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.

  • AdThin8225@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

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

  • 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.

        • 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

        • 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.

    • 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.

  • 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.topBEnglish
      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.

  • obog@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The battery life isn’t great, but I’m pretty sure the issue with it discharging while off is fixed. But yeah battery life is probably my biggest complaint, but if you carry a good usb-c charger most places like I do it’s not a big issue.

    Linux support is really good tho. Fedora specifically is officially supported (as well as ubuntu) but people have gotten all kinds of distros working great, usually with little to know issue at all.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • SaltyPlans@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Battery and you really need to consider every portion of the laptop. Updating drivers, ensuring the ssd chosen is low powered, enough ram at the right timing etc.

  • swaggod4@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Keyboard leaves a mark on the screen after a while. Can’t think of anything other than that. On Linux, if you’re mindful of your power usage you won’t run into any issues with battery.

    • Accurate_Pianist_232@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I always carry a piece of recyclable packing material that I place on the keyboard before I close the lid, to prevent any key marks from being imprinted on the screen.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    • 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

    • 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.

    • 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.topBEnglish
      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.

  • lightofhonor@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Probably the touchpad and the display. Both are kinda average, so at this price probably below average. Also the edges for me on the front are a bit sharp where the keyboard and the case meet. Sometimes the speakers will buzz my esc key.

    The fan curve isn’t optimized for the AMD, but that’s software.

    Little things, but batch 1 and don’t regret it yet if that helps lol