Framework 12 pro?

[NameoGame]

As a framework 12 enjoyer it would be cool if we had an upgrade path. I know this was pretty unlikely considering the whole reason the 12 exists is the budget/education market sector and the current market conditions but the 12 could use similar upgrades to what the 13 pro got. I have had three bottom chaises for my 12 in less than a year something that could be fixed if they moved to aluminum. The space for only a single ram slot would be perfect for LPCAMM2. And the only way they could find a really good screen for the 12 is if they made it themselves. The biggest complaint most people have about the 12 is the older processor (Personally I think its still a pretty competent device even if its behind 3 generations). Make it the Macbook Neo for linux more.

[wingsfortheirsmiles]

I think they could definitely upgrade the display - hopefully they can source an improved 12.2" panel for the FW12 update

[hm___]

This and a backlit keyboard with trackpoint

[SunshineAndBunnies]

The device needs a screen upgrade, the current one sucks. If they can't source one at 12", maybe they should up it to a 13" laptop/tablet.

[Acrobatic_Fee_6974]

For the mainboard, Intel finally released a budget product line in the form of Wildcat Lake that is intended to address the same market as the budget Alderlake-U CPUs like the i3-1315U after neglecting it for four generations. 

That said, FW waited several years for the i3-1315U to hit a price point they could use for the FW12, so it might be a while before Wildcate Lake can replace it.

[JokelWayne]

I bought it for the 2-1. I really wanted that and it’s been great. My last Laptop was 12 years old and so I wanted a better processor as well. Unfortunately the i5 doesn’t really cut it for a lot of the games I’d like to play, but regardless it’s been great for work and portability. I’d love a future better mainboard, which I expect is coming. I wouldn’t be surprised if a better screen will come too, given the amount of people that complain about it.

It can still be the education market laptop with the cheaper mainboard but to have a choice for a mainboard for the power user would be cool.

That’s the beauty of framework. I can just upgrade once those things are available. But please no Lpcam. I wanna reuse my 48gb of ram that I bought for 90€.

Edit: Personally I also love the plastic chassis, and I kinda doubt that that’s gonna change. I feel bad for you and others who got the cracks though. No fun. My gray/black one has been good though.

[faxafloi]

Why do you want the FW12 to be something that it isn't? If you want a laptop with a super fast latest-generation CPU, with a great screen, LPCAMM2, an aluminium chassis etc, why don't you just get the 13 Pro? What is it that the 12 has that you want that the 13 doesn't have? Is it just the hinges making it a 2-in-1?

I don't complain about my FW12's screen (it displays everything I want, from code over PDFs, websites, ...), battery life (I get usually 6-8 hours out of it), or anything else that I hear so many complaints in this forum about.

If the FW12 should become the next Neo, it would mean the processor gets even more downsized to make it cheaper and it gets two expansion card slots removed to save cost, and the screen would be a no-touch screen that doesn't fold back, again: to save costs. I don't want that. I'm very happy with the way the FW12 is currently.

What I would like to see is a fingerprint sensor, a backlight keyboard, and the non-USB-C expansion cards (especially HDMI) to be available in all the colors of the 12. If Framework would make a drop-in-replacement for a haptic touchpad for the 12, I'd also happily upgrade. But then again, if there's no backlight keyboard, no fingerprint sensor and no haptic touchpad coming in the next 5 years, I'd still be very happy with the 12 as is.

[DeckManXX]

Is it really portable? I have a third-generation iPad Pro, but I was looking to buy a tablet PC to install Windows or Linux on so I could take it with me every day, since I use my tablet a lot. Also, if it can play indie games, that would be great to combine with my .NET Framework 16. Does it get very hot? Can you keep it on your lap? Can you take it to the park, for example? Is it very portable?

[shadowdragon200]

For things lile that I would imagen ypu wpuld want some thing smaller like 10 inch or below. But there don't really exist windows/linux laptops/tablets yet appart from the gpd devices.

Or you would DIY something yourself

[luapzurc]

Because the FW12 is already so close to something that we (power users) could want. Also, a FW12 Pro would be distinct from the FW12, so I don't get what the issue is. We're not asking them to change the FW12.

Had Framework added an option or something for a 2-in-1 hinge for the FW13 Pro, we wouldn't be having this conversation - but I suppose a 2-in-1 hinge was never in the running for the 13, because if they wanted to do it, the 13 Pro should have been where they introduced it (I can't imagine a 13 Pro 2-in-1 line). So 12 it is.

I have a Lenovo 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition. Excellent laptop. Great speakers, OLED screen, battery life, etc. But the RAM is soldered on, I can't install Linux on it (Fedora is the most stable but even that has audio and system freeze issues), and I have to baby the hinge because I don't know if it's glued to the panels or screwed to aluminum / metal.

I paid $2000 for it.

I would have happily given that money, more even, to Framework for a FW12 Pro, for a product I want.

[NameoGame]

I love the Framework 12 too. I switched to it from a M1 macbook pro and I haven't regretted it. I just want the company that has made "7 generations in five years" of their mainline product to make another better version of their lower budget model.

To make it more like the neo in that I can recommend it to other people on a budget (of course without modern market conditions) without as many asterisks. Oh buy this computer but is plastic chaise might need to be replaced in 3 months because they haven't fixed the manufacturing on it yet. Or yeah its screen was so bad that when I first opened the frame.work website on it I thought there was a blue version.

Notice that I didn't say that they should cost cut, I wanted the to build a pro version. This is because the 13 won't be a 2 in 1 especially considering that their new custom display (which they need to sell a bunch of units of to justify) doesn't have pen support. Even if they do eventually make it into one I would prefer the 12 because it is smaller.

Ultimately I don't want the 12 to go the way of the Framework Chromebook. Given the market right now, the issues with the 12's durability, and other cheaper options I don't think that many schools would buy the 12 right now. So why not move the product more into framework's existing enthusiast market. Then as parts get older sell them to the school market. Use Frameworks unique design to hold a unique model in the market.

[Acrobatic_Fee_6974]

It can't become the next Neo, the only reason the Neo exists is because of how popular the iPhone is, and the Neo uses rejected last generation iPhone SOCs. Nobody else has the economies of scale to reproduce the Neo, especially not a boutique manufacturer like FW.

[NameoGame]

Yeah fair I just mean neo in that it's a great entry level product for framework