As one of the QMK Firmware maintainers, it's great to see you're going ahead with the customisable side of things even on the input side.
Might I suggest engaging with QMK early so that we can avoid the usual manufacturer "hey can you merge this, we've shipped already and forgot to raise the PR until now"?
Absolutely! We’ve been chatting with Jack Humbert, and he’s actually been prototyping an ortholinear keyboard module for the Framework Laptop 16. There are likely some photos of it in press articles about the event today.
If you folks and Jack manage to make the OLKB module a reality, you'll have me vendorlocked for life. I think I'd go so far as buying 3 of those modules just to be extra sure that I'm set with replacement parts.
Uh... completely unrelated question: have you laid out any plans regarding module backcompatibility on future boards?
That's great news, any chance for an orthostaggered module as our fingers have different lengths for a linear one (or maybe that's what you meant with just terminology slip)
Looking at your mechanical design for the large input module, though I can't compare the height at the moment, it appears to be almost the same size as the keyboard on the Framework 13. While it would obviously require a new input cover design, would it be possible to design an assembly that would allow a single large input module to be used as the keyboard on a Framework 13? Or would there be height problems?
The key structure actually is the same as the Framework Laptop 13, including the same key travel. The overall module is different though to handle the interface differences, in a way that makes it not possible to retrofit into a Framework Laptop 13 unfortunately (we thought about this, but couldn't make it work well).
Hey! I pre-ordered an AMD version as soon as the site would handle it, but I wasn't able to choose between the mattte and glossy display. Is there any way to get the matte display with the new AMD option?
The Matte display version is pre-installed on all 13th Gen Intel Core and AMD Ryzen 7040 Series Framework Laptops. If you do want a glossy display, it's available as a module in the Marketplace to swap in (or you can pick up an older 11th Gen, 12th Gen, or Chromebook Edition which also have the original display).
It's ultimately inventory costs and supply chain complexity to manage a larger number of laptop SKUs (CPU options * DIY/pre-built * keyboard options * any other configurable variable). We're a small team, so when there are areas of the product we can condense into having one default configuration, we take those efficiencies, while still enabling an "escape valve" through the Marketplace.
I understand the supply concerns, but in the future please consider a glossy display as default option (even if just in the DIY edition). It seems wasteful to have to buy matte display only to replace with a glossy one. A lot of people in the monitors community hate matte displays and actively avoid buying devices with them.
Hey Nirav, thanks so much for the progress you and your team have done! Just had a question if there's been some benchmarking done for Linux on the new AMD and Intel mainboards.
We don't have any benchmarks we can share yet, but we absolutely expect that there will be press reviews that do comparisons between Intel and AMD-based Framework Laptops.
They do use different mainboards in order to enable all of the functionality that exists in the Framework Laptop 16 (6x Expansion Cards, the Expansion Bay, and the Input Module system).
Any chance you will introduce a "good keyboard" option? Like old-school ThinkPad keyboards. (key travel depth, figured keycaps, maybe additional row of keys)
I didn't quite get what form the modular upgradeable graphics would take:
* Is this an "egpu connected by a cable" situation, or something actually integrated into the laptop's body?
* What are realistic possibilities for how much gpu, and how much of a premium would it be over other laptop or desktop gpu's? Is this something you would be making, or third parties?
> The Framework Laptop 16 has an Expansion Bay system that contains both the cooling fans and an interface for high-power, high-speed PCIe peripherals like GPUs. Expansion Bay modules can extend in both thickness and depth to accomodate higher power requirements.
Is there any progress being made with some of the nagging issues that impact the 12th gen intel laptops when using Linux?
Specifically poor battery life (especially during standby when using the USB-A module) and not being able to use the brightness keys unless you disable the sensor?
Our latest beta BIOS updates improve the power consumption while using USB-A Expansion Cards on 11th and 12th Gen. We have some additional improvements we’re working on around this on HDMI and DP cards as well. For the brightness key/ALS conflict, this is pending additional driver work.
Are you talking about the one from December that's in beta[1]? Do you know when it'll be ready for primetime? Sounds like it turns off thunderbolt on the left side of the laptop so I've been reluctant to try it
Will it be possible to upgrade my current framework laptop to the new 16" form factor? It feels like it should be a possible upgrade, but I haven't seen anything saying that it will be possible, so I'd like to confirm.
