021, a venture capitalist investing in the company said "The conventional wisdom in the industry is that making products repairable makes them thicker, heavier, uglier, less robust, and more expensive. We’re here to prove that wrong and fix consumer electronics, one category at a time.".[17] In October 2021, the company said "The core problem is the idea that consumer electronics are disposable.",[103] and "Right to repair is incredibly important. It is actually a core part of what we are doing. Because increasingly products are not designed to be repaired." in interviews.[7]

Framework Laptop was on display as part of the Waste Age: What can Design Do? exhibition[104] displayed at the Design Museum[105] in London from October 2021 to February 2022.[106]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "How I Built Framework, The Laptop Tackling The Right To Repair | Make:". Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. September 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Buzzi, Matthew; Burek, John (August 25, 2021). "Framework Laptop Review". PCMAG.
  3. ^ a b Wawro, Alex (August 18, 2021). "Framework Laptop review: The anti-MacBook has arrived". Tom's Guide.
  4. ^ a b Salter, Jim (July 27, 2021). "Review: Framework's lightweight modular laptop is a winner". Ars Technica.
  5. ^ Grunin, Lori (July 22, 2021). "Framework Laptop review: A functional and futureproof 13 inches". CNET.
  6. ^ Lee, Dave (August 31, 2021). "Why Big Tech should embrace the 'right to repair' revolution". www.ft.com.
  7. ^ a b c Freethink Team (October 16, 2021). "This DIY laptop is challenging tech giants like Apple & Microsoft". www.freethink.com.
  8. ^ Rossmann, Louis (July 23, 2021). "Frame.work isn't virtue signalling; they genuinely support Right to Repair. I wish them success" – via www.youtube.com.
  9. ^ a b Rossmann, Louis (May 13, 2022). "Framework laptop finally embraces "schematics or die", long live framework!" – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ Linus Tech Tips (July 26, 2021). "A Completely Upgradeable Laptop? - Framework Laptop Review" – via www.youtube.com.
  11. ^ "I'm Legally Obligated to Disclose This". Linus Tech Tips. September 15, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Doctorow, Cory (September 21, 2021). "The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've ever used". pluralistic.net.
  13. ^ Doctorow, Cory (November 13, 2022). "The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've ever broken". pluralistic.net.
  14. ^ Steinberg, Don (November 10, 2021). "A Notebook You Can Repair: Framework Laptop". Time.
  15. ^ Newman, Jared (March 8, 2022). "How Framework is helping fix our unsustainable electronics industry". Fast Company.
  16. ^ a b "Framework Pitch Deck by @framework - Pitch". Pitch. Framework. May 24, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Castle, Greg (June 21, 2021). "Why I invested in Framework". Anorak Ventures.
  18. ^ Nirav Patel (January 27, 2022). "Framework's Series A and the Years Ahead". frame.work.
  19. ^ "Framework looks to expand repairability beyond the laptop". TechCrunch. February 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Framework Guides". frame.work.
  21. ^ "Fix Consumer Electronics". frame.work.
  22. ^ Nirav Patel. "The Framework Laptop is now shipping, and press reviews are up!". frame.work.
  23. ^ a b Nirav Patel (December 16, 2021). "Now Available for Pre-order in UK, Germany, and France". frame.work.
  24. ^ a b Patel, Nirav (February 22, 2022). "Bringing the Framework Laptop to more of the world". Framework. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  25. ^ "Framework Laptop Teardown: 10/10, But is it Perfect?". iFixit. July 28, 2021.
  26. ^ Framework Laptop review: a modular PC easy to fix or upgrade The Guardian. 2022.
  27. ^ "Now available for pre-order in Australia". Framework. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  28. ^ a b Marissa Buyck (September 21, 2022). "Introducing the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition". frame.work.
  29. ^ Slaoui, Racha (September 21, 2022). "New Chromebooks built with sustainability in mind". blog.google.
  30. ^ a b Payne, Robby (September 21, 2022). "Google and Framework partner up to launch a fully-modular Chromebook". Chrome Unboxed.
  31. ^ a b Wan, June (September 21, 2022). "Framework's new Chromebook laptop pieces together the best of both worlds". ZDNET.
  32. ^ GitHub (April 18, 2022). "The Download: New Job, New Channel, DALL-E 2, Framework Laptop and more" – via www.youtube.com.
