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

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Framework’s expansion of its configurable laptops to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden is welcomed, but immediately raises questions about keyboard layouts, the omission of Norway, and the practicalities of serving small non‑EU markets. Commenters weigh the benefits of repairability, modular ports, and Linux support against high prices, mediocre battery life and peripherals, and compromises compared with MacBooks and ThinkPads. Many see Framework as an important experiment in sustainable, user-serviceable hardware, even if the execution and ergonomics are not yet ideal for everyone.

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.