Framework Computer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Framework Computer Inc
IndustryComputer hardware
FoundedJanuary 2020[1]
FounderNirav Patel
Headquarters
Burlingame, California
,
United States
Area served
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Ireland, Austria, The Netherlands
Key people
Nirav Patel (founder, CEO)
ProductsLaptops
Websiteframe.work

Framework Computer Inc is an American laptop manufacturer.[2][3][4][5] The company positions itself as a proponent of the electronics right to repair movement,[6][7][1] and their laptops are designed to be easy to disassemble, with replaceable parts.[2][3] The company's approach has earned them praise from Louis Rossmann[8] and Linus Sebastian,[9] the latter having invested $225,000 into the company.[10] In November 2021, Time magazine listed the Framework Laptop on their list of the 100 Best Inventions.[11]

Products[]

For the products repairability and upgradability, the company's website has the guide for the replacement and repair[12] and the marketplace.[13]

Framework Laptop[]

Framework Laptop

In July 2021, Framework Computer started to ship their first product Framework Laptop for the US and Canada.[14] In December 2021, Framework Computer started the pre-order for the UK, Germany and France.[15] In February 2022, pre-ordering became available for Ireland, Austria and The Netherlands.[16] Framework Laptop received a 10 out of 10 in iFixit's repairability score.[17] Framework Laptop has the pre-assembled edition, and Framework Laptop DIY Edition to customize, upgrade, and assemble like a desktop. Framework Laptop DIY Edition provides an option without a pre-installed operating system.

Embedded controller firmware[]

Framework Laptop is using the proprietary firmware BIOS and an open sourced embedded controller (EC) firmware, that is based on CrOS EC.[18] In April 2021, the company mentioned "Open source firmware is well aligned to our mission of building products. We're currently focused on getting the Framework Laptop out into the world in a lower-risk path that uses an off the shelf proprietary BIOS, but we're looking forward to replacing that with an open alternative in the future.".[19] In January 2022, the company open sourced their EC firmware.[20][21]

The company is developing their BIOS. The initially shipped BIOS version is 3.02. The latest version is 3.07 in Windows, and the beta version in Linux as of January 6, 2022.[22] The support by the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) with fwupd is expected. Currently it is in testing state.[23]

A company or individual driven projects[]

The company launched the Expansion Card Developer Program to opening card development, released documentation, CAD templates, and reference designs for Expansion Cards, all under open source licenses to make it easy for both hardware companies and individual makers to create new card designs.[24] There are a third party company or individual driven projects.[25]

  • Framework Laptop skins & wraps[26][27]
  • Screen protector film
  • Arts & wallpapers[28]
  • Magnetic charger expansion card[29][25]
  • Dual USB-C expansion card
  • LTE Cat 4 Cell modem expansion card[30]
  • Scroll wheels expansion card[31]
  • A cyberdeck-like keyboard PC that re-purposes the Framework Laptop's motherboard[32][33][25]
  • An EC tool that changes the colors of LEDs and the keyboard layout on the firmware level.[34][35][36][37]

Community relations[]

The company has their official forum[38] hosted on Discourse and community platform[39] hosted on Discord. The company provided pre-release hardware to developers and maintainers at Fedora Project, elementary OS, NixOS, and Arch Linux to make the Linux experience as smooth as possible on Framework Laptop.[40] Arch Linux has Framework Laptop page on their wiki site.[41]

Partner relations[]

In January 2022, Intel introduced Framework Computer as one of their partners at the tech event, CES 2022[42].[43] Framework Computer mentioned that they have a communication with the Intel Linux WiFi driver team, and the Framework Laptop's WiFi and Bluetooth stability to be good starting from Linux kernel version 5.17.[44]

Support[]

The company supports by knowledge base articles, community forum, QR codes on the products, and inquiry form.[45]

Supported countries and regions[]

Framework Laptop is available for order in the US and Canada and for pre-order in the UK, Germany and France. The company announced they will add additional countries in 2022, introducing their region selection page.[46][47] In December 2021, the company announced that they chose the additional supported countries UK, Germany and France based on both the number of people who registered interest through the region selection page and on logistical complexity.[15] In February 2022, pre-ordering became available for Ireland, Austria and The Netherlands.[16]

There are several threads about this topic on the community forum.[48] The company recommended users waiting until the company officially launch in your region before ordering.[49] The company commented "if an import service is used, we will not be able to support your laptop or warranty if something goes wrong hardware-wise or assist when it comes to international customs or VATs".[50]

Linux support[]

In December 2021, the company released a statement asking users who are not using Ubuntu 21.04.3+ or Fedora 35 to troubleshoot with Framework's Linux community[51] instead of contacting Framework support as no other Linux distribution has been verified by the company for hardware compatibility, mentioning that the company could troubleshoot general product usage issues on a supported OS, but could not troubleshoot OS related issues not related to the product functionality.[52]

Electronics right to repair movement[]

Framework Laptop as part of the exhibition 'Waste Age: What can design do?' at the Design Museum.