  33. ^ Cunningham, Andrew (April 22, 2022). "Buy the Framework laptop's $399 motherboard to make your own mini PC". Ars Technica.
  34. ^ Elevated Systems (May 1, 2022). "The Framework Mainboard Case! Printed, Built, Tested" – via www.youtube.com.
  35. ^ a b Nirav Patel (April 18, 2022). "Mainboard Availability and Open Source Release". frame.work.
  36. ^ Flowers, Ryan (April 21, 2022). "Modular Laptop Maker Provides Mainboard Documentation For Non-Laptop Projects". Hackaday.
  37. ^ "Laptop won't power on unless i plug in AC power". community.frame.work. June 7, 2022.
  38. ^ Yeo Kheng Meng (September 21, 2021). "Review, usage and repair of the Framework laptop". yeokhengmeng.com. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  39. ^ "RTC: Viability of using a rechargable RTC battery". community.frame.work. June 15, 2022.
  40. ^ a b Linus Tech Tips (June 17, 2022). "It's Coming For Us... - WAN Show June 17, 2022 - Framework transparency" – via www.youtube.com.
  41. ^ "Fix Consumer Electronics". Framework. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  42. ^ Framework Computer. "Reference designs and documentation to create Expansion Cards for the Framework Laptop" – via github.com.
  43. ^ "Insyde® Software Powers Newly Launched Framework™ Modular Laptop". Insyde Software. August 9, 2021.
  44. ^ "CrOS EC (Embedded Controller)". chromium.googlesource.com.
  45. ^ "Coreboot on the Framework Laptop". community.frame.work. April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  46. ^ Dawe, Liam (January 21, 2022). "Framework put up the source code for their Embedded Controller firmware" – via www.gamingonlinux.com.
  47. ^ Nirav Patel (January 21, 2022). "Open Sourcing our Firmware". frame.work.
  48. ^ "LVFS Framework Laptop TGL". fwupd.org. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  49. ^ "Framework Laptop BIOS and Driver Releases (11th Gen Intel® Core™)". knowledgebase.frame.work. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  50. ^ "Framework Laptop BIOS and Driver Releases (12th Gen Intel® Core™)". knowledgebase.frame.work. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  51. ^ "Carbon Capture". Framework. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  52. ^ a b Elevated Systems (February 27, 2022). "Framework Laptop 6 Months Later. I'm Less Impressed" – via www.youtube.com.
  53. ^ "Battery slowly drains when completely shut down". community.frame.work. January 18, 2022.
  54. ^ a b "Framework on Twitter". Framework. June 10, 2022 – via twitter.com.
  55. ^ "Is there something wrong with the 3.08 BIOS?". community.frame.work. April 14, 2022.
  56. ^ "Company or individually driven projects". community.frame.work. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  57. ^ a b c "These Framework Laptop Mods Show Us Exactly Why Modular Computers Are So Damn Cool". Gizmodo. January 17, 2022.
  58. ^ dbrand. "Framework Laptop Skins & Wraps". dbrand.com.
  59. ^ dbrand (December 5, 2021). "How to Apply a dbrand Framework Laptop Skin" – via www.youtube.com.
  60. ^ "Matte screen protector". community.frame.work. July 26, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  61. ^ "Framework Fan Art". community.frame.work. September 12, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  62. ^ "Framework Laptop Magnetic Charger Expansion Card Full power!". October 29, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  63. ^ "Dual USB-C Expansion Card Mockup". community.frame.work. June 14, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  64. ^ "LTE Cat 4 Cell Modem Card". community.frame.work. October 21, 2021.
  65. ^ "roPlug Demonstration". November 4, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  66. ^ "EEVblog 1496 - Winning Mailbag". EEVblog. August 26, 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  67. ^ "Functionland Unveils Groundbreaking Hardware: BOX – The Web3 Solution to Cloud Subscriptions". VentureBeat. March 1, 2022.
  68. ^ "Box by Functionland provides easy-to-use private cloud storage for blockchain and important data". Gadget Flow. April 6, 2022.
  69. ^ Elevated Systems. "CJ-Elevated/Project_CJ64: The Framework Mainboard Project CJ64 enclosure". Retrieved June 19, 2022 – via github.com.
