Hello fellows,

I’m currently looking in 13-14" laptops with no immediate needs for one but just because it’s exciting. I love my Dell XPS but I feel I should support companies with which I share more common views. I could make the effort to go a with a less attractive look (especially for bezels) but I don’t want to go wrong with hardware so what are your thoughts on Framework, Starlab, Purism, and System76? I’ll be running Arch and I tend to have a preference for Framework for now.

Do you have feedback (positive and negative) to share on any of these companies?

Thanks for the knowledge you’ll bring me. That’ll be extremely useful when time comes to go with a new machine.

Update 1: Still wonderful to be part of such a great community. Thanks for all the great feedback (looking for more :) ).
So far everyone is standing behind Framework. Anyone with a less positive experience or who would like to speak for the other companies?

Update 2: Thank you fellows for the time you’ve spent to share your honest feedback! I didn’t want to influence your inputs but you all confirmed the Framework picture I had in mind. It’s a piece of mind to read real world experience so thanks again. I was surprised to not see the system76 community speaks louder. Anyway, when time comes I will (virtually) push Framework shop’s door.

      • BaldProphet
        62·
        9 months ago

        If you drop it and break the frame you can easily replace it.

        • Avid Amoeba
          20·
          9 months ago

          And the company has been ultra-transparent about any issues so far.

          Also all the spare parts are available straight from Framework and especially the consumables are cheo.

          • www-gemOP
            30·
            9 months ago

            So far this is really what makes me leaning toward Framework. But you know, when something seems too good to be true… If Framework is as perfect as it seems to be I can’t wait for the need of a new laptop :D

            • BaldProphet
              41·
              9 months ago9 months ago

              The only thing that I’ve seen is Framework’s customer service is unbelievably fantastic–until it’s not. They had some deceptive marketing on their SSD modules, which they marketed as being useful for booting an OS on, but then later said on their forums that they weren’t designed to be used that way.

              The average customer won’t have any issues, but every once in a while a customer reports feeling burned because they had persistent issues that Framework was unable to solve. After RMAing a number of times their support tells you to pound sand.

            • Avid Amoeba
              30·
              9 months ago9 months ago

              It’s terrible because it’s great and I just can’t shake the feeling that there’s an investor lurking somewhere, waiting for the right moment to jack up the profit margins, fucking up an extremely nice thing. If Framework ever goes public, that’ll probably be the beginning of it getting worse.

              • www-gemOP
                20·
                9 months ago

                That would be another terrible story about a great idea turning into BS for profit only. Fingers crossed that it won’t happen.

              • Fushuan [he/him]English
                20·
                9 months ago

                The bad thing is that it’s way more expensive than similar specs on another laptop. The other option doesn’t have all the fancies of repairsbility and replacement but it’s also way cheaper.

                • Avid Amoeba
                  30·
                  9 months ago9 months ago

                  Is it way more expensive? I thought it’s at a similar price level to the comparable laptops like XPS 13 and X1 Carbon.

                  Looked just now, XPS 13 starts at CAD $1350, and the Framework 13 starts at CAD $1420. Both have similar specs.

                  • Fushuan [he/him]English
                    10·
                    9 months ago9 months ago

                    Well, this is an example, decent amd processor and graphics card for some gaming, in spain. I know that it’s Intel and nvidia, but I spent like 5 minutes tops searching, I’m sure there are better deals. Acer is not a shitty brand, and for 1600€ the framework 16 costs minimum 1600, if we add the same amount of ram and storage it goes up to 1800, without a graphic card I found the place where you add the card. Similar specs, add some usbc ports, audio ports, ethernet, hdmi… 2500€. It’s 900€ more expensive. I won’t even consider it.

                    Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 - Ordenador Portátil Gaming 16" HD 4K - 165 Hz (Intel Core i9-13900HX, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, Sin SO) Color Negro - Teclado QWERTY Español https://amzn.eu/d/6XMYkh4

            • just_another_person
              10·
              9 months ago

              Check the outlet online. Refurb parts and whole laptops for a nice discount. No sense in buying one brand at this point since the core components are a bit behind from the initial development and release cycles getting worked out.

              • www-gemOP
                10·
                9 months ago

                I’m not yet in need for a laptop but I’ll definitely check the outlet. With the replacement parts it can also be another advantage where you may be able to buy a laptop and replace what you need still for a good price.

        • www-gemOP
          20·
          9 months ago

          Right. I was more asking if the OP had any complaints, even minor. Or anything that makes framework standing out except the obvious unique aspects of repairability, extensibility, customization. I’m already clearly sold on that :D

    • glasgitarrewelt
      11·
      9 months ago

      Your comment is one of few that really deserves a downvote - but there are at least 30 people that interpret the downvote and upvote function differently. Lucky you. Downvoting should be used to identify poor comment quality, not disagreement. Your comment quality is very poor.