I've never used one of their computers or even seen one in the flesh, but from what I've seen they look cool and I will consider them next time I need a new laptop. But for now I'll reduce e-waste by using my old Acer Chromebook with Linux until it kicks the bucket.
It’s a great idea and I’m very interested but this article is just an ad. There’s very little substance.
(Almost) Everything is greenwashing because ultimately that's what consumers want. They don't really care about making something more environmentally friendly, they simply want to feel better with false claims and splashy marketing.
The whole environmental angle that FW are taking seems OK, but if they are too expensive or don't make a good product or fall behind the competition, then it simply won't work. I just found out my old laptop shit the bed, so I would absolutely take a serious look at what FW offers.
One of the things I absolutely hate about their marketing material is this idea that you can buy a module that adds a X port or Y connector to the laptop. Just build those ports into the goddamn laptop from the get go. Every extra module you add, every extra seam on the chassis, every extra cable there is, is an extra failure point in thw product and for something that is mobile, that's not a great thing. I like the repairability angle they are pushing, but if all the extra modules introduce more failures then you won't have happy customers.
I'll tell you what Framework's IO modules truly are: Dongles.
They plug into USB-C ports on the mainboard, just like the bundle of IO dongles a Mac user has to lug around. But in Framework's case, they're "inboard." They snap into the chassis of the Laptop to present the form factor of a built-in port. So unlike pigtail form factor dongles that stick out of the machine, you can leave them plugged in while the laptop is in your bag.
And because the module is supported by the chassis, that relieves the strain on the USB-C port itself, so if you drop the laptop with something plugged into a module, it might break the module but not the mainboard. Modules are cheaper and easier to replace than the mainboard.
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