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Framework Laptop 12 review: Doing the right thing comes at a cost

Framework's 12-inch laptop is pitched as an alternative to dirt-cheap laptops for kids. But it costs almost as much as a premium machine.

Similarly, there’s a little flip-down plastic cover to protect the RAM, with a large printed reminder to flip it back once you’ve installed the DIMM. The gloss is an occupational hazard given it’s a touchscreen, but the weaker backlight means you’ll deal with the usual high-reflections and washed-out view in bright light. When announced, the company said it was an alternative to the sort of entry-level laptops bought for kids and students, which are “janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered and frankly, boring.” This means it’s going up against$500 notebooks and Chromebooks, the likes of which you’ll normally find on sale at Best Buy.

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