Framework Laptop 12

[...] I run it on a Framework Laptop 12, an old MBP, and a recently built gaming PC (VR primarily). There are tradeoffs, but I haven't enjoyed working on computers this much since the 2010 era, first learning to build web apps with Ruby on Rails. [...]

[...] Love my OG Framework 12. I never minded the lack of keyboard backlight since I can touch-type, but having programmable keyboard firmware will be a must so I can kill the Airplane Mode key that is interpreted by the EC instead of by the OS. It's the “lose your match” button if I ever accidentally press it :p

[...] I've assembled a couple of DIY keyboards, and I bought a Framework 12 laptop. It doesn't take too long (Framework estimated 15 minutes, but it was more like 45, because I am slow and methodical), and I like knowing what's inside it. [...]

Got Qwen3.8 to run on my Framework 12 Intel Core 13 Gen Raptor Lake i5-1334U small laptop with 48G RAM stick: llama serve -hf unsloth/Qwen3.8-27B-GGUF:UD-Q4KXL but it failed my basic prompt to compose a vim regex to match CamelCaseWords downgraded a bit with Q4KM from ollama run qwen3.8:27b and /set nothink and at least 1 regex matched FooBar prompt eval at 2.8 t/s eval at 0.94t/s I particularly enjoyed this usage of the regex: /%\1\%/ ... onward for 700+ characters of \%\/ :-)

[...] Ironwail issue for Dawn of the Machine support: And the new update to the KEX Remaster would't even launch for me; just crashes immediately with a “see CRASHLOG.TXT” message. I had to add +rrhirenderfamily "d3d11" +d3d11compileShaders 1 to my Steam launch options, and it plays but with lots of texture glitching. This is on Intel 11th-gen integrated (Framework Laptop 12).

Sysadmin who likes to code in his free time. I’ve bought my last MacBook Pro in 2015 and replaced it with a framework 12 this year.

I bought one: I was hesitant about the 8 GB of memory at first. But I'm happily running Chrome with like 20 tabs and some other apps, and performance isn't an issue. [...] I really wanted a Framework 12, but I got $180 credit on a ipad AIR 4, and sold a 2017 Macbook Pro for $150 (US), so that effectively made this a 280 upgrade, and reduced the risk in me going for it. [...] love the keyboard, it’s such an improvement over the older laptops. Worth getting rid of that old Macbook Pro for this alone Keyboard isn’t backlit. [...] The screen! [...] I'm optimistic that the next version of Framework 12 will have better screen and be a nice aluminum body...but until then.....

I regularly follow Jeff Geerling's blog and I value his opinion (usually), and I understand his points - he does make very good points in this article. However, the conclusion really irked me: As I mention in my video, the Framework 12 isn't a bad laptop, it's just a bad value, especially in comparison to the Neo. Saying it is bad value is off the mark completely. [...] I own a FW12 and for me the main driver was a light laptop with good battery life[1], that I can install my own Linux on it, and the drivers all work from day one on a new laptop. [...] On top of that, I decided I will not have any more android devices if I can choose otherwise[2] - and the FW12 is a good tablet replacement. [...] So for me, personally, it is great value, and the Neo would just become a secondary device I would very rarely use. Low utility means for me low value, YMMV. [1] The battery itself is great. [...]

[...] I make good money, fell in love with the Framework 12 at first sight, maxed it out with 64GiB RAM and 2TB SSD, and never even thought about “comparing” it to other companies' machines before buying. [...] :p Peep my one-wire desk setup, and that awesome tablet mode:

[...] It isn't hard to justify buying something like the Framework 12 in principle. [...] When parts get broken, or a fancy new part is better, I buy the parts and upgrade it rather than buy a whole new device. [...]

Bought the Framework 12 as my personal daily driver (limited hobby projects, Obsidian, light browsing) and for the hardware to grow with my use cases. [...]

