Over next 1-2 weeks,I'd appreciate an extended thread re: #FrameworkLaptop, #mntreform, & #FOSS.
TL;DR on my idiosyncratic needs:
* minimize binary firmware blobs¹
* Having 2 disks in RAID-1²
* Runs stock Official #Debian stable³
* Understanding best current replacement keyboard options⁴
* Form factor that works for my travel needs.
Is @frameworkcomputer or @mntmn better for me?
I'd be glad if ∃ active engagement on this!
Just 8 days after I began this thread re: maybe switching to a #FrameworkLaptop, a scandal broke that #Framework directly funded toxic individual FOSS developers.
It's not clear to me yet whether an outright boycott is warranted, but what's already obvious is Framework acts like a classic VC-funded tech startup in making foolish unforced errors in policy decision-making b/c they're too busy “moving fast & breaking things” to pay attention to important details (such as past CoC violations)…(1/3)
(2/3)…the meta-issues of their handling of the messaging is itself enough to convince me #Framework's not a well-led org.
The easy politically savvy response for @frameworkcomputer would have been (esp. b/c it is probably true): “We didn't vet our grantees as well as we should. We apologize but we also can't logistically or legally claw back these already made grants. We are now rethinking our entire grant program.”
Instead a clumsy snap-response from the CEO of: “We are making a big tent.”🤦…
@thomasclaburn of
@theregister wrote an article about the #FrameworkLaptop situation…
https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/14/framework_linux_controversy/?td=rt-3a
…which links to the accounting of grantmaking that #Framework posted yesterday…
https://frame.work/blog/framework-sponsorships
I think it's a tough decision whether to buy Framework products at this point. My bigger concern remains how badly this was handled.
I'm glad to have learned about @novacustom from this mess, & I'm leaning toward them.
I can learn to live without any hope of a Trackpoint, I guess.🤣
Meta: I just wanna note @thomasclaburn is an excellent journalist. I was out of the office on a medical issue yesterday, yet Thomas made sure to text me — deadline clearly stated. Turns out he was good with the quotes he got on FediVerse, but was giving me the ability to supplement my statements. Thomas also verified with me that the quotes could be on #SFC's behalf, since my Fedi posts are not necessarily — it gave me time to check that was ok w/ SFC.
This is what real journalism looks like.
@bkuhn @thomasclaburn @theregister @novacustom
I never bought frame.work’s right to repair marketing.
My friend bought a framework 16 and had to go through RMA 4 times in 2 months.
Right to repair isn’t just when something break you can repair, right to repair also mean build a quality product that last as long as possible before it needs repair.
YES. They should just say that. Why the doubling down? I honestly don't believe they *want* to support the horrible things dhh says/thinks. So clunky.
It's like they shot themselves in the foot and then realised they had another barrel and another foot... 🤦
(3/3)…I've spent my entire career using #IBM laptops knowing this…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_and_the_Holocaust
…& then after IBM sold #Lenovo, I was then using laptops made by people w/ strong ties to a human-rights-violating regime.
So, let's have perspective: IBM has still never apologized for *literally* helping the Nazis & #Framework may still be the “least evil” of *traditional* laptop companies.
But, this incident does make me wanna desperately find way to make @mntmn's #MNTReform suit my computing needs.
@jas @sesivany
Thanks to both of you as I don't necessarily need this thread to be a Framework vs. MNT Reform dichotomy. It sounds like @novacustom maybe has the fewest proprietary blobs?
I'm also interested in repairability too. How are these brands on that?
& see my other requirements at top of this thread:
https://fedi.copyleft.org/@bkuhn/115288857091836217
Not mentioned yet: I wanna replace the keyboard someday w/ a keyboard w/ trackpoint.
I wonder how { Nova, Star Labs, Slimbook, Tuxedo } all stack up on my needs?
Over next 1-2 weeks,I'd appreciate an extended thread re: #FrameworkLaptop, #mntreform, & #FOSS. TL;DR on my idiosyncratic needs: * minimize binary firmware blobs¹ * Having 2 disks in RAID-1² * Runs stock Official #Debian stable³ * Understanding best current replacement keyboard options⁴ * Form factor that works for my travel needs. Is @[email protected] or @[email protected] better for me? I'd be glad if ∃ active engagement on this! #AskFedi #AskFediverse #Framework #OpenSource
@mntmn yes, it is so silly: #Framework received ≥ US$30 million in VC. Since they aren't a public company, we don't *know* Nirav Patel's compensation package, but his salary is surely ≥ US$1mil that could greatly advance MNT Reform in the ways you mention.
I'm sure Patel believes that they is “doing good by doing well” — but to do good, we need multiple options for repairable laptops. Capitalism demands MNT Reform *competes* w/ Framework. FOSS principles say Framework should cooperate with you.
Bradley M. Kühn
mitosu_me
artfulrobot
Jiří Eischmann
Simon Josefsson
Lucie / minute