Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by ndiddy on Tuesday September 13, 2022 @09:38PM
(#32832300)
The issue with the folding connectors is that they fold down. Due to the Framework laptop's thinness, the port wouldn't be able to fully open if the laptop was sitting on a flat surface.
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by gregmac on Wednesday September 14, 2022 @12:02AM
(#32833200)
Ah, right, and the port is right at the bottom (whereas the the HP laptop's port is mounted a bit higher, and with the slight bevel has room to open).
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by RockRobotRock on Tuesday September 13, 2022 @11:47PM
(#32833125)
I fucking hate those folding connectors, they get wedged between the strain relief boot on the ethernet cable and are very difficult to unplug. I witnessed a classmate completely destroy the back plastic on his laptop because he couldn't get it out.
dont get me wrong i'm sure there are better designs than others, but when its bad, its really bad
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by solardev on Tuesday September 13, 2022 @11:53PM
(#32833157)
Those strain relief boots are nightmares on ALL ethernet ports. I've had them get stuck on way too many ports/laptops/desktops/hubs/switches to count. The first thing I do on any cable is move that thing back or cut it off all together...
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by Rediscover on Wednesday September 14, 2022 @06:13AM
(#32835173)
Can agree about cutting the boot.
I used to work in an R&D lab at AT&T (the mothership, pre at&t = cellular/mobile). My laptops took many falls due to someone/something giving the Ethernet cord a tug so I was in the habit of not just cutting the boots but removing the tab that's designed to keep the cable in the socket. I still do that on whatever eth cable goes into my backpack.
It's also good around hyper and small dogs/children :)
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by solardev on Thursday September 15, 2022 @11:49AM
(#32853855)
Yeah, I don't know why those boots even exist. I go out of my way to buy cables that don't have them. Cables are cheap and easy to replace if they break at the ends. At least those plastic tabs tend to break off if you tug hard... not the doomboots though :(
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by RockRobotRock on Wednesday September 14, 2022 @01:38AM
(#32833664)
Good point, they definitely suck no matter what
Re:Framework Ethernet Expansion Card is now available
by p1necone on Wednesday September 14, 2022 @12:11AM
(#32833247)
I think the main difference between built in jacks on laptops and this expansion card is that this needs to have all the circuitry to be a USB ethernet adapter on top of the actual jack. I imagine it's a challenge to fit that in alongside the jack itself, although hopefully people will keep iterating on the design - maybe we'll see a better third party one if the Framework laptop is successful enough.
There are definitely small jacks [1] that seem to work fine. There's also plenty of 2.5G usb dongles that have a pretty small form factor. So it doesn't seem like there's a technical reason it has to be that big.
Perhaps the folding connectors don't have the long-term durability? (Though, a huge benefit of the Framework is a broken port doesn't mean your entire machine is broken).
Maybe component availability? Maybe it was they only way to build it at a reasonable cost for the sales they expect?
[1] https://thetechnologyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HP-P...