I have a Framework 12 and I absolutely love it. [...] But what I love most is how durable it is, which matters a lot because I'm honestly pretty careless with my stuff. [...] My Framework went flying across the entire room and slammed into the wall, and there wasn't even a single scratch on it. An aluminum laptop would've had a nasty dent at the very least. [...] Same story with the keyboard. One of the keys was making this annoying clicking sound, so I just detached it, stuck a little piece of tape underneath, and it was good as new. I only felt comfortable doing that because I knew that worst case, I could get a whole new keyboard for 55 dollars. Honestly, not having to handle my laptop carefully is worth so much to me. I also don't stress about battery care, whatever to preserve long-term battery life, because replacing the battery costs, you guessed it, 55 dollars.

I excitedly bought a Framework 12 when it first came out, since I figured it'd be a nice thing to travel with (my typical laptop is the 11th-gen 13). [...]

[...] I have used 2in1s since college because I like the flexibility in positioning that 2in1s provide that regular laptops rarely or never do. The ability to open them to nearly 180 degrees when I'm using them on a surface that is low relative to me, I also like to hook up a second portable monitor and keyboard/mouse and fold it into a tent shape to provide more room. I use "tablet mode" for reading due to the smaller footprint (this is especially useful on public transit), but with the right desktop (Fedora Gnome for me) the rest of the laptop is relatively comfortable to use in tablet mode as well. When the Framework 12 was announced I immediately snatched one up and it has been excellent so far at all of these. I will concede, though, that for a regular laptop without 2in1 functionality, I am a little confused at the value proposal. Maybe someone wants a comfortable pinch and zoom experience?

You can't even get secondhand instances of the software like I did as a youth with CS3. [...] I will cherish mine forever lol Still using Photoshop CS3 for my daily image-editing needs in Windows 11 on my Framework Laptop 12. [...]

Have gone back to Linux after 23 years, Ive only had to go to the console once to make all hardware of my framework 12 work since i chose to use a non supported distro. That's definitely a breath of fresh air compared to the old times, where getting wifi to work was a major hassle, anyone remember ndiswrapper? ouch.

As a long time Linux user I only recently tried my first framework (12), and shortly after got the 13 too because I realized that this is the laptop for me. [...] But it's so refreshing as a linux user to use a laptop actually designed for linux, and have everything work so great out of box like battery and wifi. Sure I've always used Laptops famously Linux-friendly, but it was still hit or miss, especially with new releases, and you always felt like you were breaking warranty somehow. [...]

And it won't even be necessary for many people since a lot of work has gone into FreeBSD's Wi-Fi support recently: Personally even as a FreeBSD fanperson I wouldn't want to rely on wifibox no matter how elegant it is to use. It would forever irritate the “omg ugly hack” part of my brain lol I installed FreeBSD 14.3 on my Framework Laptop 12 and the stock Intel AX211 Wi-Fi card Just Worked™ out of the box in FreeBSD 14.3 after a fwget to download the proprietary firmware blobs (removed from base between 14.2 and 14.3, FYI) while USB-tethered to my Android with a simple dhclient ue0: - -

Some non-Surfaces too. I’m using a Microsoft Surface Pen “Model 1776” a.k.a. “Ver.4” a.k.a “Surface Pen with no clip” with my Framework Laptop 12 folded all the way around into tablet mode.

Hytale released this tuesday as everyone knows, and I got my framework laptop 12 stylus delivered earlier in the day. Today has been a really good tuesday.

Related to this is one and only thing I would say I hate about my Framework Laptop 12: its Airplane Mode key. I keep Fn-lock enabled at all times and use the Fn/LCtrl-swap option in the UEFI just like the one on ThinkPads, but if I ever accidentally hit non-Fn-locked F10 the key code is interpreted by the EC instead of by the OS, so there's nothing I can do in the OS to disable it. Even worse is that it's adjacent to PrintScrn, so it's the “oh fuck I wanted to take a screenshot and just dropped myself from the match” panic panic panic key.

I have the Framework 12". It's hard to justify the price unless you put value to Framework's gimmicks and mission. [...]

I have both the Framework 12 and the Framework 13. While I agree that the 12's display is not the best in class, it has one of the nicest touchpads I've ever used. [...] Both my Macbook and the FW13 have touchpads that feel a bit more "sticky".

I have a Framework 12 laptop running Ubuntu. I use it mostly for dev (so I don't care about gaming, Windows, etc.). I mostly like it, but I have two gripes: - the touchpad is atrocious - battery life is mediocre