Flying_Anvil's recent activity
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Comment on I quit teaching because of ChatGPT in ~creative
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Comment on Does anyone use Framework laptops? What has been your experience? in ~comp
Flying_Anvil LinkI bought a Framework two years ago. I wasn't using it very much since my circumstances kept me at home with my desktop. Since becoming a student I've started using it again and I have some...I bought a Framework two years ago. I wasn't using it very much since my circumstances kept me at home with my desktop. Since becoming a student I've started using it again and I have some thoughts, but first if you're looking for a reliable laptop then Framework is decent, but the battery life is kinda sketchy (especially if you put Linux on it like I did. Linux is known for not being very well optimized for batteries).
My laptop is an earlier version which I bought in July of 2021. This edition of the laptop has the faulty CMOS battery that has since been completely revised on all new Frameworks and is no longer an issue if you buy new. My laptop also has had some problems with the I/O, namely my USB-C Expansion Card has stopped working. This isn't a real issue on paper since all expansion slots are USB-C anyways, and I'm sure that by now they have revised their expansion cards to be more reliable.
I was also having issues with my charger. It comes in three parts, the outlet connector, the power brick, and a USB-C to USB-C connector that plugs into the laptop. The USB-C connector seemed a little cheap and the wire deteriorated after a year of use until it stopped working entirely. The good news is that you can buy pretty much any USB-C to USB-C connector and use that to charge instead, which is awesome unless your USB-C expansion card also broke like mine did. In that case, you need to find a wire that will actually fit into the expansion slot, which surprisingly took me a while to find (they do sell a replacement wire on their website, but it's still the same quality and would cost me ~$30. You can get better quality for cheaper).
All of this is to say that I would still recommend the Framework despite its early flaws. The company behind the product is very much committed to doing good. If I had the means then I could totally fix all the current issues I have with my laptop and it would basically be perfect, which counts for a lot especially since so many laptop manufacturers want you to throw out your tech as soon as it starts to break.
I think this is a problem that mostly comes down to incentives. When it comes to grades, I seriously doubt students are getting bonus marks for developing a distinctive voice in their writing or for making their summaries unique. This issue is compounded when one considers that post secondary education costs a lot of money and students have too little time to really absorb the whole material. Generative AI isn't going away, so I think it's best that we try and reform our education system to be less of a rat race. If not for the benefit of society, then at least for the benefit of students who are being criticized for doing what they are incentivized to do.