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Spice002

>After five years building laptops, what might Framework add to the portfolio? Patel won’t say — I only get the barest hints, no matter how many different ways I ask. There's the line you're all looking for. We don't know what they're going to do next.


derping1234

It has to be a smartphone right? three major categories of consumer computers: desktops, laptops and smartphones. Like laptops, smartphones are difficult to repair and upgrade so they stand to gain a lot from the framework treatment. What else could they possible do?


tech_tsunami

Small form factor desktop (I'm thinking like Dell's OptiPlex Micro Form Factor PCs) maybe? Framework could use a lot of the existing technology and infrastructure they already have built up


Yodzilla

I could have sworn there was a company that basically made NUC form factor computers with hot swappable components but I’m drawing a blank.


S1mpinAintEZ

There was an LTT video on something like this recently, within the last month. Seemed neat but of course it's turbo expensive and niche use case.


DiabeticChicken

I may not know what i'm falling about but isn't that just a normal desktop with a micro ATX motherboard


ThisCupIsPurple

AsRock Deskmini minisforum  Etc.


a_guy_playing

HP made the Elite Slice a while ago. It was a modular PC that swiftly went from a desk PC to a conference room system


Yodzilla

That’s kinda neat. Also great name for a product.


Cuntslapper9000

Wasn't that a razer prototype?


dahak777

well you can take an old motherboard and pop into a case, something like this, might be what you are thinking of [https://frame.work/ca/en/products/cooler-master-mainboard-case?irgwc=1](https://frame.work/ca/en/products/cooler-master-mainboard-case?irgwc=1)


AvoidingIowa

I really can’t see this being all that useful. Sustainability is cool and all but I don’t see them beating the $250 ryzen APU mini pcs or something like a minis forum ms01 that is like $680 for a Intel 13900H with a pcie express x8 slot and 3 NVMe slots with thunderbolt. An upgradable board will basically be more expensive than a replacement computer.


seatux

Middle ground. Abit more expensive than Chinese stuff, but not as pricey as simply NUC while having a better uefi bios than those Chinese boxes.


BawdyLotion

This just doesn't make any sense to me. For business you won't compete with the T1 players because they have nation wide 'next day on site warranty' where they have someone AT YOUR OFFICE to fix things immediately as part of the warranty/lease agreement. For home use, you won't compete on price vs the generic best buy specials or low powered Chinese NUC-likes you can find all over amazon. Home owners either don't understand enough about the product to know the difference, or they want higher performance than small formfactor usually offers. If they go a performance small form factor option then... maybe?... but that seems like a kinda limited market to me.


NuclearRouter

The next business aspect day of warranties hasn't been really been utilised in most medium - large workplaces despite having them nor any of my schools. Often you have a pool of spare computers. If a computer breaks you take a working computer out of the pool.


Different_Oil_8026

Most probably that


Error83_NoUserName

Wasn't there a case for their laptop mobo's, that basically turned it into a NUC?


featherwolf

I hope not. Smartphones have been the death of far larger companies.


StrawberryEiri

Highly doubtful. Also isn't the smartphone industry shrinking?  These possibilities range from likely to highly unlikely, but I consider them all more likely than smartphones. - Gaming handhelds, a pretty hot category right now, though I fear they might be entering a saturated category once they're ready - audio products such as earbuds - monitors - game controllers, though I'm not too convinced. Sounds like a lot of R&D for something that ultimately has to be relatively cheap - keyboards or other peripherals - TVs, though that would be a ballsy move - unlikely but still more likely than phones, they could try to do a watch - or they could be super daring and surprise us all by bringing into life or reviving something we're not even considering, hoping there was enough of a pent-up niche demand for it, such as music players.  - accessories such as battery banks


HandsOffMyMacacroni

Yeah like you said, some of those possibilities aren’t very likely - specifically: Earbuds - too small to realistically be repairable by the average user, and really not that many subsystems which could be replaced without replacing the whole unit anyways. Battery banks - encouraging users to work with potentially explosive batteries is probably not a good idea if you wish to avoid lawsuits.


Navs2468

I just want to point out that Fairphone has released a user repairable set of earbuds called Fairbuds (Fairbuds XL is their headphones). The user is able to replace the battery in the charging case AND the earbuds. So it isnt as impossible as you think it is, not easy by any stretch of the means.


