[HN Gopher] Framework: Solving for Silicon Shortages
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Framework: Solving for Silicon Shortages
Author : pimterry
Score : 159 points
Date : 2021-10-23 15:45 UTC (7 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (frame.work)
(TXT) w3m dump (frame.work)
| xyx0826 wrote:
| TL;DR: Framework is switching its audio codec from Realtek ALC295
| to Tempo 92HD95B.
|
| While I don't own a Framework I welcome this change and find it
| quite interesting, partly because it seems like every laptop and
| PC maker these days are putting an ALC chip on their boards. You
| also don't see computer companies announcing "we're ditching chip
| X for chip Y" often and this is very informative transparency.
|
| It feels like Realtek puts a lot of red tape around its chips.
| Most notably, it's very hard to look up a datasheet for an ALC
| chip unless it's a very popular part. Realtek also seem to only
| provide stock and support to their biggest customers like Dell
| and Gigabyte, because it sounds like Framework struggled to
| secure stock, probably from a one-off source, for their first
| batches and couldn't get in touch with Realtek to implement the
| Smart DSP feature.
|
| The Tempo chip on their other hand is much more open. The
| datasheet is right on the product page, and the chip has first-
| class Linux support. In the integrated sound card market where
| Realtek is to codec as Clorox is to bleach, I welcome attempts to
| diversify the market share.
| jessikat wrote:
| I'm especially excited for this as Realtek codec support, at
| least from looking at the Linux driver, has a substantial
| quirks layer. The datasheet right there on the page makes it
| quite likely that if it doesn't work out of the box with the
| generic codec driver in Haiku, much more likely to get it
| working.
|
| I do hope they don't switch back to the Realtek codec in the
| future.
| xyx0826 wrote:
| Given that the Tempo codec works great as a feature parity
| replacement (which the Framework team anticipates), it's
| quite likely they will stick with it.
|
| The Tempo do lack the ALC's smart features but they couldn't
| get the latter to work anyway...
| ksec wrote:
| I wonder how much more expensive is the Tempo chip? I
| assume it sit somewhere in between RealTek and Cirrus
| Logic?
| reacharavindh wrote:
| I don't need my laptop right this moment. I am waiting with my
| wallet for a Ryzen 5000 series option here in Netherlands. Just
| saying here in case someone needs to know there are potential
| customers out here :-)
| pkulak wrote:
| I'm not concerned with the chip. Anything modern is plenty for
| my needs. I'm waiting for a 3k screen. That's what I spend all
| day staring at.
| CameronNemo wrote:
| You won't catch me hunched over a laptop all day. I just need
| the screen for the few occasions where I am on the road or
| maybe in a meeting. Most of the time I will be docking my
| laptop. The ergonomics are just way better.
| pkulak wrote:
| Fair. I built a desktop for the first time in a decade over
| the pandemic, so I'm looking for something that will
| basically never be hooked in to an external monitor.
| greenwoman wrote:
| You'd have to be smoking crack to buy the framework laptop over
| the new MBP
| mrfusion wrote:
| Is framework open source?
| als0 wrote:
| No. They make computers using ordinary PC parts. But they are
| very Linux friendly and repairable.
| Iolaum wrote:
| Key selling point is that is fully repairable with schematics
| and spare parts available.
|
| It does support Linux as well.
|
| If you are talking about whether it is open hardware I am not
| sure.
| gcoguiec wrote:
| That's a great way to communicate around an engineering change
| order/notice!
| Drdrdrq wrote:
| So, when can we get these laptops in EU? Pretty please? :-)
| emsy wrote:
| Seconded! A rough ETA would be appreciated since my MBP2013 is
| on it's last legs and I'm holding out for the Framework because
| I love the philosophy behind it.
| bloopernova wrote:
| Only if you sell the fairphone in the USA :P
| phaer wrote:
| Oh yes please! My x230 is aging...
| gfody wrote:
| they should make sound a module, then they could offer a high-end
| option with something like an akm ak4490 and users could go
| legacy free if they want
| imperialdrive wrote:
| Felt like a legit update... Looking forward to putting these
| units up against the Surface line we currently deploy... I
| believe they have a good chance at crushing competition!
| wffurr wrote:
| s/crushing competition/providing a great experience to their
| customers
| JasonFruit wrote:
| That's how competition-crushing is done, ideally.
| fabianhjr wrote:
| Normally though competition crushing is done through anti-
| competitive practices.
|
| https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Anti-competitive_practices
| bscphil wrote:
| Or, more charitably (?), marketing.
| dan-robertson wrote:
| The theme of the comment thread is that companies in the
| past (example: Microsoft) got in serious trouble for
| talking about crushing the competition. While companies
| want to do better than the competition because it means
| more sales and more revenue, they are meant to do it by
| providing better products or services rather than by
| causing competitor companies to go out of business
| granting the survivor a monopoly, even if either
| motivation leads to the same outcome.
| bscphil wrote:
| "providing better products or services" and "causing
| competitor companies to go out of business" are related,
| though, not two wholly separate ways of doing business.
| If you provide a better product or service at a better
| price point, you'll win more and more of the market for
| the product or service.
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