Framework Outlet

The screen on my trusty decade-or-so old laptop started developing a rather annoying screen defect the other day. Before that, it did literally everything I needed it to do. The Framework 16 looks amazing but I tend not to buy new shiny things just because I can. I have been secretly waiting for my old laptop to die in some way so I could justify parachuting into the Framework ecosystem.

Credit card in hand, I went to their website and assembled my dream laptop. It wasn't going to be cheap, but I was sure it would be worth it. Until I got to the bottom where it says it won't ship until Q2 2024 at the earliest.

That pretty much killed my enthusiasm. I can probably limp by for a couple weeks without a new machine but asking me to wait _months_ doesn't cut it for me. I'm willing to give Framework the benefit of the doubt and assume they are the victim of supply chain issues (still... in 2023/2024...) and are not simply trying to deliberately position themselves as a luxury PC maker by drumming up fake scarcity. But right now it's looking like my best option is a factory-refurbished business-class Dell of nearly the same capability for half the price.