hi,

pretty much the subject… I am trying to choose my next laptop and I am tempted to buy a framework 13 AMD. I saw this post from one year ago : https://www.phoronix.com/review/framework-13-amd

and while the review is impressive, comments are not. how things have evolved since then? any experience?

EDIT: you convinced me, I just ordered mine. Thanks for the incredible answers !
NEW EDIT: I use arch (btw), and Gnome. For the answers, I do not think this will pose a problem but… what do you think?
(and yes, I ordered mine before reading last comment of paequ2 who doesn’t like it… for reasonable reasons, maybe. I hope I will have more luck ;) )

  • somenonewho@feddit.org
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    4 hours ago

    I was like batch 5 of the AMD framework 13 running Arch and Gnome on it.

    I did have some problems with suspend/nvme drive that was fixed by replacing the nvme. If you go with their drive you’ll probably be fine (I just grabbed one I had laying around). Ever since then the laptop is perfect. If you do get it check out the Archwiki article that has a lot of helpful tips for tuning your OS to the Hardware

  • vga@sopuli.xyz
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    8 hours ago

    I’ve been trying to sell mine. Went down to 60% of the original price and no takers.

    My tip: Don’t take funny-colored borders or funny keyboards unless you’re 120% sure you don’t want to sell it in half a year.

  • PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social
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    12 hours ago

    I have the AMD edition and overall the laptop is nice but since I received the laptop about 9 months ago the screen broke 4 times. I only got it back 2 or so weeks ago from the repaircenter so I have only been able to actually use it for a few weeks. So my experience is pretty terrible so far. I honestly have no faith the screen is durably fixed this time but let’s see, I’m pretty done with it.

  • Discover5164@lemm.ee
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    22 hours ago

    i have the intel one, i love it.

    it matches with my definition of laptop, portable, 2k screen, the battery lasts a lot and a bit touchpad.

    i have kde 6.x so i also have TouchPad gestures.

    • haleywm@startrek.website
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      19 hours ago

      Ooh I didn’t know that KDE has touchpad gesture support now, I’ll need to give that a go next time I try linux

  • xylogx@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    I have a Framework 13 AMD running Linux Mint. It works great and I love it. Modular IO ports are super nifty.

    Here are the downsides as I see them:

    1. Price
    2. No touch screen
    3. No wifi 7

    I expect 2&3 will come in the future and I can upgrade! The fact that I can upgrade rather than throw it away in the future offsets 1.

  • spankinspinach@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    I can speak to longevity - I have a gen 1, batch 2 (humble brag?) - and absolutely love it. Got me to switch over to linux, and the quality is there. Minor gripe about the trackpad sticking intermittently, and had to have the hinges replaced (both known issues, resolved). 10/10 great laptop

    • paequ2@lemmy.today
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      1 day ago

      Minor gripe about the trackpad sticking intermittently

      Aaaah!!! It’s not just me! I used a track pad on another computer and realized the Framework’s stickiness wasn’t just in my head!

      • spankinspinach@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        Oh dude no, it’s a headache! I wrote to them once and they said it was an issue with the balance plate/sensor.

        Apparently the quick fix is to click the bottom center of the trackpad 5x, then test it (I do so by clicking top corners). I find it hit and miss haha. Going inside, you can adjust the placement of that plate, but I never found that useful.

        Did you notice if it seemed to improve a bit with time?

        • paequ2@lemmy.today
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          20 hours ago

          Did you notice if it seemed to improve a bit with time?

          Mmm… no. I just more violently drag across the trackpad until it works and then resume what I was doing. 😅

  • paequ2@lemmy.today
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    1 day ago

    I currently own a Framework 13… and… after daily driving it for a year, I decided I don’t like it.

    The deal beaker for me is the high dpi display. Linux just isn’t 100% compatible with hpi displays. I’m tired of my apps either having blurry fonts or tiny text. Ironic because hi dpi displays are supposed to look better.

