OpenBSD on the Framework Laptop

Framework is a new company offering a laptop that is designed to be repairable and upgradeable, both in terms of internal components like the screen and motherboard, and in pluggable expansion cards.

While many classic ThinkPad owners will probably say “so what?” to a repairable and upgradeable laptop, doing so in an ultrabook-style thin and light laptop in 2021 is fairly novel. Each new ThinkPad I’ve used lately has become less and less repairable and upgradeable, with RAM and WiFi cards now being soldered to the motherboard.

The Framework Laptop became available for pre-order in May and was offered in two configurations of essentially the same device: a pre-built option and a DIY option that can be purchased without RAM, an SSD, a WiFi card, or a Windows license.

Both configurations offer the same 13.5” 3:2 aspect ratio screen and various Intel CPU options. I opted for the Intel i7-1185G7 processor, although in retrospect I’m not really sure why. I’ve usually chosen an i5 processor for better battery life and lower heat output since most of what I do is not CPU-intensive, but perhaps in the rush to place a pre-order as soon as I could, I was not considering those issues.

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