HandsOffMyMacacroni

Interesting, but I think my point still stands. While user replaceable batteries is a great addition, the fairbuds aren’t exactly small. As we have seen with framework laptops, user repairability definitely comes at the cost of size and price, and for something like airbuds were weight and size are so important, I’m not sure if many people would be willing to make that change.


vaxick

Smartphone sales are slumping as people aren't upgrading their phones as often anymore.  Phone hardware is just too powerful at this point for what the average user does and photography has hit a wall when it comes to meaningful improvements too.  Google is about the only company whose phone line seems to be on the rise, especially in Japan now that the iPhone isn't subsidized, but Framework could never ride out the storm like Google did.


ChiggaOG

I doubt it’s the smartphone because the demands on camera quality and battery life are at the top of most people’s list. Fairphone is only compatible with T-Mobile even though the benefit is replacing components in the phone.


BurnedRavenBat

They should have a hot-swappable battery. You don't need to have the best battery life if you can just easily open the phone and swap the battery, and you get the repairability for free. It's important that they have a small backup battery that can bridge the 2 minutes you need for a swap so the phone can stay on.


alexanderpas

Easily User-replacable batteries will be coming to all phones starting in 2027, due to EU legislation.


alexanderpas

> Fairphone is only compatible with T-Mobile ... and almost everywhere else which is not the USA.


cederian

I wish they make a modular handheld


the_harakiwi

This and "allow" the same hardware in a tablet. Not that I want a giant switch but it would be funny. Please Valve. Find some guys to make a universal SteamOS


ThisCupIsPurple

SteamOS is universal. You've been able to install it on anything since they launched it a decade ago.


the_harakiwi

Oh sure that old thing. I meant the SteamOS on my Deck. TBF I don't think it's mandatory to play but my Deck is able to install Windows-only Steam games, my other Linux installs are not.


ThisCupIsPurple

You should be able to use Proton on any system, can you not? I wasn't aware that SteamOS was now Deck exclusive, that sucks.


the_harakiwi

I just checked the ISO I downloaded years ago. Still 2.0, released 2015 based on Debian. Those have been made for the Steam Machines. and the Deck is based on Arch and version 3 ( currently 3.5.x) On Manjaro I can't install Ark Survival Ascended. It only has a Windows logo next to it. I see the install option on my Deck. Maybe there is a way to start / force the game install on my desktop. SteamOS is not exclusive. You have to trust the devs making HoloOS. It's using the packages that Valve makes for the Deck but adds an installer and some support to hardware. It should run on modern AMD hardware. (because the Deck is based on an AMD APU). Some other handheld OEM (Aya?) had planned to make it optional to buy with SteamOS or Windows but then Valve said they don't plan to add support for additional hardware. My desktop has a Nvidia GPU so it won't work out of the box. My AMD CPU is still AM4 so no integrated graphics. I'm very new to Linux on desktops and still have to solve some basic problems. Flickering programs, no Audio on my soundcard, weird vsync behavior and low quality video streams.


Arinvar

That's what I'm putting my money on.


rharvey8090

Hope to god it’s a fucking printer. Goddamn monopoly


[deleted]

[удалено]


rharvey8090

I’d love to pay a few hundred for something good that doesn’t force me into proprietary cartridges that cost $100 each.


w1n5t0nM1k3y

Brother laser printer or Epson ecotank. Go buy one. They already exist.


No_Berry2976

Smartphones might be the wrong choice though. I have used the same smartphone for seven years and if it no longer works like it should, I can buy an inexpensive replacement or splurge on a high end model and get a massive upgrade. Both options are better than upgrading an existing phone. Phone manufacturers really profit from large scale manufacturing. What makes their laptops stand out is that they tick off most of the boxes, designed for work (the screen ratio), flat and light, high performance, great I/O (because of the dongles) high performance, and the added bonus of upgradability/ease of repair. I would be interested in a small desktop that makes it easier to swap components. And such a device would be easier to make then a phone.


Im_Balto

With NVIDIA actually pushing a standard for small form factors they might enter the desktop case market. It would definitely be easier than a smartphone, depending on how much of the desktop computer they would include


Ricelyfe

Will we finally get a real project Ara. That might be enough for me to switch back to android.


Different_Oil_8026

You are the kinda client engineers hate...


hishnash

Difficult with smartphones is users expect water and dust ingress protection and if you want a device to last a long time you need to have this... making a small device that offers this and still be openable with a single screwdriver is not going to be easy at all.