    With Framework, you’ll be pushed into using Fedora (it doesn’t solve all the scaling issues) or pushed to stop using apps you like because they’re using older GTK (some times there are no alternatives). You’ll also have to dive into debugging scaling issues.

    I just switched back to my Dell XPS 13 9310 FHD and it was a breath of fresh air having everything just work. Any distro, any apps, no scaling debugging, text is readable and crisp, app UI elements look properly sized.

    I only ever switched out the modular ports once, but honestly it would have been better to buy a dongle instead because that would work on any computer.

    Oh, and I tried the higher resolution screen. It didn’t fix the scaling issues.

    Oh, and, I actually had a display fail on me! After like 8 months, half the display went black. Thankfully, they were nice enough to send me a free replacement, but it definitely left me feeling like the Framework isn’t that sturdy or durable.

    The shell also dents easily. I dropped a small music player from desk height onto the top lid and it left a small dent. (I have like 3 dents on the lid.)

    Repairability is the one feature that the Framework beats everyone else on, but to me the cons outweigh the pros.

    • PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social
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      12 hours ago

      I had the same display failure, but 4 times in about 9 months. It made me pretty done with the whole thing. I only got the laptop back from the repair centre 2 or so weeks ago but I have no faith the issue is properly fixed now. Let’s see how it turns out, if it happens again I’m going to throw this thing out of the window.

    • DacoTaco@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      Framework 16 with the same display and linux mint user.
      Pushed towards fedora? What? I also have no issues whatsoever with the screen or igpu of amd, so i wonder what you were using there and with what chipset.
      Ive been daily driving mine for nearly a year now ( amd chipset and igpu) and none of those issues at all…

      • paequ2@lemmy.today
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        20 hours ago

        Here’s a screenshot I just took from my Framework 13. Notice how some of the text is clear, but the entire menu to the right is blurry.

        Common “fixes” are “move to Fedora” or “just enable some experimental flag in some random config”. This all misses the point though: I don’t want to have to do any of that. I just want a system that works with the most amount of apps.

        Of course, it depends on what you specifically value. For me, I value broader software compatibility over slightly neater pixels. Some people might like it the other way around. That’s fine, but it’s something important to know.

    • BananaTrifleViolin@lemmy.world
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      21 hours ago

      I have a linux desktop with dual 4K screens and I don’t have problems with high DPI? The only problems I’ve come across is with Wine which is easly fixed within the winecfg.

      I’m on OpenSuSE, using KDE in X11. I DID have scaling problems with Wayland which I avoid until it is fit for daily use.

      Of course 4k is 4 times 1080p (or twice in X and Y dimensions) so maybe it’s much easier to scale to? 2K on the Framework is an odd resolution so maybe scaling would be more troublesome? 1080p to 1440p would be 1.3x scaling.

      • paequ2@lemmy.today
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        20 hours ago

        I don’t have problems with high DPI … only problems I’ve come across is … I DID have scaling problems with Wayland

        This is exactly my point. You did have problems with high DPI. You had to fix some random config and avoid Wayland.

        I don’t want to deal with this. I want to be able to use whatever software I want and have it work with minimal or no extra “fixing”. I value this over slightly neater pixels.

        • DacoTaco@lemmy.world
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          11 hours ago

          Then you shouldnt have picked wayland, period. There is a reason its still experimental. And in general, hearing you talk, im not sure linux is your thing in general. Even in linux mint i have to poke in cli once in a while…

          EDIT: as i mentioned below,i just gave it another go as i recently upgraded linux mint. Keyboard layout was stuck to us so altgr didnt work. Teams window could also not be double clicked to maximize and remote desktop via remmina was acting odd, like my mouse had shifted to the right. Desktop wallpaper was also shifted. Like i said, experimental on some systems ( in this case linux mint ) :)

          • PureTryOut@lemmy.kde.social
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            12 hours ago

            Wayland hasn’t been experimental for a while. Both KDE Plasma and GNOME have defaulted to Wayland for a while now indicating it’s ready to be used. And in fact, scaling works better on Wayland than on X11 but I suppose ymmv.