  70. ^ Elevated Systems (November 7, 2021). "Complete PC in a Mechanical Keyboard! Retro Concept, Modern Hardware" – via www.youtube.com.
  71. ^ Elevated Systems (June 19, 2022). "The Ultimate Framework Keyboard PC! Machined Aluminum Mainboard Enclosure!" – via www.youtube.com.
  72. ^ "Framework Laptop Mainboard Powers Custom 60% Mechanical Keyboard". Tom's Hardware. November 11, 2021.
  73. ^ Penk Chen. "penk/MainboardTerminal: Mainboard Terminal - A Retro-style Computer with a Modern Core". Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via github.com.
  74. ^ "Sensational Circular-Screened Cyberdeck Hides Modular Intel 11th Gen PC". Tom’s Hardware. May 10, 2022.
  75. ^ brickbots, Richard. "brickbots/framedeck: A Framework mainboard based Cyberdeck". Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via github.com.
  76. ^ "Richard Sutherland's Framedeck Is a TRS-80 Model 100 Inspired Open Source Portable PC". Hackster.io. May 16, 2022.
  77. ^ "Framework Tablet Project". community.frame.work. March 22, 2022.
  78. ^ whatthefilament. "whatthefilament/Framework-Tablet: 3D Printable Tablet Case for Framework Laptop". Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via github.com.
  79. ^ "Build A Tablet Out Of Your Framework Motherboard". Hackaday. August 7, 2022.
  80. ^ "Modder shows how to transform the Framework laptop into a tablet". PC Gamer. August 8, 2022.
  81. ^ whatthefilament. "whatthefilament/FrameStation: Game Console Case for Framework Motherboard". Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via github.com.
  82. ^ whatthefilament. "whatthefilament/Framework-Desktop-Adapter: Mounts to adapt Framework motherboard to ATX and Micro-ATX Motherboards and Cases". Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via github.com.
  83. ^ whatthefilament. "whatthefilament/Framework-Test-Bench: Test/Development Bench for Framework Motherboard". Retrieved June 7, 2022 – via github.com.
  84. ^ Zhang, Wenting (June 10, 2022). "Wenting on Twitter" – via twitter.com.
  85. ^ "The Framework Laptop's Embedded Controller (EC)". www.howett.net. December 22, 2021.
  86. ^ "Framework Holiday Lights". December 26, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  87. ^ "Changed my keyboard layout in hardware to colemak!". community.frame.work. January 23, 2022.
  88. ^ Picugins, Arsenijs (June 7, 2022). "EC Hacking: Your Laptop Has A Microcontroller". Hackaday.
  89. ^ CRImier, Ar. "CRImier/MyKiCad: Framework input cover controller". Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via github.com.
  90. ^ "Framework Support". frame.work.
  91. ^ Late Night Linux (June 10, 2022). "Linux After Dark – Episode 19" – via www.youtube.com.
  92. ^ "What countries and regions do you ship to?". knowledgebase.frame.work.
  93. ^ "Framework: the modular PC in pre-order for France". www.archyde.com. December 17, 2021.
  94. ^ Buyck, Marissa (September 1, 2022). "Now available for pre-order in Australia". Framework Computers. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  95. ^ "What countries will you be shipping to?". community.frame.work.
  96. ^ "Ordering outside US using shipping forward". community.frame.work. May 16, 2021.
  97. ^ "Is it a foolish endeavor to ship a laptop from the USA to the Netherlands?". community.frame.work. December 6, 2021.
  98. ^ "Linux topics - Framework Community". community.frame.work.
  99. ^ "OFFICIAL - Linux and Framework Support - PLEASE READ". community.frame.work. December 17, 2021.
  100. ^ "Linux on the Framework Laptop". frame.work. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  101. ^ "FreeBSD News Flash". www.freebsd.org. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  102. ^ "FreeBSD Quarterly Status Report First Quarter 2022". www.freebsd.org. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  103. ^ "BBC World Service - Newshour, Could manufacturers help reduce electronic waste?". BBC. October 15, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  104. ^ "Waste Age: What can design do? - the Design Museum". designmuseum.org. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  105. ^ "Design Museum". designmuseum.org. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  106. ^ "Framework develops modular laptop users can fix and upgrade themselves". www.dailyimportant.thats.im. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
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