Framework Laptop Compatibility
Hello all,
I'm looking to get the newer 13 pro Framework laptop and am wondering if anyone has any experience with it? Specifically If I'll need non-free graphics drivers to use it effectively.
Thanks!
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It's highly likely you'll need https://gitlab.com/nonguix/nonguix even if the free drivers work. nonguix has firmware and CPU microcode packages that you'll most likely want.
Also, I wouldn't recommend a Framework laptop for Guix because they only offer high DPI displays. Those displays are famous for not working properly on Linux in general, requiring lots of workarounds and half-solutions, and leaving you with tiny apps and/or blurry fonts. Distros with the latest software like Arch, kinda help a little because they have the latest improvements, but remember Guix does not have the latest software available. That's not the point of Guix. So you'll be running older software that will be more troublesome with a high DPI display.
If you're interested in repairability and good Linux compatibility, the new ThinkPad T14 laptops scored 10/10 on iFixit https://ifixit.com/News/115827/new-thinkpads-score-perfect-10-repairability
You get a repairable laptop and a Linux-friendly full HD display.
I've run Guix on my main desktop witch is an Intel i9 and an ARC B570 and I'm trapped in a frame buffer without nonguix. Part of me was hoping that with a non-duscrete GPU I could get away with it.
As for the hidpi that's the first I've heard of it actually. My desktop's monitor is a 5120x1440
Here's a thread on the Framework forums where people spent years talk about how to get HiDPI working: https://community.frame.work/t/tracking-state-of-hidpi-on-linux/8301
Granted it's a few years old now. Last time I tried HiDPI was a few years ago as well. I definitely had lots of little annoyances. The blurry fonts don't bother some people, so maybe it's fine. idk.
I can't speak for intel chips since i only have experience with amd, but from my experience if you have an amd apu you'll still need proprietary firmware from nonguix, that was the case with my laptop atleast. The other thing that can be iffy is wifi cards. On both my laptop and desktop i needed firmware for that. Everything else just worked.