Framework Laptop is on display as part of the Waste Age: What can Design Do? exhibition[53] displayed at the Design Museum[54] in London from October 2021 to February 2022.[55]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "How I Built Framework, The Laptop Tackling The Right To Repair | Make:". Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. September 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Buzzi, Matthew; Burek, John. "Framework Laptop Review". PCMAG.
  3. ^ a b Wawro, Alex (August 18, 2021). "Framework Laptop review: The anti-MacBook has arrived". Tom's Guide.
  4. ^ Salter, Jim (July 27, 2021). "Review: Framework's lightweight modular laptop is a winner". Ars Technica.
  5. ^ Grunin, Lori. "Framework Laptop review: A functional and futureproof 13 inches". CNET.
  6. ^ Lee, Dave (August 31, 2021). "Why Big Tech should embrace the 'right to repair' revolution". www.ft.com.
  7. ^ Freethink Team (October 16, 2021). "This DIY laptop is challenging tech giants like Apple & Microsoft". www.freethink.com.
  8. ^ Rossmann, Louis. "Frame.work isn't virtue signalling; they genuinely support Right to Repair. I wish them success" – via www.youtube.com.
  9. ^ Linus Tech Tips. "A Completely Upgradeable Laptop? - Framework Laptop Review" – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ "I'm Legally Obligated to Disclose This". Linus Tech Tips.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Steinberg, Don (November 10, 2021). "A Notebook You Can Repair: Framework Laptop". Time.
  12. ^ "Framework Guides". frame.work.
  13. ^ "Fix Consumer Electronics". frame.work.
  14. ^ Nirav Patel. "The Framework Laptop is now shipping, and press reviews are up!". frame.work.
  15. ^ a b Nirav Patel (December 16, 2021). "Now Available for Pre-order in UK, Germany, and France". frame.work.
  16. ^ a b Patel, Nirav (February 22, 2022). "Bringing the Framework Laptop to more of the world". Framework. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Framework Laptop Teardown: 10/10, But is it Perfect?". iFixit. July 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "CrOS EC (Embedded Controller)". chromium.googlesource.com.
  19. ^ "'Free the EC!' and 'Coreboot Only'". community.frame.work. April 11, 2021.
  20. ^ Dawe, Liam (January 21, 2022). "Framework put up the source code for their Embedded Controller firmware" – via www.gamingonlinux.com.
  21. ^ Nirav Patel (January 21, 2022). "Open Sourcing our Firmware". frame.work.
  22. ^ "Framework Laptop BIOS and Driver Releases". knowledgebase.frame.work. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "LVFS Framework Laptop TGL". fwupd.org. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  24. ^ Framework Computer. "Reference designs and documentation to create Expansion Cards for the Framework Laptop" – via github.com.
  25. ^ a b c "These Framework Laptop Mods Show Us Exactly Why Modular Computers Are So Damn Cool". Gizmodo. January 17, 2022.
  26. ^ dbrand. "Framework Laptop Skins & Wraps". dbrand.com.
  27. ^ dbrand (December 5, 2021). "How to Apply a dbrand Framework Laptop Skin" – via www.youtube.com.
  28. ^ "Framework Fan Art". community.frame.work. September 12, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  29. ^ "Framework Laptop Magnetic Charger Expansion Card Full power!". October 29, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  30. ^ "LTE Cat 4 Cell Modem Card". community.frame.work. October 21, 2021.
  31. ^ "roPlug Demonstration". November 4, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  32. ^ Elevated Systems (November 7, 2021). "Complete PC in a Mechanical Keyboard! Retro Concept, Modern Hardware" – via www.youtube.com.
  33. ^ "Framework Laptop Mainboard Powers Custom 60% Mechanical Keyboard". Tom's Hardware. November 11, 2021.
  34. ^ "The Framework Laptop's Embedded Controller (EC)". www.howett.net. December 22, 2021.
  35. ^ "Framework Holiday Lights". December 26, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  36. ^ "Exploring the Embedded Controller". community.frame.work. December 24, 2021.
  37. ^ "Changed my keyboard layout in hardware to colemak!". community.frame.work. January 23, 2022.
  38. ^ "Framework Community". frame.work.
  39. ^ "Framework". discord.gg.
  40. ^ Nirav Patel (September 1, 2021). "Linux on the Framework Laptop". frame.work.
  41. ^ "Framework Laptop - ArchWiki". wiki.archlinux.org.
  42. ^ "CES". www.ces.tech. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  43. ^ "Intel CES 2022 Demo: 12th Gen, Intel Evo, vPro, Thunderbolt 4 and NUC 12 Extreme". Intel Newsroom. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  44. ^ "AX210 Wifi Ubuntu 21.04 dropped connection issues". community.frame.work. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  45. ^ "Framework Support". frame.work.
  46. ^ "What countries and regions do you ship to?". knowledgebase.frame.work.
  47. ^ "Framework: the modular PC in pre-order for France". www.archyde.com. December 17, 2021.
  48. ^ "What countries will you be shipping to?". community.frame.work.
  49. ^ "Ordering outside US using shipping forward". community.frame.work. May 16, 2021.
  50. ^ "Is it a foolish endeavor to ship a laptop from the USA to the Netherlands?". community.frame.work. December 6, 2021.
  51. ^ "Linux topics - Framework Community". community.frame.work.
  52. ^ "OFFICIAL - Linux and Framework Support - PLEASE READ". community.frame.work. December 17, 2021.
  53. ^ "Waste Age: What can design do? - the Design Museum". designmuseum.org. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  54. ^ "Design Museum". designmuseum.org. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  55. ^ "Framework develops modular laptop users can fix and upgrade themselves". www.dailyimportant.thats.im. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.

External links[]

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