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

My hope is that they'll find a way to evolve rather than abandon. For example, imagine they made an alternative bottom case that totally replaced the existing bottom case, but added the ability to mount an alternative top case attached by a 360 hinge, or a tablet top case that replaces the keyboard while using that same new bottom case. (and supporting an MS surface style keyboard)

That new version could then be sold as a laptop or a tablet and be converted between the two fairly easily, while owners of the original could still upgrade to the new version just by replacing their bottom case.

I also think the most likely case for forcing a redesign is advanced cpu architecture shrinking the MB and providing more battery space. If that bottom case can be made to house either the old internals or the new, that would be ideal but probably not likely.