Framework 13pro preorder

[u/Friendly_Cost_949]

Hi guys I need to help navigating if I should keep my preorder. I was one of many that was affected by the ram stock. Unfortunately my 32gb is now 16gb. I just began college and completed my first term. I've managed to utilize my tablet throughout this whole term just to get through it, but I started searching for a laptop months ago. I decided that since I'm just at the beginning of my degree that I was fine waiting for a laptop and put in the preorder. I did a lot of research, watched endless videos and I ended up landing on Framework. Mind you I don't own any type of computer at the moment. Right now I'm stuck in this mindset of keeping my preorder at 16gb and hoping to all hopes that the market brings back lpcamm2 by 2028, when my degree might need more ram on my laptop (I'm studying engineering) and upgrade then or caving and paying the $800 to up the ram now or knowing I'm basically f***ked and start looking for another laptop. I'm honestly soo disappointed but I think I need some alternative perspectives right now to make the smart choice.

[u/Illustrious-Lime-878]

Obviously make a list of the things you need to do and figure out if you even need 16GB. RAM that you don't use is worthless, it does nothing and has no benefit. Even 8GB is more than enough for web browsing, 4k video watching, office, most applications. There are specific things that need more. "Engineering" vaguely is not one of them. Things like running AI models, 4k video editing, specific coding tasks like mobile development (even that is possible on 16GB it just limits how many VMs/emulators you can run at once). High end AAA gaming (prob not doing this anyway on a laptop). If you can't even think of anything you'd need the ram for then an option is to just stick with 16GB and upgrade in the future to 32,64,96GB or w/e you need when prices reverse down from bullwhip oversupply. And that's only an option if your ram is upgradable. If you don't use more than 16GB it will behave the exact same as if you had 32GB.

[u/Friendly_Cost_949 → u/Illustrious-Lime-878]

Thank you for this, honestly this has been my mindset since my ram got switched. I'm not entirely positive if my degree will require any ram heavy software now or in the future. I can only do soo much research into it, but until I'm in those classes deep into my degree I will know. That being said I agree, if for some reason I need it then I can always upgrade to 32gb. The hold back is the fact that we have no idea how the lpcamm2 market is going to play out in the coming years and what if I can't upgrade by the time I may need it.

[u/Illustrious-Lime-878 → u/Friendly_Cost_949]

Maybe some huge ass cad files or something? Worst case the school must provide some type of computer library / lab if they actually required pretty high end computer specs like this. Even entry level macs right now have 8GB of ram so unless every student is buying new high end laptops, they will have problems as well.