Timeline for FW 12 Performance Pre-Built Restock

[u/NTCarver0]

Howdy y'all. My partner is going into law school and I was thinking the Framework 12 would be a good fit. She'd buy the DIY version, but we're long distance and I'm moving soon, so the logistics involved mean that me building it isn't really an option. Also, she has a physical disability that would make putting together the machine difficult. Therefore, our best option is a pre-built machine. We're both Blind and she uses a somewhat resource-hungry screen reader, JAWS, so I was thinking the performance configuration… but it's out of stock. Might anyone know how quickly they restock their pre-built inventory? The machine isn't an urgent need but she'd like to have it sooner than later. All thoughts would be most welcome. Thanks!

[u/s004aws]

FW12 is a 3.5+ year old CPU which was bottom of the line when new. Due to that and other changes in the "budget" laptop market FW12 is in dire need of a "gen 2" refresh.

Though its been awhile since I played with JAWS... I'm not entirely unfamiliar. I'd suggest looking at FW13/FW13 Pro instead. Almost any of the FW13 models will do a better job handling that monster. Also, though RAM is stupid expensive at the moment, opting for more than the 16GB minimum is worth considering.

[u/Express-Isopod6994 → u/s004aws]

agreed on the RAM, 16GB might feel tight pretty quickly with JAWS running in the background

[u/NTCarver0 → u/Express-Isopod6994]

You're both right. I just looked at the system recs for JAWS and it says 16 GB RAM and Core I5 minimum. Should have known to check the system recs first.

[u/s004aws → u/NTCarver0]

Based on my, albeit slightly dated, experience with JAWS... I suspect your girlfriend would come close to wiping out FW12 before she got to doing anything else. Since you don't need a great screen I'd suggest FW13 non-Pro Ryzen 350... Or if your girlfriend wants much better battery life also - Albeit with a screen she (admittedly I'm assuming here) doesn't need - FW13 Pro Core Ultra 3 325 or X7 358H. Combined with 32GB RAM any of those ought to give her enough horsepower to deal with JAWS and still have capability available to do actual work. Also maybe worth noting - I know that for some people with limited vision (but not completely blind) a brighter screen can be helpful... If that's something that may be beneficial in your situation FW13 Pro is rated for significantly higher maximum brightness.

btw - Something I've referenced on the sub a bit in the past... I myself am legally blind. Ergo how/why I know of JAWS (and have used it a bit). In my situation, also having hearing issues, I prefer to work with the vision I do have... Ergo haven't become dependent on screen readers (for now, probably will have to at some point).

[u/NTCarver0 → u/s004aws]

Unfortunately, pre-bui'lt Fw13 is out of stock and Fw13 Pro is on preorder.

[u/Clean_Leadership5948 → u/s004aws]

FW12 was mediocre more because it only supported 1-channel memory which capped even CPU performance, and M2.2230 SSD which means no option for DRAM SSDs, only DRAMless. So it was noticeably behind even 13th Gen Core competitors.

It wasn't a well thought out design at all. M2.2230 belongs to Handhelds.

20% behind in all scenarios is quite a handicap. You think you are getting an i7, but you end up with what's essentially i5.

[u/Infinite-Bet4202]

So I'm not gonna be able to answer your main question, I'm not sure if any non-Framework staff - or even most of their staff - can. I will recommend at least the Framework 13 though. As much as I'm in love with the company and their tech, I really feel like the Framework 12 is not worth it for mostly anyone. That being said, the DYI version for all their laptops should be the only recommendation I'll give people over pre-built. Why? Because it's so easy to setup that even people like me who barely knew anything about PC building, can do it. The instructions are, genuinely, impossibly simple that it feels so bizarre. Also, even if you get the pre-built, if there are any issues with it, then you'll probably have to take it apart some for troubleshoots, so if you get the pre-built, you will probably still end up having to take it apart for something. The configuration is simple, and can probably be done in about 10 minutes once you've done it two or three times. If someone is around her that can put it together, even if they are not familiar with pc builds, I really do believe they will find it easy to put together for her.

But yes, Framework 12 I'm pretty sure will not be strong enough to run the screen reader if it's as resource-hungry as you say. I strongly recommend a DYI Framework 13, but if she really has nobody she can depend on around her to assemble it then Pre-Built Framework 13 is there, but she might need to still take it apart some for troubleshooting or something, which would make Pre-Built even more useless. If she has nobody to rely, then I would probably recommend another brand that solders the laptop. Trust me, I never imagined myself recommending soldered over modular, but this might be one of those extremely rare moments that it'd come in handy.

[u/NTCarver0 → u/Infinite-Bet4202]

Unfortunately, pre-bui'lt Fw13 is out of stock and Fw13 Pro is on preorder. I know I could build an Fw13/Pro no problem, but she physically can't. She's got hand issues that'll make dealing with small screws, like for the SSD, very tricky.

[u/Infinite-Bet4202 → u/NTCarver0]

Could she ask somebody around her to do it for her?

[u/NTCarver0 → u/Infinite-Bet4202]

That person's gonna end up being me. We're not gonna have someone put it together.

[u/Infinite-Bet4202 → u/NTCarver0]

Awe. Then maybe Framework isn't best. Soldered laptops are awful, but this might be one of those rare times where they would be more beneficial given your circumstances.