Framework

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Discussion around the Framework mission of building products that last longer by making them upgradeable, customizable, and repairable. Consumer electronics can be better for you and for the environment.

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Do you think Framework will ever abandon the OG FW13 design? (and have 2 models?) (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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One thing I've wondered about the FW is if it will look pretty much exactly the same 3, 5 or even 10 years down the line.

Not that I think theres anything wrong with the design (its just about perfect), but I wonder if FW will release a "new version" that isn't fully swappable with the old version.

My guess would be they release a new "shell" that may or may not be compatible with the old motherboard, maybe smaller bezels, or whatever new thing is popular at the time. Maybe they just decide to release a very similar shell, but that is made from new materials with some minor changes that make things so that they arent fully backwards-compatible.

I think they'll release updated boards for the old gen for maybe 2 generations before only making new board for the "new"design.

Im predicting this will happen in around 3-4 generations from now.

What do you think?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

At some point there probably will be some incompatibility. They will learn from experience and might find a big change is necessary.

I hope that they would take a stepping stone approach. If they tweak the screen size then you could replace the top lid, screen, etc without replacing the bottom.

Perhaps when a motherboard redesign is required they launch the new version whilst keeping the old for a couple more generations to help transition.

Change will be necessary at some point. Hopefully they make it as pain free as possible.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I feel like change might come in the form of adding ports or, at worst, removing the headphone jack in favour of adding more flexibility, as they did with the Framework 16 design. In that case, I could see transitional motherboard designs that accommodate a USB4 socket and a cable connector for the audio (space permitting). Eventually the lower part of the case would need to be replaced for newer designs, but that doesn't necessarily require that the keyboard, display, and other assemblies need to be replaced.

I'd probably be fine using an inline USBC DAC to analogue controller along with Bluetooth (though I like the headphone port on principle and currently use it).