GoKawiilWe’ve seen enough product announcements from Framework at this point that today’s updates feel more or less routine. The biggest new thing is an updated motherboard with Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors that can either be dropped into the existing Framework Laptop 13 or bought as part of the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro. Updated screens, keyboards, and other parts—mostly compatible with Framework’s existing laptops, mostly meant to address specific complaints about, or missing features in, those products—are also available.
But the company has also decided to place more emphasis than usual on its support for Linux.
The company’s teaser site for today’s announcements encouraged users to “follow the white penguin,” a Linux-y reference to The Matrix (1999) (or maybe a Matrix-y reference to Linux’s mascot). Framework has always officially supported various Linux flavors on its systems, but the Laptop 13 Pro will be the first pre-built Laptop that can ship with Linux installed from the factory, and the system features Framework’s first officially Ubuntu Certified system. Framework CEO Nirav Patel is even trying to position the Laptop 13 Pro as “MacBook Pro for Linux users.”
Last week, we had a chance to talk to Patel about the new products, how Framework is navigating RAM and storage shortages, and why Framework is playing up the Linux angle this time around.
A Linux-forward ecosystem
According to imperfect measuring tools like StatCounter, Linux’s usage share among the general populace hovers somewhere between 3 and 4 percent, the same place where it has been for the past couple of years. But Framework’s products draw a more technically oriented audience.
“We do surveys to figure out what our customers are using on their Framework Laptops,” Patel told Ars. “And on Framework Laptop 13, we actually have slightly more Linux users than Windows users. It’s something like 55/45 [Linux versus Windows] on the 13. It varies on our different products. The [Framework Laptop] 16 is a bit more Windows heavy.”