I am considering a purchase as a student although it is really expensive.

What are your major criticisms of the framework laptop?

E.g.

- I have heard that it discharges battery even while powered off (a very serious issue IMO).

Also, I will be using win10/11 and fedora most likely. So any Linux-related issues (e.g. hardware support) I would really like to know.

Thanks for any ideas.

  • tomzstuff@alien.top
    BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    See lots of complaints about speakers, personally speaking from my experience with my Framework 13 Ryzen 7 this just doesn’t seem to make sense.

    I have a few other premium laptops for my various businesses, some costing more and with B&O speakers. None are great. I have used Macbooks too (in the past just want to add), and equally they were poor too, just with a very high price tag and shocking customer service.

    I’m keen to see what laptops people think have good speakers. I have never come across any that are exceptionally better than these? If there are any, post below, I could use a device for my kids that has good sound.

  • yParticle@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago
    • the optional ethernet adapter sticks out a bit (the RJ45 connector would be too large otherwise)
    • the earlier models have a reflective screen
    • having to use the Fn key for home end pgup pgdn is more of an annoyance than I expected coming from a ThinkPad with dedicated keys
    • it’s sort of spoiled me for working on other laptops
    • InexorableIbis-@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Missing home/ end/ PgUp/ down keys is actually the biggest reason why I still haven’t bought one. I just don’t want to take the risk.

        • a60v@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Not to speak for the previous poster, but I use these all the time in my web browser and in PDF-viewing software (evince). They’re pretty useful.

        • InexorableIbis-@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          All the time in programming. Jump to the start/end of the line, quickly scrolling through logfiles, source files, documentation etc.

          Yes, most of them can probably be replaced by some other key combination. But it will be a different shortcut for each tool, and I don’t feel like remembering multiple combinations just to navigate a file using a keyboard.

        • codeasm@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Acccount gone, weird. Fn +those keys and you have them again. With linux yiu maybe can swap em. Wonder if my framebook bios allow to swap the default.

          I have no issues with my framework keyboard. Love it. I dislike ghe windows logo, could have been a gear or tux but ow well

          • cassepipe@alien.topBEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            I think you replied to the wrong comment. I was asking what was the use case for Pg Up/Down and Home/End that prevented OP to buy a Framework

            Personally, I tend to use vim modes everywhere so I don’t really need those but I always thought that on a laptop they were too far away to be useful anyhoo.

            • codeasm@alien.topBEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              I know, sadly that user is gone and wanted to reply. Its a good question you have, cause i have a fw and my left hand holds Fn, right hand does what page up or home or end i need to press. You know what i miss? The pause button. Kinda wish i could swap default fn function but at ghe same time, im ok with this arrangement. Nonidea why OP of this subthread doesnt go for a dedicated keyboard or ghe FW16 with full keyboard mod.

              • cassepipe@alien.topBEnglish
                1·
                1 year ago

                Ok ok. I thought you were the another account of the same person

                Uh, I have a fw13 12th and f5 is actually a play/pause button

    • shazow@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I also miss the dedicated pgup / pgdown buttons a fair bit. It’s nice to have universal physical buttons for reading, works in every app.

      I also miss dedicated mouse click buttons, especially for middle click on linux. But I can get over this.

  • brianzak419@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    My main complaint is the fans are loud and they seem to ramp up to full speed quite often.

    That being said, I’d rather deal with noisy fans than thermal issues.

  • LlamaDeathPunch@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The common ones I’ve seen are weak speakers, display hinges (much more infrequent), the case being made of a softer aluminum, display brightness (not quite sure why this pops up, but it does), trackpad quality, and battery life under Linux.

    • pterencephalon@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I managed to get a significant dent in the bottom of the case on my first day carrying it to work. I’d never dented a laptop before. I have a hard case for it now.

    • rus_ruris@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I literally used the display in direct sunlight on a bright day, how the hell did screen brightness come up.

      Everything else i either agree or can confirm

    • SaltManagement42@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Also the up and down arrow keys being miniature, and the page up/down and home/end requires both the arrows and the fn key from the opposite side of the keyboard.

    • solid_reign@alien.top
      BEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      display brightness (not quite sure why this pops up, but it does)

      Can you explain? You like the brightness?

  • f3ath@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I got my AMD 13 two days ago. Using Fedora 39. The most disappointing things for me so far are the touchpad (it’s nowhere near the macbook ones) and the battery life. I would absolutely pay for a higher capacity battery. On the other hand, FW is light and maybe it’s time for me to invest in a powerbank.

