Framework's new Linux laptop is selling faster than its Windows one(www.pcworld.com)

41 pointsby Garbage7 hours ago7 comments

notepad0x905 hours ago
Is framework aiming for mass market breakthrough? if so, I hope they're planning on the macbook neo. I have no reason to recommend it outside of tech-enthusiast circles over a macbook now, thanks to the neo. But I really don't think they want mass market, it wouldn't be a win for anyone. By design, it's a "repairable" computer, so people who want to repair their own laptop are the main customers.
You can't repair macs easily, but they last long enough for that to not be an issue. and honestly, the apple care experience is ideal for most people.
I do hope then that they stick to the tech-enthusiast market perfecting Linux-friendly laptops. The laptop market hasn't learned from framework's success, so I was hoping at the wake of the neo's success, someone could prove a similar quality laptop is possible by a non-apple company, keeping the competition alive.
My biggest concern for them is, one of these bigger laptop makers panic because of losses from the neo, and takes over framework.
- pjmlp2 hours ago
  I have zero reasons to recomend paying 800 euros for a mobile SOC with 8 GB, and the Apple experience is pretty much hit and miss, it certainly isn't worthwhile the extra cost when one needs to top it up with Apple Care, and get lemons like buterfly keyboard, Tahoe and many other issues that get had waved because "It is Apple!".
  Then you get the nerds that get Apple because "I know this, it is UNIX!", when in reality what they wanted was GNU/Linux, and then complain all the time it isn't, because they skipped the class where UNIX, POSIX and all differences throught history were explained.
- eigenspace2 hours ago
  Framework laptops are selling like crazy. The pre-orders on their highest end configuration of the new pro are completely sold out, and the pre-orders on the two lower variants are backed up until their 9th batch that wont ship until August.
  It looks like theyre selling more laptops than they expected to, not less.
  Their laptops are niche, but that niche seems to be growing quite nicely. There's a big cultural wave of frustration with Big Tech companies and their rent-seeking practices, and Framework is doing a good job of riding this wave.
  Your concern about their being bought out is unfounded. They're not a publicly traded company and dont need to sell equity to anyone if they dont want to.
  - cromkaan hour ago
    We don't know the batch sizes to make such statements.
    eigenspacean hour ago
    It's at the very least indicative that they are selling more units than they expected to sell, and likely dont have enough allocation of at least some of those chips.
    Sure, they could have thought it'd only sell a tiny number of units, but if they thought that, they wouldnt have launched the product.
    Im happy for them
- commandersaki34 minutes ago
  The macbook neo is pretty repairable. Getting parts might be an issue though.
- ktallett40 minutes ago
  The framework 12 is comparable in cost to a macbook neo, plus can work with a stylus as a tablet. I would say that is huge reason to recommend it. As well as that it can be repaired and upgraded as and when you want which is handy. Likewise it also can be used indefinitely theoretically as you can replace broken parts and a computer from 15 years ago is still usable today, so I am sure computers from today can still be used in 15 years.
- burgerone4 hours ago
  The apple care experience is a scam
  - deaux3 hours ago
    Just a few years ago I accidentally stood on my Macbook, screen broke and we got a new one no questions asked. If that's a scam then everything is.
pjmlp2 hours ago
This is not surprising, given how many of us were buying Netbooks, even with their OEM specific Linux distros, until Microsoft came up with the Windows XP discount.
My ASUS 1215B survived from 2009 up to 2024, with multiple Ubuntu LTS updates, HDD replaced with SDD and eventually maxed out to 8 GB.
IF Dell, Asus, Lenovo et all started selling on regular computer stores what is only available to computer nerds on their online stores, this would be much more noticeable.
As it is, normies walk into a store and get to chose between Windows, macOS, Chromebooks, iPad Pro or Android DEX/HyperOS Workstation/....
dtj112342 minutes ago
Anyone know if the new pro laptop has intel ME disabled?
hactually6 hours ago
Incredible news. I've ordered one myself... wish the 16 Pro was out but I figure it makes sense to support companies doing the things you want.
The last thread on framework was disappointing in how many said "oh, if it just had X I'd totally buy it" who probably all use Mac's with it's basic configuration.
an hour ago
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dankwizard3 hours ago
This one isn't rocket science.
Framework isn't as mass market as your typical laptop competitors. You can make an assumption a purchaser of framework is tech minded / informed shopper.
You can also see their prebuilt option is Windows only.
When going DIY, adding Windows is between $225 and $339 depending on edition.
Most informed shoppers and techheads also know you can go to key selling websites and get completely legal and working Windows keys for <$20.
Why would people volunteer to pay 1000% more?
- orphea2 hours ago
  get completely legal and working Windows keys for <$20
  You cannot. The fact that a $20 key may activate Windows doesn't make the installation legal, Windows is still pirated. And you can pirate it $20 cheaper.
- kay_o2 hours ago
  Most tech heads would just use the activator, since the key selling sites are simply sending <$20 to criminals for a key that is equally illegal as the activator.
  The last few I've seen on G2A were phished/stolen bizspark or similar accounts and bulk "reclaimed". I would imagine most keyshops are similar.
arcfour5 hours ago
I mean, I have to imagine the type of people that even know about Framework's products, let alone those that have interest in buying them, are overwhelmingly likely to be the type of people that use Linux, not Windows.
Not to pooh-pooh their success! Just my initial reaction to this headline was that it's a bit misleading/silly.
- bl4kers3 hours ago
  Except the ratio was never before seen, which makes it noteworthy