> The little modular port attachments seemed like a novelty at first, but now it feels absurd that you'd buy a laptop with a bunch of "hardcoded" ports that you can't ever change
That's funny I remember laptops from the 2000s with those swappable cards with different ports.
One I distinctly remember because it was clever way to keep the card ~3mm thin were the Ethernet cards, where the Ethernet port was hidden inside and you'd press it to make it pop, similar to handleless kitchen cabinets.
I found a picture of those on Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Card
The framework expansion port seems to be a 2021 version of this, although I don't know how standardized these new ones are.
EDIT: From the framework's configuration page:
> > Will you be adding additional Expansion Card types?
> Yes! We'll be adding new Expansion Cards over time, and we're also opening up the design to enable third parties and community members to create their own versions. We'll be making these available in the Framework Marketplace
That's awesome, then in theory Ethernet expansion card could exist (and use similar design to the PC cards above, where the Ethernet port can be retractable)
That's funny I remember laptops from the 2000s with those swappable cards with different ports.
One I distinctly remember because it was clever way to keep the card ~3mm thin were the Ethernet cards, where the Ethernet port was hidden inside and you'd press it to make it pop, similar to handleless kitchen cabinets.
I found a picture of those on Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Card The framework expansion port seems to be a 2021 version of this, although I don't know how standardized these new ones are.
EDIT: From the framework's configuration page:
> > Will you be adding additional Expansion Card types?
> Yes! We'll be adding new Expansion Cards over time, and we're also opening up the design to enable third parties and community members to create their own versions. We'll be making these available in the Framework Marketplace
That's awesome, then in theory Ethernet expansion card could exist (and use similar design to the PC cards above, where the Ethernet port can be retractable)