Although the framework laptop is amazing in terms of how it is designed (so easy to repair and upgrade), it is really expensive for what it provides. For example the Slimbook Executive 16 is a beast. The CPU and dedicated GPU are far superior to even the most expensive (over 2k) Framework. And a much bigger screen.

This Executive16 seems like the perfect laptop for me. Super powerful, super well built, made in Spain where I live, 3 year warranty, and they too provide most of the components you need in case something breaks. Also it has two m2 slots compared to just 1 for the Framework. ANd Slimbook is made for Linux.

I was thinking these days about this idea of the Framebook. I love it, but let's be honest about some things. For laptops most of the time what you need to upgrade are the RAM and storage space. Most of the time, by far. And most laptops allow you to do that quite easily.

Battery? Yeah, after a few years of use is good to be able to renew it. Many laptops still allow for that. The Slimbook sells batteries too so likely it is not that hard to replace.

What else? CPU/GPU? Framework is the only one that allows you to upgrade the CPU with the integrated GPU, HOWEVER you basically replace the entire motherboard for a massive price.

I think their cheapest is 500 Euros - to me this is not upgradable. At this point you are buying a new laptop. Like if I were to buy an 11th gen intel from Framework for like 1.5k Euros, to upgrade to the 12th gen would cost me some 800 Euros or so. This would be insane to me. So if I were to get a Framework I can't see myself upgrading to a new CPU. But the approach is for sure great.

What else? Webcam? Maybe if Framework will provide better webcams in the future can be worth upgrading. However personally I do not use the webcam of the laptop. The rest are not really important unless something breaks.

So in terms of real upgradability, at least for my case, it makes no difference if I were to buy a Slimbook. How many times one wants to replace a monitor hinge? The screen? .... and if you really need a new screen it is likely yours broke so it is already an issue and takes time to replace. I bet is not that hard with the Slimbook.

The expansion cards of the Framework.

They are really cool. But are they practical? With the Slimbook I get 7 ports:

Pretty much all I need. I do not know what else I may want....with Framework I can only have 4 at once. And do I want to swap these cards often? I doubt they are that practical in the end. Again, a really cool idea but the more I think about it, the less I see it practical for my use.

OK.

A 16inch super powerful laptop like the Slimbook Executive 16 seems to be the perfect one for me in all regards. But to buy it with all I need, it would be around 2k Euros. This is an enormous amount of money for me. Maybe next year close to when TROM II will be released or after, I can make a donation campaign to maybe get some help :D - my goal is to move all of my work for TROM and all of the children projects, from a bulky and poorly built laptop, and a shoe-box full of HDDs, to a portable and powerful laptop. For example a powerful CPU allows me to more quickly make ISOs for TROMjaro. Now I have to wait around 40-50 minutes for one to be done and I normally make several a month to test stuff.

And ofc, doing videos, books-design, so many files that I have, server management and moving of files, and testing stuff in VMs for TROMjaro, takes a lot of power.

I would love to take all of the mess I have right now in terms of hardware, and squeeze it into a well built laptop that I can take with me anywhere.

Let's see....but it is good to do a lot of research before buying such super expensive devices. And mind you, I would not buy anything if it were not for managing so much stuff/projects and having so many files and the need for a powerful computer + me moving at the end of the next year, hopefully in a motorhome. Most tech is still BS in my view. I do not need a 2k or 4k screen since it makes no difference for a 16inch monitor. I also do not need a beefy computer that is well beyond my use. Or fancy shit.

Ok. Done. :)