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

Eventually? Yes.
Soon? No.

Keep this in mine from the Framework 'About' page:

Even better, what we’ve done to enable repair also opens up upgradeability and customization. This lets you get exactly the product you need and extends usable lifetime too.

Repairability and upgradeability are central to who they are as a company. Changing the case design from FW13 to FW13.2 breaks that.

I'd imagine their case designs were created with some attempt to look forward and not design themselves into a corner. At the same time, things evolve and at some point a very compelling reason for a case design change may come along. But I cannot envision this company undertaking a redesign lightly.