I presume you read the article and are looking for a larger strategy beyond the "since we could, we did" offered therein.
I don't know to what extent this is part of a high-level strategy rather than a clever idea by someone in purchasing that got approved by some VP (sounds like the latter), but as a strategy it makes sense and gives me confidence in Framework's longevity.
0. Framework has a small target market to begin with, since most people really don't care about right to repair.
1. Selling components is a different business with different logistics and economies of scale than selling computers. (Maybe 1% of people who buy Frameworks will ever replace their display.)
3. I don't have numbers for either, but I suspect the Steam Deck is outselling Framework by orders of magnitude.
4. Stocking parts for other, better-selling devices may be what it takes to make their parts business self-sustaining.
As long as selling parts is a money-loser for Framework, the company will have a financial incentive to scale that operation back, no matter what their vision statement and marketing says. And if they run into financial difficulty, that's a decision that they'll have to evaluate. Framework without parts is just another laptop that's thicker and heavier than necessary.
NB: If it isn't apparent, this is all based on my own conjecture. But I think it makes a reasonable case for expanding their parts business nonetheless.
I don't know to what extent this is part of a high-level strategy rather than a clever idea by someone in purchasing that got approved by some VP (sounds like the latter), but as a strategy it makes sense and gives me confidence in Framework's longevity.
0. Framework has a small target market to begin with, since most people really don't care about right to repair.
1. Selling components is a different business with different logistics and economies of scale than selling computers. (Maybe 1% of people who buy Frameworks will ever replace their display.)
3. I don't have numbers for either, but I suspect the Steam Deck is outselling Framework by orders of magnitude.
4. Stocking parts for other, better-selling devices may be what it takes to make their parts business self-sustaining.
As long as selling parts is a money-loser for Framework, the company will have a financial incentive to scale that operation back, no matter what their vision statement and marketing says. And if they run into financial difficulty, that's a decision that they'll have to evaluate. Framework without parts is just another laptop that's thicker and heavier than necessary.
NB: If it isn't apparent, this is all based on my own conjecture. But I think it makes a reasonable case for expanding their parts business nonetheless.