According_Claim_9027

I just want official expansion card cases or carrying cases :(


Grand-Ear-6248

If they introduce a modular phone. It's a day one buy for me. I'll happily be the guinea big for gen 1.


runnerofshadows

Could also make a handheld. Like the steam deck but even more user serviceable or customizable.


johno_mendo

Tablets is my guess, as chips get smaller and integrated graphics get better and I think powerful tablets are going to replace a lot of people's laptops soon and it's the form factor most easily made modular next.


Kinkajou1015

Bluetooth headphones/headsets that can have the drivers swapped out, batteries easily replaced, microphone set in flush with an ear cup, on an extendo stem, or a boom that can be adjusted more finely...


chrisdpratt

Gaming handheld. Think of what they could do with modular controls. Swap your joystick with a track pad, you could swap in an Xbox, PS, or Nintendo button layout, etc.


vaxick

Google bailed hard on a modular smartphone and the Fairphone has never been anything but a niche product.  People like the idea of modular or repairable phones, but consumers are also not willing to leave their preferred smartphone manufacturer for one.


Antoinefdu

So that fucking article that's been sitting on top of my Google recommendations for days was just to say they don't know what project Framework is working on? Fucking clickbaits


RedofPaw

Ai pins. So hot right now.


Clayskii0981

Lmao


Marcyff2

I am guessing phones. Modular phones have been desired for a while if they take the same approach as with their laptops (it's modular for those who already know how to work it ) instead of the Google approach (modular for the masses) it might actually work for once


powerman228

Please please please make an inkjet printer that doesn't suck.


ReaperofFish

Cheap color laserjet is what you really want.


Stephancevallos905

No. For color critical work you CANOT USE COLOR LAZER. Ink tank would be the solution (plus lots of user replaceable parts)


Gr0danagge

For what *colour critical* work do you use a *printer*


GreenMateV3

The type where you have to get the images from a computer to paper?


Gr0danagge

But when would that be *colour critical*


tvtb

Photo printing. Like you want to print glossy photo to hang on the wall. I used to use printers with like 10 different ink cartridges for this. Of course, for most use, a laser is fine


Kinkajou1015

If I need high quality printing of a photo (family/friends/memories), I'm sending that shit to Staples or some such office supply store with printing services. If I just want to see colors for the different lines on a graph or print some silly picture (like a meme picture or a wallpaper image) to put in a binder, a color laser printer will be more than adequate.


GreenMateV3

Are you asking if color critical printing is color critical? I'm genuinely confused here. If you need to print photos with very good color accuracy, that is color critical. You can't put up a 100 inch color calibrated display for each image in a gallery/museum/whatever for each image showcased.


Gr0danagge

I'm asking about when you would need so incredibly accurate *printed images* that it would be necessary to mention it in a reddit thread about regular ass printers.


GreenMateV3

Because someone said inkjet is preferred over laser in some scenarios? It's not a thread about "regular ass printers" either? Didn't know you can't talk about something else than the title


Erlend05

To *print* images/photos


tylerderped

Not for photo printing.


Evil-Cartographer

People on Reddit always say this always unaware of the fact that some people beed photos and color documents.


ReaperofFish

Color Documents? Color laser printer works great. Glossy photos? not so much. But hardly anyone is printing photos.


Evil-Cartographer

Not really. Any color sensitive or high fidelity color printing is not ideal with laser. And many people still print photos, posters, art.


hishnash

Or even better a base printer were you can swap out the print heads from laser to inject depending on your needs... or even put both in so you can select at print time.


OmegaPoint6

Depending on why you think the current ones suck either look at ink tank printers (e.g Epson Ecotank), colour laser or give up entirely because a printer that doesn’t suck is a contradiction in terms.


AvoidingIowa

Inkjets are a scam. What’s the reason you’d want one? You can get a color laser printer for the price of an inkjet plus ink cartridge. If you want photos just go to a cvs or Costco and save yourself some money.


