Framework Discloses Further Information About Its Customizable Laptop Components

Framework with future ready Laptop

Framework, a San Francisco-based company, revealed in late February that it wanted to create a laptop that was fully customizable, largely future-proof, and more eco-friendly, in contrast to the buy-ditch-replace model that most existing laptops operate under. It shared more information about how it intended to achieve those goals in the weeks that followed, and today it announced the launch of a new Framework Community dedicated to its mission.

Specs of Laptops by Framework

Let’s go over the basics: Framework’s laptop will initially be equipped with 11th Generation Intel Core processors, as well as up to 64GB of DDR4 memory and 4TB of storage via PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs. It’ll also have a 13.5-inch display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 and a lightweight aluminium case weighing less than 2.9 pounds (1.3kg).

But the Framework laptop’s main appeal is its ability to reduce electronic waste, partly because it’s expected to be made from 50 percent recycled aluminium and up to 30 percent recycled plastic, and mostly because it’s expected to have extensive customization, allowing many of its components to be swapped out individually via swappable modules.

What Options Provided?

Shortly after the Framework laptop was unveiled, the company began to share more detail about the laptop’s initial parts modules. It began with the keyboard options, which are said to depend on fasteners that can be removed with the included screwdriver and for which the company plans to sell replacements via the Framework Marketplace after launch.

Framework also plans to release two limited-edition keyboards: a “completely stealthed out matte black” option and a “exclusive crystal clear” option, none of which will have any printing, which is exactly the kind of gimmick people enjoy before they lose track of where each key is. At the very least, you’ll be able to quickly replace the keyboard, right?

Webcam

The company then went over the starter webcam on the laptop, which is a custom 1080p 60fps camera built in collaboration with Partron. A 1/6″ OmniVision OV2740 sensor, a “big 80° diagonal f/2.0 four element lens” with a “blue glass IR filter,” and a Realtek RTS5853 camera controller, according to Framework.

Both of these features can help the camera perform better in a range of lighting conditions and at a higher resolution than most laptop webcams, which are still limited to 720p and fail in less-than-ideal lighting. Framework also included a hardware privacy switch in the camera to resolve privacy concerns.

Mainboard Options

The mainboard choices came next. Framework announced that it would initially sell mainboards with Intel Core i5-1135G7, i7-1165G7, and i7-1185G7 processors. A 65 x 5.5mm cooling fan, dual 5mm heat pipes, and a copper fin pack are said to allow 28W continuous processor load and up to 60W turbo for those CPUs.

Framework said it “architected the mainboard to optimise adaptability to future generations of x86 and ARM (and we hope finally RISC-V!) CPUs,” and that it won’t stop with Intel’s latest-generation processors. The mainboard is also expected to be reusable outside of the system, which should go along with its ease of replacement. Framework’s blog post, for example, suggests that after replacing your Framework laptop with a new one, you create a single-board machine using your old mainboard.

Storage and Expansion

The Storage Expansion Cards were the subject of Framework’s next blog post. The Phison U17 flash controller, Micron N28 NAND, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 are used in these external drives. To begin, the company plans to offer two cards: a 250GB model with 1000 MB/s read and 375 MB/s write speeds, and a 1TB model that “exceeds 1000 MB/s sequential read and write output, with fantastic random read and write,” according to the company.

Finally, there’s the Platform Community, which the company says it’ll use “through threads, surveys, and early development previews” to “brainstorm and get your feedback on prioritising possible modules, updates, and items.” Even if it appears to be a fairly ordinary debate forum, at least an attempt is being made.

Start-up: No Clear Plan

Having more information about the Framework laptop allays fears that the company unveiled its dream product without a clear plan for future support. However, this is still a startup making a lot of claims (salt) about hardware (more salt) amid a global chip shortage (just empty the entire shaker) for a device that isn’t supposed to be available until this summer.