I Ditched Windows And Built A Linux Laptop In Minutes - Here's How You Can, Too

2 weeks ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Framework Laptop 12 is simply a modular, DIY laptop you build yourself, starting astatine $549.
It's portable, durable, and Linux-friendly, a awesome action for anyone building their first laptop aliases looking to branch retired from banal laptops.
Its humble hardware is champion for mundane tasks, and its show isn't nan astir dazzling.

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There are a increasing number of capable, budget-friendly Windows alternatives successful 2025, but 1 of my apical recommendations is nan Framework Laptop 12, a modular, DIY 2-in-1 you tin build yourself, supporting Linux aliases Windows retired of nan box.

No matter which OS you choose, Framework 12's modular quality allows for a higher grade of customization than a banal laptop. In summation to nan brand's standout colorways, unsocial build, and bully durability, you tin prime your ain hardware, I/O ports, and moreover really they're placed connected nan chassis.

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This benignant of applicable customization is astatine nan bosom of Framework's laptop design: challenging nan conception that laptops "need" to beryllium built a definite way, and that it's imaginable -- easy, moreover -- to shingle up nan position quo.

But it's not conscionable astir customization; Framework's laptops are designed for easy repair, pinch replaceable individual components contributing to instrumentality longevity, alternatively of "getting a caller one" conscionable because your HDMI larboard is dead.

Each individual portion wrong nan laptop is marked pinch a QR codification that links to a elaborate video and/or How-To article describing really to switch it arsenic portion of Framework's robust room of support content.

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Accessible guides for illustration these do a batch to empower users to repair their ain devices, particularly those who aren't needfully "computer people" but don't want to beryllium bullied into buying a caller instrumentality each fewer years conscionable because thing breaks (or an operating strategy stops being supported).

The Framework Laptop 12 is an ultraportable, highly durable laptop pinch a unsocial build and little to mid-range hardware for nan price, starting astatine $549 for nan DIY type pinch nary operating strategy (or $688 pinch Windows).

If you take nan DIY version, your laptop will travel unassembled, meaning you will request to put together each of nan beingness components, including nan representation and storage, keyboard, and each of nan input/output ports. You will besides request to instal your ain OS (which I'll grow connected shortly).

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As acold arsenic soul hardware goes, you tin take betwixt an i3-1315U aliases i5-1334U CPU, 2 13th-gen Intel Core processors designed for lightweight, power-efficient laptops geared towards mundane tasks alternatively of demanding, performance-driven workloads.

But, if you don't want to fiddle pinch assembling nan laptop yourself, you tin opt for nan pre-built model, which comes successful either nan "Base" aliases nan "Performance" configuration (aligning pinch nan 2 processors listed above) and person nan remainder of nan hardware pre-selected -- 8GB successful nan base, and 16GB successful nan performance.

If you spell pinch nan pre-built, though, you'll miss retired connected nan cool colorways, which are only disposable successful nan DIY version.

Along pinch nan processors, you tin configure nan Framework Laptop 12 pinch 8GB of RAM up to 48GB (with added cost, of course) and up to a 2TB SSD. If you person your own, you tin region these components from nan measure altogether, bringing nan full costs down.

The 2-in-1 shape facet is an added plus, allowing for moreover much usage lawsuit flexibility, particularly pinch nan stylus successful tablet mode aliases arsenic a applicable intermezo laptop successful shelter mode. In that sense, nan Framework Laptop 12 makes for a durable, customizable laptop for kids, students, aliases arsenic a recreation device, pinch nan added prize of customization and nan perks of a DIY approach.

Out of nan box, nan Framework Laptop comes pinch each nan components you request to get your laptop started, and nan antecedently mentioned startup guides are very adjuvant astatine breaking nan process down into digestible steps. Even if you've ne'er put together a machine before, I'm assured you could combine a Framework laptop.

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Once things are up and running, nan adjacent measurement is installing your chosen operating system. If you went pinch Windows, I urge including an Ethernet larboard among nan different ports you selected. That way, you tin plug your laptop straight into your modem to instal and update Windows without worrying astir Wi-Fi drivers.

If you want to instal Linux connected nan Framework Laptop 12, Framework has a room of installation guides for respective distributions, including Mint, NixOS, Fedora, and Ubuntu. I'd urge doing nan investigation up of clip connected which distro you want, and familiarizing yourself pinch nan basics earlier going caller connected a marque caller laptop.

I'm a large instrumentality of nan laptop's beingness build, which measures 11.3 inches and feels durable and utilitarian, but pinch a distinctly portable body. The MIL-STD-810 durability standing intends it's resilient capable to grip drops and bumps.

The 12-inch HD show is astir average, though it does beryllium down immoderate alternatively heavy bezels that lend to a somewhat much fund look -- thing I dream Framework tin look astatine successful early builds for a much premium ocular component.

That said, it matches its intended usage lawsuit arsenic an ultraportable 2-in-1 for mundane tasks, particularly for kids aliases successful an acquisition mounting wherever it tin grip a bully magnitude of contact.

The 50W battery's longevity is rather good. For normal use, it easy nets a afloat day's worthy of activity connected 1 charge. During my testing, I sewage to astir 10 hours of artillery life pinch Wi-Fi on, but much observant powerfulness guidance will summation that number.

This puts nan laptop successful akin institution arsenic devices for illustration Lenovo's 11-inch Chromebook Duet -- different highly portable 2-in-1 I urge for students -- but is half nan value and runs ChromeOS alternatively of a afloat Windows aliases Linux OS.

So, yes, location are plentifulness of competitory Windows alternatives astir nan aforesaid value arsenic nan Framework Laptop 12. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus, for example, is 1 of my favourite Chromebooks of this year. Acer's Chromebook Plus Spin 514, pinch nan aforesaid 2-in-1 shape facet and $549 starting price, speaks to a akin consumer.

Also: Leaving Windows 10 behind? Apple's rumored $599 MacBook mightiness beryllium conscionable for you

These banal laptops whitethorn beryllium easier to get started pinch retired of nan box, but nan Framework Laptop 12 plays nan agelong crippled pinch easy repairability, extending its lifecycle, reducing e-waste, and empowering nan user successful nan process.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Framework Laptop 12 is simply a durable, portable small laptop pinch a utilitarian build. Its affordable starting value of $549 makes it a awesome action for anyone looking to return their first steps distant from banal mill laptops and/or nan Windows ecosystem.

While its show isn't precisely nan astir premium, it's conscionable good for its intended usage case. The Framework Laptop 12 is nan astir portable, budget-friendly of nan brand's lineup, pinch humble hardware for mundane tasks, students, aliases arsenic a secondary recreation device. If you're looking for a DIY laptop pinch much performance-driven hardware, cheque retired nan Framework Laptop 13, aliases nan Framework Laptop 16.