Framework

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Discussion around the Framework mission of building products that last longer by making them upgradeable, customizable, and repairable. Consumer electronics can be better for you and for the environment.

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Do you think Framework will ever abandon the OG FW13 design? (and have 2 models?) (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by sugadugaduga@alien.top to c/framework@hardware.watch

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One thing I've wondered about the FW is if it will look pretty much exactly the same 3, 5 or even 10 years down the line.

Not that I think theres anything wrong with the design (its just about perfect), but I wonder if FW will release a "new version" that isn't fully swappable with the old version.

My guess would be they release a new "shell" that may or may not be compatible with the old motherboard, maybe smaller bezels, or whatever new thing is popular at the time. Maybe they just decide to release a very similar shell, but that is made from new materials with some minor changes that make things so that they arent fully backwards-compatible.

I think they'll release updated boards for the old gen for maybe 2 generations before only making new board for the "new"design.

Im predicting this will happen in around 3-4 generations from now.

What do you think?

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[–] Cromagmadon@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I would think the only thing they would abandon with their designs so far (based on their youtube series) would be the expansion card size. It should be credit card width so they could have smart card authenticators integrated into an expansion slot. It would have then made the SD card issue moot but would have made the other cards less space efficient.

Since smart card authentication is literally the only thing I can think of never fitting in an expansion slot, it could also be integrated into an input cover which doesn't have that design restriction.

[–] Saragon4005@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Tbh I see smart cards dying first then the expansion modules. For something that bulky you don't need a port. You want a whole external device.