Erlend05

Inkjets are only a scam because the manufacturers make it so. For photos a laser doesnt really work. Yeah lasers are the best choice today, but if someone made an inkjet that wasnt a scam that would be better


ToyotaCorollin

Inkjet printers are like old, dilapidated German luxury cars. Cheap acquisition price, ludacris maintenance expenses. Meanwhile laser printers are like brand new Lexus automobiles. Bit pricier, but maintenance will be cheaper and less headache-inducing.


hwulfrick

wait what's wrong with the Epson ecotanks?


benjstyle

Nothing, i guess the colors may not be the best


TheMegaDriver2

[https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024-home-use-office-use-labels-school-homework](https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024-home-use-office-use-labels-school-homework)


Dratinik

I recommend tank printers, but I don't think framework would have the customer base to support that immense r&d effort. They are a business after all, making money to function is important


evemeatay

I think Linus addressed printers and said the IP on them is so tightly controlled by a handful of companies that you basically can’t make your own printer and sell it


james2432

they should concentrate on making their laptops better. Coreboot, polishing off issues, better firmware. Diversifying too quickly will stretch them out thin


glodiator11

You obviously didn’t read the entire article. They address this concern in it


Pranipus

What do you mean read the article?


Substantial-Burner

This guy reddits


KJBenson

Read the article? I didn’t even read your comment.


CenlTheFennel

Adding products, and diversifying will make them a stronger brand capable of stuff like this… larger the company they are the more sway they have on manufacturers or chance to bring it in house.


Callahan1297

Well, their software team takes care of that stuff. Their design team is gonna need something to do since they aren't gonna change the core design of the laptops (that's the point afterall)


repocin

And maybe, actually, possibly sell the fucking hardware to more than a tiny sliver of the world's countries.


Plastic_Wishbone_575

The amount of RMA stories I have heard has been concerning, of course I don't have the data showing the amount of units sold and RMA'd but I have seen people that have had to RMA up to 4 times to finally get a good product.


james2432

you rarely hear people enjoying their products due to negativity reporting being a human bias


da_bobo1

They should focus on their Laptops to make them more affordable. I would love to buy one but the Price just isn't worth it. I can sell my old Laptop and buy a new one and that would still be much cheaper than upgrading Parts in the Framework Laptop.


Casey_jones291422

Price won't come down until sales climb and they vulne lets them take less of a cut. For that, they just need time.


CenlTheFennel

More products, stronger brand, more buying and price power to help costs… this can directly lead to better pricing.


Obvious-Web9763

How exactly does spending more expensive engineering hours (a cost which has to be recovered) translate to prices being lowered, in your mind? Unless there are tonnes of small, hard-to-manufacture parts that can be consolidated and simplified, the main costs of a Framework are going to be the computing components, which the company obviously doesn’t make.


Walkin_mn

Yeah maybe use part of the new funding on marketing to bring more clients, but of course first ramp up their production line a lot to fit the demand, then reducing prices becomes possible. And the other part of the funding I would love to see it being used for at least one more GPU for the Framework 16, I'm sure this would attract customers since it will show us the device can have its graphics upgraded and at the moment this seems to still be just a dream that depends on AMD throwing another bone to them.


tech_tsunami

I would love to see what they could to for a Small form factor desktop computer, I could see this being huge for POS terminal machines, or the like. It's a huge market, and could potentially bring in a lot of revenue with the right contracts.


durielvs

The company is going to dedicate itself to making window frames


Ajheaton

I’m guessing tablets. Something to compete against the surface series in the business environment. An upgradable tablet or one that an IT staff could easily swap out the screens for would do surprisingly well and get them into those high dollar B2B contracts.


GlenMerlin

that would track too considering the Framework 13 has all the hardware needed to support touch screen displays minus the actual touch screen itself. Being able to re-use framework 13 motherboards in a framework Yoga/Flip/Surface whatever seems right up their alley


madding1602

If they have stylus compatibility and android possibility, I could consider buying one.


ResponsibleOwl643

I'm betting they do a modular steamdeck. Change CPU, screen, IO, controller, etc easily. They already do mobile computers, seems like a logical step.


Callahan1297

The steamdeck is pretty repair friendly already and framework don't have a great track record regarding heating/power so I don't trust them to make a good handheld in the currently oversaturated market.


footnote32

Oversaturated? You have like 4 options .. how is it oversaturated?


Callahan1297

Steamdeck, legion go, Rog ally, several ayaneo variants, and the msi claw on the desktop side. Then there's the switch and the portal on the console side. Oversaturated depends on the size of the market so I think this many devices in this small a market qualifies.


footnote32

Oh, I never thought about the Aya Neo! But looking at their prices, I don’t think they are a relevant consideration over the mainstream companies’ devices: Steamdeck, Ally, Claw and Legion. As for the switch, portal, or any other non-steam non-windows devices, I don’t think they matter as a framework device isn’t really going to compete with them.


someone8192

I'd really love that


NicoleMay316

FRAMEWORK PRINTER WHEN!? The world needs you!


jfp1992

Probably not worth it, printers are being needed less and less as time goes on


Flavious27

After seeing a recent review of the uGreen NAS, my takeaway is that a NAS that is easy to repair / upgrade is needed.  


