Framework laptop: Cory Doctorow's thoughts

(pluralistic.net)

Then I saw Ifixit's teardown of a Framework laptop. They described a computer whose hardware was fully user-maintainable/upgradeable. The system opens with six "captive" screws (they stay in the case) and then every component can be easily accessed.

There's no tape. There's no glue. Every part has a QR code that you can shoot with your phone to go to a service manual that has simple-to-follow instructions for installing, removing and replacing it. Every part is labeled in English, too!

The screen is replaceable. The keyboard is replaceable. The touchpad is replaceable. Removing the battery and replacing it takes less than five minutes. The computer actually ships with a screwdriver.

All this, without sacrificing size or power – it's so similar to a Macbook that a friend who came over for dinner (and who knows about my feelings about proprietary Apple hardware) expressed shock that I'd switched to a Macbook!

The Framework laptop has great reparability and customization. Exciting to see how it evolves over time although it does look promising here that if they keep this up, I might get one of these.