Laptops are great for flexibility and portability. However, you cannot upgrade them, and you’re stuck with the specs that manufacturers offer. I plan to get a new computer in the next few months, and as I was browsing, saw the Framework laptop. Here’s why I find this laptop exciting—and why I’m going to buy it next.
1I Can Choose the Specifications I Want
When I’m shopping for a specific laptop model, I’m typically limited to the specifications that the manufacturer offers. I’m not just talking about the processor and memory configurations here, though. I’m also looking at the discrete GPU, keyboard and macro pad options, and, most importantly, port options.
For example, I have a triple monitor workstation at home, but I occasionally spend a week working in another place every quarter or so. So, when I’m at home, I want a laptop with a discrete GPU, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an audio port, and an ethernet port.
But when I’m outside, I’ll swap out the discrete GPU for Expansion Bay Shell since I rarely game when I’m exploring another place. I also don’t need the audio and ethernet ports, so I’ll swap them out for the microSD expansion card and an HDMI port for my portable monitor. These swappable ports mean I no longer need to carry a separate USB hub, likethe Baseus Metal Gleam Series II.
2The Framework Laptop Is Easy to Repair
Most thin-and-light laptops aren’t repair-friendly, as many manufacturers solder everything and use glue to keep everything tight. However, Framework has been able to retain the same slim form factor while keeping everything modular. This makes it the darling ofthe right-to-repair movement, showing everyone how a laptop should be built.
So, if you ever encounter a problem with a battery, screen, or any other part or peripheral, you just need to pop open the cover, use a standard small screwdriver, and you may easily swap out parts. You don’t have to take the laptop to a specialist or deal with expensive service fees to repair the Framework laptop.
This even applies to warranty services. For example, say one of the memory cards on the Framework laptop fails. You can then disassemble and take out the bad part and still use the laptop while you’re waiting for a replacement; that way, you’re not without a laptop as Framework ships you a new RAM stick.
3I Don’t Have to Buy a New Laptop to Upgrade It
One reason I’m looking at a new PC is that my current one is turning five next year. Since I use my computer primarily for work, I stick to a five-year upgrade cadence to ensure reliability. However, that means I must buy a new laptop every five years to keep up with technology because I can’t upgrade it piece by piece.
With a Framework laptop, I can just choose the parts I want to upgrade as needed. For example, let’s say I bought a Framework laptop 16 today with a Ryzen 9 7940HS, Radeon RX 7700S, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of storage. If I want to upgrade to a new discrete GPU next year, I can just buy one from Framework and slap it in the Framework 16 instead of buying an all-new laptop altogether.
It also applies to all other parts, like the processor, RAM, storage, and even the display. Framework has proven its support for multiple generations of CPUs, as it started with an 11th-gen Intel CPU. The Framework 13 now supports Intel Core Ultra Series 1 and AMD Ryzen 7040 series chips, and you don’t have to buy an all-new laptop just to upgrade to these latest processors.
4I Reduce E-Waste With the Framework Laptop
One side effect of this modularity is that I greatly reduce e-waste with the Framework laptop. So, if I encounter an issue with the Framework laptop after its warranty expires, it’s much easier (and cheaper) to replace the problematic parts compared to non-modular laptops, giving users less incentive to buy a new laptop and throw away the old one.
This is unlike before, when you’re more likely to discard a fixable old laptop because the complexity of the repair drives up the cost, making it impractical to fix.
This is also true with upgrades. Since I can just buy and install new parts, I don’t have to purchase a new laptop every so often and I can just keep my Framework laptop chugging along for several years. I no longer have to add to my stack of 10-, 15-, and 20-year-old laptops just sitting in my drawer since I (nor anyone else I know) would have no use for them anymore.
So, buying a Framework laptop is one of theways I can reduce e-waste. Even if just a thousand people buy and upgrade a Framework laptop a decade, that’ll keep about 2,000 laptops out of the landfill if everyone typically replace their computers every three years.
5I Can Easily Change How the Laptop Looks and Make It Unique
Aside from the easily interchangeable hardware, the Framework laptop is also fairly customizable. The company offers a plethora of keyboards, including ANSI and ISO layouts and keyboards for different languages, such as Traditional Chinese, Korean, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, German, International English, US English, British English, French, and more.
You also get a Numpad Module and an RGB Macro pad option for those who work with a lot of numbers and those who need extra assignable keys. Aside from that, Framework also offers three different screen bezel colors, five spacer colors (if I don’t want to install the Numpad or macro pad), and even a programmable LED Matrix.
Framework also partnered with Cooler Master and started offering cases for 11th- to 13th-gen Intel mainboards, allowing users who are upgrading to more modern chips to use these older ones as a standalone PC. And, if you’re the type to build your own custom parts, there’s also the Framework Community. This is where you can find projects and ideas that will help my Framework laptop truly your own.
These are some of the few things why I excited to get my hands on a Framework laptop when I upgrade my computer next year. It’s like having the size and portability of a laptop, but the upgradability and utility of a desktop computer. I just hope that it becomes available across more areas next year, as it’s not yet available in my region. But if I was based in the U.S., then I’d definitely have this as my next Windows PC.