  • aarontbarratt@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    For me

    • The speakers are quiet, I quite often have to have my volume at max to be able to hear anything clear
    • The speakers are poor quality, I wouldn’t listen to music on my laptop, or watch a movie through the speakers
    • Battery life on Linux is poor, I can’t get through a work day without having to charge

    A minor complaint is that I find the trackpad kinda mid. It isn’t bad by any means, probably the best non-apple trackpad I’ve ever used, but the Apple trackpad is better by a mile still

    • Gondiri@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      really? the speakers work pretty fine for me, I can hear them over the fans. but then again, I am in a kind of noisy house.

    • tomzstuff@alien.top
      BEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I have the Ryzen 7 version. I’ve noticed the battery life is quite a bit better in Windows. I use Fedora as my daily OS, but Windows does seem to manage the battery/performance/power stuff better (which is a shame).

      Speakers are very loud on mine, however quality not amazing. Although I have never owned a laptop with amazing speakers. Even my HP Elitebook 840 G laptop that cost around £1400 that has B&O speakers are not great either, no worse than my Framework.

      • aarontbarratt@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        MacBook Pro speakers are crazy good

        I think the AMD version is more power efficient for sure

        I plan to swap to AMD in a few years and get a bigger battery. That’s why i really love Framework

        • tomzstuff@alien.top
          BEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          That for me though means owning a mac, which is just something I cannot bring myself to ever do again :)

  • Vindve@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I don’t find it that expensive compared to other high end laptop, for similar specs it seems to me Lenovo Thinkpads or Apple products are more expensive.

    For me the only problem is that I’ve been used to Lenovo Trackpoint in the middle of keyboard, and going back to a trackpad where you need to move your hand out of the keyboard when you want to use mouse is a big setback. So many non necessary hand an arm movements.

  • Apart-Way-1166@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Consider it an investment, you’ll save money in the long run if you upgrade the hardware, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to repair. Fedora support isn’t that good according to their graph, but windows support is nice from what I’ve experienced so far with it. Maybe one criticism I have for it would be the lack of a touchscreen/stylus option? I used to own a surface and aside from the maddening hardware issues I had with it, I did enjoy stylus and touch support

  • locomoka@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The only reason why I would consider a framework is because of the community. I am a tinkerer and thus far, in the last 15 years kf laptop ownerships. I have never encountered a laptop that did not have an issue. Take for example the thinkpad x1 extreme gen2 that had its display brightness cut in half over a driver update that was never fixed. Lenevo in that instance never cared to fix that issue and burried it among a sea of laptops they sell. However, framework has thus far two models, and when something does work, it shows. So expect support for major issues from both framework and the community. Also, if you happen to come accross a major issue with your build such as a desing issue, you dont need to scrap the laptop on the long term. You can simply upgrade when ever another part becomes available. It is like the other redditor said, it is on the long term that it becomes interesting.

  • clay-tri1@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    My only complaint is when using the device on my lap or holding it with one hand from the front corners the trackpad likes to “click” due to flex in the chassis. This isn’t the only laptop that does this but it is super annoying.

    I did not put this system together. It was a refurb 11gen that was pre assembled.

  • extradudeguy@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    For the Framework 13 Laptop AMD Ryzen 7040 Series, you need to be mindful of the following for Fedora:

    - Step 6 matters. Specifically, the link off to this page (scroll down). Follow our guide, it’s a great experience. Fedora is constantly improving things.

    ​

    Others here will have their own feedback, but this is mine.

  • Carphead@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’m on day 8 of AMD R5 onwership and it’s my first framework. I run Windows 11 and Linux Mint on it. Mint is only used as a clean os, so if I’m at a client’s site and need to double check a clear setup i use Mint.

    My biggest issues are…

    Battery life - today with Windows 11 in power saver mode I got 6 hours with 25% left. I often will work from places with no steady power or just moving about. So battery life is important to me.

    Lack of ports - I love the concept of the expansion cards. There just aren’t that many slots.

    Fans - When plugged in, with the case open. They ramp up really quickly.

    To give a balanced opinion things I love…

    Build quality - Is excellent. Keyboard - Brilliant. Best I’ve used in quite some time. Screen - Couldn’t ask for better Performance - For the R5 I have. I can play all the games I want (Left for dead 2, GTAV) at better than my previous desktop that admittedly only had a RX470 in.

    My previous was a R5 5500u Dell Inspiron 14. The battery on that was better than the Framework and it was 1/3 the cost. I could be on the train from 7am until 4pm without plugging in.

    • tomzstuff@alien.top
      BEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I love my AMD Ryzen, had it for a month or so now. I do pretty well with the battery, but yes, I used to have a Dell Lattitude which had an extreme battery!

      It woul dbe nice to see if Framework could make a double USBC expansion card.

  • AdThin8225@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Not the product, but company: they don’t accept foreign bank cards. The laptop is awesome!