I'm adding my Framework Laptop back into my stack
i have a lot of computers, especially if you count all the single board computers in the house. but, my framework laptop is special. it’s not my most powerful piece, it’s not the sexiest either (though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder), and it’s definitely not the newest device either. but, it holds a special place in my heart, and i’m bringing it back into my setup and daily/weekly rotation.
why?
i bought this laptop sometime in 2021. i think it was either the 3rd or 4th cycle of sales that framework did for their 13-inch laptop. i got the DIY kit, got myself a 1TB nvme, 32gb of ram (back when it was cheap), and put it together the day after thanksgiving.
i’ve always been a builder/maker at heart. and i loved what the framework stood for: your hardware, infinitely upgradable, repairable, and modifiable. in a world where seemingly every piece of tech we buy is designed to be replaced, not fixed, framework was swimming in the opposite direction (and still is).
truth be told, i’ve kind of ventured away from the maker community over the last few years. when i moved to the greater chicago area in 2023, i left my makerspace behind. there wasn’t a makerspace close to me (though there are several in chicago), and being in a new environment i wanted to explore as well as focus on other things. but, after attending Open Sauce 2026, my love and obsession for building, making, and fixing were reignighted.
so, i’m adding back the framework into my stack of stuff that i use every day/week.
ok, so where does it fit?
frankly, that’s a good question, and i’m not sure i have a good answer. i primarily rock my m5 pro macbook pro for nearly all of my personal computing. but after attending Open Sauce a few weeks ago, i haven’t been able to shake the idea of getting this bad boy back out and getting in into the flow.
so, to the point… i think it will fit as my dedicated linux machine, the machine i need for a usb-a port, and the machine i’ll do all of my “bench” work on (electronics, 3d printing/slicing, and firmware flashing).
this is a really short post, and kind of a major ramble. but, i just wanted to get out that i really do love what framework is doing. i’m a maker/builder at heart, i tinker, i break, i fix. i make, i build. i do a lot of things. and i want to have tech that is a reflection of that.
i think, over time, the framework will find it’s natural spot in my stack. but right now, a dedicated bench laptop, that if it breaks, i can easily fix it, sits next to me on my desk, whispering sweet nothings.