They certainly are!
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I feel like Iām seeing more and more issues surfacing, I wanted to support framework and replace my Macbook with the 13 pro, but Iām thinking maybe itād be best to cancel and accept worse battery life and just use some old Lenovo.
Appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
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There support is not great! In general tech support is just not great. I donāt think anyone really enjoys it on either side. I have been on both sides. I did get a reply from them this morning, so things may get resolved.
The only part I really need is a bottom cover to fix it, total cost $61.48 with shipping and tax.
What issues have you been seeing? I am just curious!
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Certainly seen multiple reports of cracking. Also saw a report about some sort of firmware issue or update, but I donāt fully recall.
Seems like customer support is really hit or miss (as you said, thatās basically everywhere), like they had sent out pads for the 16ā to fix some keyboard flex, but then with the firmware/bios issue on some AMD models, despite this article, some people still got hosed because it couldnāt fully be proved from some articles, but who knows how truthful those people are.
$61.48 isnāt badā¦ but having to do that once a year certainly would add up. If they made a 12 in metal I think that would be a much more interesting item.
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I am stress testing my FW12 this morning. I added a couple of pieces of gaffer tape over the cracks to add a little more support/keep the cracks together. The sound is still working even with the heat. If support the conversation with support goes south I might just plastic weld it back together. Normally I do a fraction of this and the speaker cut out/stop working.
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I am not against paying for the part, but they should be providing replacements since this is a defect. I know Apple has had several of these programs over the years. I have been part of a couple of them and the process was always easy and straightforward. This was years ago though, 2010-2012.
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The ticket I had open with Framework is now closed, so no help from them 
! I am done with them as a company. I have shopped around for something else and I donāt like it. I feel like it might be time to take a break from tech. Turn as much of it off as I can and just do something else. It is not entirely on them, other factors are involved. I just want to go sit in the woods!
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May I recommend a hammock to go in the woods with
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I would not forget my hammock! I even have a nice underquilt, so I can stay warm when it gets cold.
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Hell yeah
I need to buy underquilts for mineā¦
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My Framework forum account appears to have been disabled. I can no longer log in or use the forgot password link. Strangely though I can still access the forum on the devices I was signed into already. I feel like I am getting silenced by them. I have pointed out there B.S. in several threads and provided the evidence. I did order a new bottom cover, but after checking it when it arrived I found that it is affected by the cracking issue was well. The manufacturing dates fall within the time of known issues. I have started the process to return the item as it is defective.
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My conversation with Framework has resumed and there is positive progress. The currently plan is to send them my FW12 to get repaired, no expense to me. My FW 13 is now dead following a successful Bios update. I do not think they will cover the FW 13. A replacement board is like $649, currently on sale for $549. Time will tell how this goes, I hate there support! I do have backed up files that I can restore using an SPI flash tool. I would try that before buying anything. If all else fails I might get one of these, https://frame.work/products/deep-computing-risc-v-mainboard?v=FRANMV0001. I know it will not be great, but its cheap, could be fun. I know they have an ongoing issue with the 7000 series AMD boards doing the same thing. They seem to have some QA problemsā¦ Also, browsing there forum backs that up quite a bit. They are a growing company, so maybe its growing pains. I am curious to see how the 2nd generation FW 12ās hold up.
Once those cracks appear they grow. I have not used mine for a few weeks, but just picking it up and moving it around has made it get worse. At this point the entire structure is compromised.
08/30 - When i first noticed it.
09/20 - Today
I also sent back the box of parts I ordered. The cover I got is actually older than the one on my laptop, not a great sign. They told me that they put a sticker on the box of the official manufacture date, but the date stamps from the the company molding the cover tell a different story. Others on their forum have reported similar things and some have had 2-3 covers replaced and they still get cracks. To me it seems they need to redesign the part, so it doesnāt flex as much. it will be slightly thicker/heavier and have more structural components.
