Google partners with third-party company Framework to create customizable and upgradeable Chromebooks (opens in new tab) laptop.
As a company, Framework focuses on Develop “Do It Yourself” (DIY) laptops that people can upgrade themselves All it takes is a screwdriver, company-supplied parts, and a little patience.now with Frame Laptop Chromebook Edition (opens in new tab)Customizable laptops have entered a new realm as the tech industry takes a firmer stance on repairability.
Customize the experience
Note that not everything on a framed Chromebook is customizable.
Starting off on the more static side, the laptop features a 13.5-inch high-resolution display (2256×1504 pixels) and a 1.5mm keyboard, all housed in a chassis made of partially recycled materials. Under the hood, it’s powered by a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1240p CPU, which consists of 12 individual cores and a 55Wh battery that can last up to 10 hours on a single charge.
As you might expect, the Chromebook Framework runs on ChromeOS, something that was technically possible with previous company products.But as company representatives told us, those older models use ChromeOS Flex (opens in new tab) And this new device has the full ChromeOS experience. This enables the laptop to download Android applications from the Google Play Store, which the Flex model cannot.If users are developing software and playing games, they can also run Linux applications thanks to Using Steam on Chrome OS Alpha
Customizable are ports, RAM and storage. According to the company, with the expansion card system, you can choose the ports you want and which side you want them to be on. Supported inputs include USB-A, USB-C, MicroSD, HDMI, and Ethernet, to name a few. For RAM and storage, the Chromebook comes with 8GB DDR4 and 256GB of space. They can be upgraded to up to 64GB of DDR4 and 1TB of storage. Plus, you can add terabytes of storage with an expansion card underneath the laptop.
Privacy and Availability
For privacy, the Framework Chromebook has a series of switches around the body that cut power to the camera and microphone when not in use.Google’s own Titan C (opens in new tab) Security chips exist to protect you from phishing attempts and hacking. Thanks to this chip, Chromebooks will receive continuous updates from Google until June 2030.
The same rep told us that the Titan C cannot be removed because it is “an integral part of the electrical system.” However, you can put your laptop in “developer mode” to download custom firmware and software outside of Google.
This Frame Laptop Chromebook Edition now available (opens in new tab) Pre-orders are available for $999 in the US and Canada only. You don’t have to pay the full price tag initially because “only a fully refundable deposit of $100 is required” at the time of booking. You’ll pay the remainder when the laptop starts shipping in early December.
As for a global rollout, there don’t appear to be plans to do so, but the same rep hinted that an announcement might be coming.
Overall, it’s good to see more and more companies adopting customizable or repairable devices. This new attitude will go a long way towards reducing e-waste and saving money. Arguably one of the stronger repair programs comes from Samsung parts in partnership with iFixit.We strongly recommend checking out TechRadar Coverage This story, to see where the industry might be headed.
