Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
Final yr, whereas on trip, I used to be having a dialog with my uncle about computer systems and the concept of getting a single system that may do every thing you can need. This got here after he confirmed me his Framework Laptop computer, which was primarily booting Linux, however he additionally had a Home windows partition and was engaged on establishing one other one for macOS. That concept has caught with me over the previous yr, as he can take this singular laptop computer with him wherever he goes and boot it proper into no matter OS he desires. And whereas that is a venture that I nonetheless wish to deal with, I made a decision to start out smaller.
Shortly after coming back from mentioned trip, the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook Version landed on my doorstep. Till pretty just lately, it was the Chromebook that I might attain for each time I needed to fiddle with one thing or take a look at what’s new on the ChromeOS Dev channel.
What makes Framework Laptops so intriguing is that you simply aren’t restricted to pre-determined configurations. You additionally need not purchase an entire new laptop computer if you wish to benefit from the newest processors. To not point out you can improve the RAM and storage and even swap out enlargement playing cards so that you’ve got the ports you want at any given time.
It is the last word DIY machine for tinkerers like me! To not point out, ever because the firm partnered with Cooler Grasp to create a case able to housing a Framework Mainboard, I’ve needed to create my very own Framework Chromebox, and I could not be extra excited to offer it a strive. Sadly, that pleasure rapidly was frustration.
Taking place the rabbit gap
I instantly started working, rapidly (however rigorously) disassembling the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook, eradicating the mainboard, slapping it into the Cooler Grasp Case, and plugging every thing in. All that work, solely to be met with flashing pink lights. So, I took every thing out of the Cooler Grasp case and put it again into the Laptop computer housing, the place it began up simply tremendous.
It wracked my mind for lots longer than I might care to confess, making an attempt to determine why it wasn’t working within the case. I spent hours perusing Reddit, the Framework Group discussion board, and simply looking for anybody who had an identical scenario. It even obtained to the purpose that I used to be wanting right into a SuzyQable to attempt to put the Framework into Debug Mode in order that I may strive to entry or flash bios.
The explanation for that is that nearly every thing that I examine utilizing a Framework Mainboard on this Cooler Grasp case mentioned that you simply wanted to flip off Fast Boot within the bios. It is a two-fold downside with the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook Mainboard, as ChromeOS does not use conventional bios, and there is no CMOS battery to take away and exchange.
Someday, I made a decision that sufficient was sufficient, and I used to be decided to determine what the issue was. I even went as far as to order a SuzyQable off of eBay in hopes of flashing a customized restoration.
Fortunately, I did not have to go any additional down the rabbit gap.
Discovering the answer
I did not suppose something of it on the time as a result of Framework is utilizing an Intel Mainboard with the Chromebook. Nevertheless, I got here throughout a publish on the Framework Group detailing related points, as it appears that evidently the AMD Mainboards aren’t utilizing a CMOS battery both. So, after following the steps listed, I pushed the ability button, considering that this was my final probability, and watched my monitor flicker.
Lower than a minute later, my Frankenstein Framework Chromebox was alive! I turned it again off, plugged in all of my peripherals, tried it once more, and it labored! Now, I’ve a Chromebox that’s extra highly effective than any of the finest Chromebox fashions, and if I would like, I can improve it sooner or later.
And as a bonus, my lovely 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED lets me use picture-by-picture with ChromeOS on one facet and my desktop Home windows machine on the opposite. The one downside is that I am unable to make use of my mouse and keyboard seamlessly between the 2.
Why I constructed a Framework Chromebox
Over the previous yr or so, I’ve rediscovered the “tinkerer” in me. It is a large motive why I am enamored with handheld gaming consoles, as not every thing “simply works” out of the field. One thing may work on one system, however it may not be usable on one other system, and it simply captures my consideration otherwise.
The opposite motive why I used to be so enamored with this idea is that it is one thing that you simply actually will not discover anyplace else. You’ll be able to’t purchase a Framework Chromebox anyplace, even from the corporate straight. I am not saying that I used to be the primary, however I have never seen anybody else strive to do that with Framework’s Chromebook Mainboard and the Cooler Grasp case.
There’s additionally the concept if I have to go someplace, I may take out the mainboard from the Cooler Grasp case, throw it within the Framework Laptop computer shell, and be on my merry means. No, it is not so simple as simply tossing a laptop computer in my bag and leaving the Framework Chromebox alone. However the place’s the enjoyable in that?
Lastly, and maybe most significantly, it is a machine that I can continuously improve and provides me a little bit of “future-proofing.” My Framework Chromebox/Laptop computer has 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and if I want extra or wish to swap it out for one thing new, I’ve the liberty to take action.
Not to mention the truth that each time I will save the money to get my arms on a kind of fancy new Framework Mainboards, I can simply throw it in both the Cooler Grasp case or the laptop computer housing. So, so long as Framework sticks round, and I am hoping that might be for years to return, I am going to have a transparent improve path, even when it is transferring away from ChromeOS and onto Linux.
