February 6, 2025
Tech News
In a significant shift towards sustainability in electronics, companies are increasingly focusing on modular laptops that users can upgrade and repair themselves. This movement contrasts sharply with the previous trend of manufacturing ultrathin devices that were difficult to service and replace. As consumers demand longer-lasting products, brands like Framework have taken the lead, showing success in offering laptops that allow easy upgrades.
Building on this modularity trend, Framework has released an open-source RISC-V mainboard priced at $199, aimed at developers rather than general consumers. This mainboard is compatible with Framework’s 13-inch laptop, extending the customization options available to users. Additionally, Dell has announced that some of its new laptops will have user-replaceable batteries and ports, marking a notable shift in design practices toward user-focused repairability.
In exciting updates, Framework’s Laptop 16 now supports a new modular accessory that allows the addition of two extra SSD slots. This feature enhances the laptop’s capabilities, enabling users to expand storage significantly, potentially accommodating up to four solid-state drives. With this expansion, Framework continues to push the boundaries of what modular computing can achieve.
Meanwhile, Lenovo has introduced the first laptop to feature LPCAMM2 memory, which offers an easy upgrade path as users can simply unscrew the module from the motherboard. This contrasts with traditional laptops, where RAM is often soldered, making upgrades challenging. The introduction of LPCAMM2 highlights a step towards more consumer-friendly hardware design.
Tech Explained
Modularity – In the context of laptops, modularity refers to the design principle that allows components (like RAM, storage, and graphics cards) to be easily replaced or upgraded by the user. This enhances longevity and user customization, reducing e-waste.
RISC-V – RISC-V is an open standard instruction set architecture (ISA) that enables developers to design their own processors. Framework’s introduction of a RISC-V mainboard highlights the potential for highly customizable computing solutions tailored to user needs.
Solid-State Drive (SSD) – An SSD is a storage device that uses flash memory to store data, offering faster read and write speeds compared to traditional hard drives. The new modular SSD feature in Framework laptops underscores the trend towards high-performance storage solutions.
LPCAMM2 – LPCAMM2 (Low-Power Compression-Attached Memory Module) represents a new type of memory module that simplifies upgrades. Unlike conventional soldered RAM, it can be easily removed and replaced, which facilitates greater adaptability in laptop design.