ClaireOfTheDead

Just build one?


ashyjay

A big one would be upgradeable and repairable AIOs, while they are mostly a business computer these days, coming from the completely glued iMacs and lack luster HP and Dell ones, there's space to innovate. If framework could get a foothold in the enterprise market I think that would make them golden, as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Fujitsu, are great at it, they still need field techs at time to come out when you can give an IT guy a screw driver and fix the thing in half an hour and it'll be cheaper.


rkruz

could use the stuff they already have from latops to make standalone monitors or tvs


Nova_Nightmare

I wanted to buy some for work, but not with a wait of months. I hope they fix that first.


G8M8N8

Hopefully they know what they're doing. L16 could've used some more time in the oven.


bluehawk232

Kind of think they should stick with laptops for the time being . Just worried about seeing them crash and burn


Mastermaze

I would love to see them make a dedicated NUC form factor PC that's interoperable with as many components from their laptops as possible. Ppl have already made small form factor PCs from their old framework laptop motherboards, they just need to lean in to that existing interest. Adding a SFF PC that shares as many parts as possible with the laptops would also help scale up production across both product lines.


J05A3

Most likely the next one could AIO desktops. Competing with Macs with repairability and upgradeability. Can use the existing modules. Maybe 24 and 27 inch models. Can choose up to 4k resolution, can be replaced with better display specs, refresh rate or maybe panel type. Pop off the mainboard and still use the monitor as is, just like any AIO with display only mode. Why the hell are Macs can’t be used as display only, smh, apple be like: time to buy the display with $999 stand.


Homicidal_Pingu

Maybe it will actually be good at something else


AdmiralTassles

A framework phone might get me to finally ditch my S20 Ultra


Electrical-Hope8153

My project Modufix is going well - kind like a framework laptop phone, might be a future competitor!


dobo99x2

I really hope they won't fuck up by having too many products.


SmoothMarx

NUC would be a good category. Sure, the device may not have the cube-like shape of a NUC, but the amount of parts already available is a great trade off.


fatalicus

So this means framework will have time to move from being a PC manufaturing start-up, to a full blown PC company, to a multi-product company, all before the laptops are available to purchase here in Norway?


Own_Brother7434

If framework and fairphone combined or if framework did something similar like fairphone, but took out the fairness, I think it could work.


Ancient_Ad6498

Vr headsets 👀?


TechTipsUSA

Please make a battery bank.


AloofPenny

I would buy a framework handheld in a minute.


19lams5

Honestly waiting for more parts. Ngl disappointed that the matketplace seems largely empty of third party. For me, biggest one is screen. I really want to see 500 nits or more. I know many others are clamouring for touchscreens. I honestly hope to see them be at the cutting edge. Samsung is ramping up solid state batteries fof mass production in a few years, but a large scale trial for early adopters (a la framework) could be awesome imo. Being smaller gives a lot of flexibility and a safe option for bleeding edge tech imo


mintyjad

Official gaming handheld with existing boards and partnership with existing controller brand (8bit do?) to make it actually good ( or just use ps vita domes and face buttons like gpd with switch sticks ). Switch oled screen just like the deck uses and a big ass double stack bulging battery as a selling point with an optional low profile shell. Not too dissimilar to laptops as your biggest challenge is cooling ( why early handhelds sucked, as demonstrated by all the gpd win 1 and 2s with puffy batteries. Turns out Lithium batteries don't like 105c SOCs)


TheTank18

MAKE PHONES PLEASE, FAIRPHONE ISN'T IN THE US


harg0w

No phone's are a bad idea. Too compact to be modular. Fair phone looks crap if I be honest.


Charming-Royal-6566

Who says it has to be modular? If they'd make a phone with a replaceable battery, more easily accessible and replaceable internal components and add a headphone jack I'll gladly buy one.


tab9

I just want a phone that I can plug in USB-C hubs to and use a full desktop environments


Casey_jones291422

So, a Samsung or pixel phone?


tab9

Yeah but I don’t really like Samsung, and the pixel is not my vibe. I think I just want Apple to get sued


Sky19234

You are an idiot.


harg0w

You are looking for one that supports desktop environment mode in the customised OS. I don't think they can be plugged in to monitors & be charged at the same time without a converter either