Besides answer the back and forth with them I have just been taking a break from tech. It has been nice. I have watched a bunch of Horror Films, good and bad. I also re-read the Jurassic Park Novel and I am about 1/3 of the way through the Lost World Novel. I am enjoying both of them! They are very different than the movies. There is so much more in terms of backstory and details. They also go an entirely different path. If the movies were based on the books they would be like 6-7 hours in length each.
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One more thing! I am currently looking for a good pair of wired earbuds. I have a preference for in-ear buds. My main use for them is with an old 6th Gen iPod Classic, 120gb. It is still going strong. If you have any suggestions feel free to share.
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I usually recommend checking out https://www.scarbir.com, but unfortunately, they only have wireless ones.
My FW13 is fixed. I was able to bring it back to life with an SPI flash. I updated the bios once more to see if the same thing happened again and no issue. I have made a backup of what is currently on the Bios chips just in case there is an issue in the future. I did mention the issue to Framework and I must have caught there interest as they were willing to send me a new board for free out of warranty, ~$649.
I also have warranty parts coming for my Framework 12 and they do not want the parts back, so I am going to try to fix the defective ones.. If anyone has an idea on how to seal the cracks in the bottom cover I am open to ideas. The structure of that section of the board is compromised as it is very flexible at this point. My currently plan is to use a hot air station or a soldering iron with a tip that looks like a rake.
Iām not sure what changed on Frameworkās end. Maybe I wore them down or there was a miscommunication somewhere. Regardless they need to work on some things.
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following this has not made it any easier on fully deciding what to do about my pre-order of the 13 proā¦ I quite enjoy my LG gram I grab for considerably less, but obviously I am a drop away from having a rough repair.
For the cracks, the first thought I had was one of those 3D printing pens and trying to fill it that way but that gets into if the plastics will play nice and is just another cost if you donāt already own one.
Second thought was a soldering iron and melt it back togetherā¦ which also doesnāt seem correct.
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Melting or welding the plastic will likely only be a temporary fix. If itās a design flaw, it will keep cracking. And if poor material quality is also a factor, welding wonāt achieve much either.
Youād need to reinforce the area thatās cracking. The question is whether thereās room for something on the inside, and whether adding something to the outside would create a bump underneath the machine.
Iād aim for something rigid yet thin maybe a custom fitted metal piece or a stiff wire and create a few ribs. Then, coat the whole area on both sides with epoxy or a similar compound something that cures into a rigid, strong material. Make the layers as thick as physically possible.
Basically, Iād treat it like a broken bone you need to add reinforcement along the weak spot to limit strain and take the stress off the plastic.
Or you could try stitching it.
Do it much like stitching a wound, drill holes on both sides along the crack and its potential path and tie them together with wire of the appropriate gauge then, fill the gaps with a strong adhesive or filler compound.
You can also drill a stress relief hole at both ends of the crack to stop it from spreading, and then fill the hole with adhesive.
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Itās a very thin crack and it has grown so filling it in would likely cause other issue. I also donāt have one of those 3D printing pens.
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Good idea on the stitching and the stress relief holes. I do have a good collection of drill bits I scan use for both. A stitch of metal wire might even look cool. I will take some measurements this weekend and see how much room I have to work with.
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I have taken some time off of my projects. I have been watching a lot of cartoons and horror movies. I am slowly getting back into things.
Todayās project is to decommission the 4tb pool on my NAS. I am only using ~500gb of the 12tb available. I am going to use the disks for another project. I have 18tb free on my 10tb pool, so plenty of space. I am also going to go through that data and update the folder structure/layout. Then I am going to update my backup scripts. I am still debating on a way to sync files from my NAS to my desktop and 2 laptops. I currently sync what I want to an offline folder on the system. If I need to update something when I get home I save it in another folder and update when I get home. Its not pretty but it works. I am open to Ideas/solutions that work for others. If I only had one computer things would be simpler.
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