Frame.work laptop now available in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Nordic availability & Norway exclusion

  • Launch now includes Denmark, Sweden, Finland; many ask why Norway is excluded.
  • Main explanations: Norway is outside the EU, so customs, consumer law (incl. 5‑year warranty), translations, and support overhead are higher for a relatively small market.
  • Some suggest Norwegians can buy via other EU countries, but this doesn’t solve customs or warranty issues.

Keyboard layouts: Nordic vs national

  • Many welcome proper Danish and Swedish/Finnish keyboards instead of the generic “Nordic” layout, which overlays several languages and can confuse non‑experts.
  • Detailed discussion of differences between Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish layouts, especially æ/ø/å/ä/ö placement, Enter shape (ANSI vs ISO), and special symbols.
  • Several developers say Nordic layouts are unpleasant for coding and shell work (e.g., /, {}, [], $, | require awkward combos), and have switched to US or US‑International layouts plus Alt/Option for local letters.
  • Others argue you quickly adapt or that labels don’t matter if you touch type, but counterpoints note physical key shapes and sizes still affect ergonomics.

Custom / missing layouts (Ukrainian, Finnish, Dvorak, etc.)

  • Some want Ukrainian or other niche layouts. Suggestions include blank keyboards plus stickers, DIY engraving, or custom OS layouts.
  • Sticker durability and backlight compatibility are concerns; alternatives such as permanent markers or water‑slide decals are discussed.

Hardware quality, price & repairability

  • Prices comparable to premium laptops (including Macs) lead to debate over value.
  • Many praise repairability, modular IO, swappable mainboards, and the environmental angle; they like being able to upgrade RAM/SSD cheaply and replace parts easily.
  • Others report mixed reliability (e.g., fans, keyboards, stability issues) and note that upgrading mainboards is expensive and may approach the cost of a new midrange laptop.
  • Comparisons with MacBooks and ThinkPads: consensus that Framework trails on battery life, speakers, webcam, fan noise, and overall “polish,” but is far ahead in openness and repairability.

Modular ports & battery trade‑offs

  • Some love the customizable expansion cards and open designs (including community modules).
  • Critics argue the port modules waste space that could be used for a larger battery and reduce the number of simultaneously available ports; defenders counter that board and speaker layout, not the modules, limit battery size.

Miscellaneous

  • Interest in niche modules such as LoRa, though seen as too niche for the manufacturer.
  • Several mention that aging, still‑working laptops reduce their incentive to buy.