1 yr. ago • 98%

Review: Framework Laptop finally gets an AMD Ryzen config—and it’s pretty good

arstechnica.com Review: Framework Laptop finally gets an AMD Ryzen config—and it’s pretty good

Battery life is a sticking point, but the speed is generally worth it.

Technology @lemmy.ml Review: Framework Laptop finally gets an AMD Ryzen config—and it’s pretty good

61 comments

The battery life in arstechnica's review stands out as different and lower compared to 2 other reviews (pcgamer and techradar):

https://lemmy.zip/comment/3284894

It might be due to the use of the USB-A ports on the backside of the laptop which are known to have some abnormal power draw, which framework is currently addressing.

65
- 30% better than any Intel gen, wow.
  
  47
- Do they now have additional USB ports on the back side? Or do you refer to having USB modules plugged in?
  
  7
  
  They were talking about the usb modules. The back two on either side (the ones closest to the screen) have an issues where the USB 4 Type C to USB A adapter is not fully going to sleep when nothing is plugged in. So ArsTechnica's reviewer most likely had one of the USB A modules plugged into those two USB 4 ports which causes their apparent poor battery life.
  
  10
I have a first gen framework and I really like it. Having the ports behave differently on this AMD does seem a little annoying but I guess you'd get used to it.

34
- I think it's an alright compromise. I rarely move my expansion cards around. I use four USB-C cards and sometimes swap one out for a storage card that has Windows installed on it.
  
  17
  
  I also don't move them often, it's interesting they weren't able to get all 4 the same though. I haven't read anything that actually explains it. I guess the CPU can only handle that configuration.
  
  12
- Permanently Deleted
  
  2
  
  USB 3.2 gen 2 isn't exactly slow. In fact, for USB use cases it's USB 3.2 gen 2 that runs over the USB 4 ports. It's just the USB 4 ports can do other protocols too, like thunderbolt, pcie and displayport.
  
  Seeing as most laptops I see might have 2xUSB-C ports total, I don't see it as a drawback.
  
  5
They don't sell this in my country, it's so annoying! Everything I want in a laptop is right there.

Ive had two Lenovo laptops lately and they have ALL broken in different ways after a few years.

First one, mouse pad clicks stopped working.

Second one, some keys stopped working.

I want a laptop where I can replace things like this when they break.

29
- If you got a Lenovo ThinkPad then you can easily replace parts. They're available online from Lenovo themselves along with documentation on how to perform the repairs.
  
  If you got a Lenovo ideapad... they suck.
  
  19
  
  I got one t14 and one carbon x9. I don't buy those ideapads.. :) OK will have a look!
  
  2
  
  I had an ideapad 5. It was quite decent..
  
  I only had it for a year though. Replaced with the MBA
  
  2
- Import it..
  
  Its never impossible.
  
  5
Still no CoreBoot support, so it's a hard pass for me. I wish they worked on it, they promised it back in 2020.

28
- Don't let perfect be the enemy of good
  
  54
  
  Yeah, there's still plenty of issues I have with my framework laptop, but I'm ultimately happier with it than I would've been will Dell, Lenovo, Asus, etc.
  
  1
- I think they're still hiring coreboot devs on their career page. Maybe they're not willing to pay enough?
  
  7
This is the best summary I could come up with:

My third review of this laptop is probably the one that I (and many Framework-curious PC buyers) have been the most interested to test, as the company has finally added an AMD Ryzen option to the repair-friendly portable.

I won't spend a lot of time talking about the design of the Framework Laptop 13 again, except to say that it remains a competent ultraportable, and there's nothing that feels dated or clunky about its design now that didn't already feel a little dated and clunky two years ago (the relatively thick display bezel is the main culprit here).

Another laptop in this category we generally like, Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon, has been using the same basic design for years, so it's not like Framework is in danger of falling behind in a chaotic and fast-paced industry.

All the Intel Framework Laptops have supported the same specifications for all four ports (USB 4 for the 11th-gen, Thunderbolt 4 for the newer ones), allowing you to install the expansion card modules wherever you want them without worrying about the particulars.

Framework also says the rear ports enter a "high-power mode" when USB-A modules are connected to them, which can reduce battery life.

But some modules are better fits for specific ports, and you'll have to be a bit more careful about where you put things if you want the best performance and battery life.

The original article contains 530 words, the summary contains 232 words. Saved 56%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

15
- Good bot! (and good programmer(s)) Thankyou for summarizing articles that some people can't access.
  
  4
My biggest complaint: In stock: never

Since I'm allergic to ever preordering anything, ever, for any reason whatsoever, this may as well be vaporware.

13
- They only take a refundable $100 deposit until shipment. So, lower risk than with a video game or Kickstarter, IMO.
  
  8
- I thought vaporware was software
  
  4
  
  Term can be used for hardware or software, but that's fair to think.
  
  4
  
  Historically, probably
  
  But with the rise of crowdfunding and "direct to consumer" sales models like this, it has increasingly been used to refer to hardware.
  
  And, for what it is worth, I remember similar discussions in probably the early/mid 00s (maybe even late 90s?) with regard to the kind of stuff you would see in magazines. Which we now understand to mostly be proof of concept PR stunts by tech companies. Use them to "plant a flag in the ground" so that you can search for investors and accuse the competition of copying you.
  
  2
- My issue is the hinges.
  
  Because the plastic they use is super cheap, both my framework laptops have the hinges bend the plastic after a couple of years. The metal is fine but the hinges plastic is in terrible shape. I love what they do and PopOS but they really need to fix that issue.
  
  1
I lost all interest the moment I saw that it has no dedicated GPU.

-48
- The upcoming 16 inch model will have a dedicated gpu.
  
  39
- Why would you want one in a laptop?
  
  They produce too much heat
  
  9
  
  Plenty of laptops have dedicated GPUs, and framework is actually releasing one with a dedicated GPU.
  
  Why would you want a laptop that can do some CPU tasks but falls on its ass when doing GPU tasks? Seems ridiculous to buy a laptop capable of only doing half as many things. Integrated graphics are garbage.
  
  25
  
  I'd imagine for graphics intensive tasks and they'll have to be moving the device around?
  
  10
  
  I wouldn't but my girlfriend does, despite me trying to explain to her why desktops are better. I don't buy laptops.
  
  -9

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