            • DacoTaco@lemmy.world
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              11 hours ago

              I know a few distros have switched, and i support it 1000%!
              I know ive had a few glitches in linux mint which suggests they need to fix some stuff with cinnamon in wayland still ( and a few other apps ), hence my stance towards wayland atm. I love every piece of it but imma wait a liiiitle longer. The reason i think op’s issues came from either wayland or fedora because on debian-based distros ive had no issues on my framework 16, nor on the framework 13’s that are at the office ( ubuntu, linux mint, windows )

              Edit: just gave it another go as i recently upgraded linux mint. Keyboard layout was stuck to us so altgr didnt work. Teams window could also not be double clicked to maximize and remote desktop via remmina was acting odd, like my mouse had shifted to the right. Desktop wallpaper was also shifted. Like i said, experimental on some systems :)

  • Kongar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    I just bought one a couple of months ago. It’s my daily driver. My work issued laptop sits on my desk, and I carry my framework around. If you’re a Linux guy, fedora runs fantastic on it - everything works, couldn’t be easier. Battery life could be better, but it’s fine. Trackpad is great, I heard some bitchin about it, but I don’t get that hate. Some complaints about the hinges and how they bounce. Again, unfounded complaints in my opinion. The hinges are stiffer to open/close than I expected, but they are fine (just a little different feeling). New webcam is great for a laptop webcam. New screen is nice - but let’s be honest, not much touches an apple screen. Sound is ok, nothing special. The case is fantastic-people (engineers and nerds) drool over it. The swappable ports are awesome, that alone makes the laptop imo. But the real star is the serviceability of it. Five screws and the whole thing comes apart. Everything can be replaced and upgraded. They even give you the screwdriver you need to take it apart. Bios updates work with fwupdate in Linux and they update regularly. Keyboard feels good. It stays cool and fans don’t go crazy.

    It’s expensive. But I love mine. But I do plan on keeping it and upgrading forever - or at least until I smash it accidentally, so maybe it wasn’t expensive.

    The 13 doesn’t have a gpu. It’s capable, but if you want to game on it, look at the 16. If you have specific questions I’d be happy to answer or post a vid/pic or something.

    • naeap@sopuli.xyz
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      2 days ago

      I’m sporting a Framework 16 since a few months and had some battery problems at first. Due to work load, I couldn’t really get into the problem and something I changed or updated resolved it.

      But I sent a mail to framework support at that time and the answer was just awesome.
      Not just some typical 1st level response to update or restart, but real technical questions and obvious interest in my problem.
      They even sounded a bit sad, that I couldn’t really tell them anything, because the issue resolved without me being able to pinpoint it.

      On that note, I also have to say, that Tuxedo support was really good.
      My Pulse 15 battery was starting to get a belly, and they sent me a new one without much questions - and no pay.
      Now, after like 4-5 years, I have my old Pulse to my nephew and saw that the CMOS battery is dead. Again they just sent me a new one.

      Some companies really deserve to get recommended.

    • Kongar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      I read through those comments - there’s actually more complaints than those. Those weren’t that bad.

      They updated the fan curves recently, mine runs fine. Fans aren’t silent when humming along, but normal use they aren’t even spinning.

      Sleep is always a bitch on Linux. It doesn’t have great sleep life. I just shut mine down at the end of the day, and close the lid during the day.

      I believe they fixed the amd graphics issues. I should have noted that I have a core ultra chip. I wish I had gotten the amd chip - but guess what - no biggie, I can upgrade later!

      There was a complaint about the windows key. I will admit that I ordered the Linux keyboard and it pissed me off that I got a keyboard with a windows key. But I didn’t make a stink, I just deal with it.

      There was fingerprint reader complaints. Mine just worked. Dunno what that was about.

