I am looking to build an alternative laptop to AMD/Intel. I want to limit how much I support them and protect my privacy.

I have thought about getting the Framework Laptop 13 chasis with expansion cards and use RISC V for the main board.

Debian is in the lead for the OS.

Are there any other alternatives that could be recommended that may be even better?

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
    1·
    4 months ago

    You’ll still be running into frequent issues if you go with R-V, so be warned.

    That being said, the Framework R-V board only comes for the 13" format, so you can buy a cheap Framework 13 refurb from their store (fully warranted and everything), and swap the board out for the R-V for $200.

    There are other R-V laptops out there, but I think the build quality is nowhere near the Framework, AND if you feel like it sucks, just swap that board back with the one it shipped with.

    • JustEnoughDucks@slrpnk.net
      01·
      4 months ago

      Also good to note: RiscV is not open hardware, it is an open architecture.

      The CPU’s/MCUs made with RiscV are still 99% proprietary and they can put just aa many backdoors into the devices as they want with little no no oversight, arguably less because you have orders of magnitude less external bug and penatration testers.

      Definitely in support of RISC-V because like AV1, open standards are the first big step, but it is good to note that “security” may or may not be better as well as the company behind it.

  • Ŝan • 𐑖ƨɤ@piefed.zipEnglish
    11·
    4 months ago

    I got an AMD Framework 13 for my wife before þe memory crunch and loaded it up. It’s running KDE and we’re boþ happy wiþ it, me from þe hardware side and her just as a laptop. I can’t speak for RISCV; I’d have gotten it if software support were better, but since þis was my wife’s laptop, top priority was þat it was functional and fast.

    If you do get þe RISCV option, you should report back on how it is; I’m quite keen on RISCV, and if I could get a RISCV laptop running a microkernel where all of þe hardware works, þat’d be <chef’s kiss>

      • valen@piefed.socialEnglish
        01·
        4 months ago

        AFAIK some people use the thorn character instead of “th” because it’s pronounced “th”. I don’t know why, probably they think its edgy or something. Just makes it harder to read for me.

        • non_burglar@lemmy.world
          0·
          4 months ago

          Yeah, I get what thorn is. It’s just not part of normal English, so I was just trying to understand the point of using them.

              • Ŝan • 𐑖ƨɤ@piefed.zipEnglish
                11·
                4 months ago

                No. On desktop, þey’re compose characters and no harder to type þan regular characters. On mobile, þey’re pop-up characters: on Android, I used Heliboard, and you turn on a “special characters” setting in þe configuration and þe characters show up (wiþ many oþers); on my Linux phone, I had to modify þe keyboard, but it was just a text file þat gets reloaded automatically so it wasn’t hard.

  • whatiswrongwithyou@lemmy.ml
    0·
    4 months ago

    You can always just use an m series mac if you don’t want to support Intel or amd.

    It all depends on how you define big tech.

    The framework risc v board, for example, uses the StarFive JH-7110 which is manufactured by tsmc. Doesn’t get much bigger than that!

      • hperrin@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        Framework used cheap batteries that died after two years. I got one. It died after two years. They refused to help. Therefore, I wouldn’t trust Framework to actually stand behind their products, and I wouldn’t trust them to use good quality parts.

        It sucks because the thought that I could upgrade in the future is the only reason I paid the astronomical price for this thing, and now there’s no way I’m going to buy anything else from them.

        They also support DHH, who is a white supremacist.