The difference is that the Framework laptop is repairable.

https://community.frame.work/t/the-myth-of-the-repairable-th...

Having worked at a computer repair shop, I can say this will be, by a very large margin, the most repairable laptop in the market. Most defects experienced by laptop users (especially the non-Apple gang) will render the PC a total loss.

X1 carbons aren't exactly known for being the most repairable thinkpads.

My new P15 still has a modular gpu and, IIRC, has easy access to most components by removing the back cover.

And Thinkpads are a) pretty unique in how repairable they are, and b) seen by the public as enterprise workhorses and not sexy or exciting.

I personally have an X1C5. I absolutely love it. Best laptop I've ever owned.

But I'm still very curious about this thing as it feels like a whole next level in terms of how modular and easy it is to repair while still being lightweight, powerful, and capable.

I agree that it's an unfair comparison. X1 Carbon (really, the whole X-series) is the line designed to appeal to those that want thinness and weight reduction at all costs. My T- and P-series machines are very repairable.

Really, how recent is your newest one?

The T-series (I’ve owned roughly every other generation since T420) have gotten increasingly less repairable with each release since at least the T430.

I was always a fan/happy user, but after the T480(s) I won’t be buying a new Thinkpad anymore.

The DRM in the batteries, only one RAM slot, the removal of some port in every new generation... Even the non-carbon ones have the writing on the wall.

My T-480 with integrated graphics has two SODIMM sockets. My biggest complaint is there's room in the case for a 2.5" SATA drive, but no way to connect one. Wasn't aware of the battery DRM that's unfortunate.

The t4x0s series used to have two as well, now it’s down to one.

Earlier models of T series did have space and connectors for both M2 and 2.5” drives.

It started off all right, but every release in every series gets incrementally worse in some way.

I’d go for Clevo/system76 if it weren’t for the lack of hi-res screen options.

I’m stoked about Framework.

Thinkpads are pretty repairable, all things considered. Probably not as much as this Framework laptop, but much more than most laptops.

To be honest, nothing. I guess this target audience is more of the "nice looking (looks like a macbook), portable, slim, lightweight, upgradable" target audience. Then the "I already have a upgradable/repairable" laptop audience.

Apparently it's modular, but all desktops are "modular", and a fair amount of laptops are "modular" so it's a fairly meaningless word.

We really did build this in part as a reaction to the historically modular and repairable notebooks becoming decreasingly so. Even the former standard-bearer for upgradeability, the ThinkPad T4xx (now T14) series no longer has two SO-DIMM sockets.

We then took that a few steps further by making the mainboard upgradeable, adding an Expansion Card system for port customization, and enabling personalization through color-customizable bezels and keyboard language selection.

Well for one, you can swap out the port configuration, though I don't see myself using that.

I much prefer connecting one Type C hub than plugging in like six cables to my laptop directly, so I don't really mind laptops with a small amount of I/Os.

Your ThinkPad from 10 years ago or a modern ThinkPad that has soldered on RAM and WiFi chip and an ever-decreasing profile that makes it harder to replace individual components?