      My vote is a firm “buy a framework” and get a fun color. People will be jealous.

      • claymore@pawb.social
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        2 days ago

        The linux keyboard has a Windows key?? What’s special about it then, that makes it a linux keyboard and not a windows one?

        • Kongar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 days ago

          It’s not a “Linux” keyboard per se. It’s the same keyboard - it’s just one has a superkey symbol instead of a windows key symbol printed on it. They screwed up on my order and sent me a keyboard with a windows key on it. It’s a non issue, and I didn’t say anything - I’m sure they would have sent me the other keyboard if I bitched.

          • claymore@pawb.social
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            2 days ago

            Ah, I misunderstood then, I thought the linux option still had a win key on it and that it was different in some other way. Thanks for clarifying

  • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I have had that laptop a couple weeks and have been loving it. On fedora, everything pretty much just works flawlessly with no effort. I had a small issue figuring out how to turn off secure boot at first (f2 at boot time I think?) because that menu was separate from the rest of bios.

    Other than the speaker not being great (not surprising) and the battery life being meh, it’s a very impressive machine. Mac laptops for me have always been the gold standard for smooth operation but I despise apple, so when I got this machine and it felt mostly like the smoothness of a MacBook pro with the freedom of Linux, I was super stoked about this laptop. It feels very snappy and the keyboard and touchpad are great.

    • typhoon@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      Via TB4? If I’m not mistaken Oculink eGPU adapter is only possible with the Framework 16. It may worth waiting to perhaps get the new Arrow Lake with a discrete TB5

    • 5PACEBAR@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I can confirm the Intel version of the Framework 13 works amazingly with an eGPU (Fedora). 11th gen was my daily driver until I upgraded to a Framework 16 😎

  • melroy@kbin.melroy.org
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    2 days ago

    YES! Big yes. I have one as well. Very pleased with it. Be very sure you pick the new 2.8k display version. So either pick 7640U - 2.8K Display or 7840U - 2.8K Display. Which works great for Linux, WITHOUT the need of fractional scaling.

    Also be sure to pick the correct + right amount of expansion cards for your needs. 1 USB-C will be used for charging, so just saying.

    • Preflight_Tomato@lemm.ee
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      22 hours ago

      I’ve been stuck deciding between getting the 2.8k screen and upgrading to the larger 16 laptop. I stopped using my desktop last year entirely and so now I’m trying to figure out whether I should go with the larger laptop since it’s the only thing I use now.

      • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 day ago

        Hmmm… I’ve been using Bazzite on my FW16 and it’s been running great. They have a distro image specifically built for Framework, and it’s been great in terms of power management.

        I wonder if that stuff is covered in the Bazzite FW installation? Anyone know? I guess I can check…

      • Jumuta@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        is ppd better than tlp for amd? because I still use tlp for all my devices (intel) and it works really well

      • melroy@kbin.melroy.org
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        2 days ago

        Apart from that, everything else should just work fine out of the box under any modern Linux distro most likely. The only downside I had with my Framework 13 laptop is the sound quality, because the speakers are down firing. You might like that or not. But you can definitely live with it.

  • something_random_tho@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I’m super picky with laptops and have a bunch. Thinkpads, Macbooks… Framework 13 AMD is my daily driver that I prefer over all of those. It runs brilliantly with NixOS. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

    • typhoon@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      Hey, funny that you mentioned the Thinkpad. I’m between getting a Thinkpad and the Framework 13. Would you perhaps share things that for your personal preference were downsides in the Thinkpad?

      • something_random_tho@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        My T14 is a great machine. The keyboard is excellent, and its Linux support it great, too. However the screen is pretty bad and has a bad ratio for coding, it always looks dirty because its black shell shows all the oil from your fingerprints. If something breaks out of warranty, you’re pretty much SOL. Whereas with the Framework, I can upgrade and fix any component, up to and including the mainboard/CPU.