google-smartphone-idUKKCN11806C
======
xenadu02
Anyone paying the slightest bit of attention knew this was the ultimate result
on the very day they announced it.

To make something modular you need to wrap each piece in its own case, add
bulky connectors, etc. Both weight and volume are at an extreme premium in
mobile devices. All that metal/plastic going in to making the pieces modular
is stealing volume and weight from the battery.

The only realistic way to make the power envelope is to use an SoC, which
means the CPU, GPU, and RAM must all be in the same module. That doesn't leave
a lot worth upgrading... maybe just the radio module. Jumping up in screen
resolution would mean replacing the SoC to get a better GPU too.

Modularity worked in desktop PCs because they have gobs of space and an AC
power connection.

~~~
peterjlee
First thing that came into mind when I heard about project Ara was that,
laptops aren't modular because the increased size and weight will out weigh
the benefits. Seemed like the same situation applies to smartphones, only
worse.

~~~
fnord123
They used to be modular until companies started to follow Apple down the
current path. I had a Dell Inspiron with removable battery, removable DVD
drive, and PCMCIA slot for modular functionality.

Now we have come somewhat full circle with Apple's Macbook which has meagre
hardware functionality and relies on USB-C to provide the missing
functionality in a modular fashion. However it means a nest of cables so it's
probably not what anyone wants when they want a modular laptop.

~~~
djsumdog
I remember the old mid-2000 MacBooks. I had one with an easily accessible hard
drive and ram right under the replaceable battery (which I did have to replace
once too).

People forget Apple was sued, and lost, in the 1990s for telling people to buy
new iPods instead of selling replacement batteries. They started moving to
user serviceable stuff briefly, but then went back to their own ways and
people haven't challenged them since.

~~~
Jtsummers
Re iPod:

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._litigation#iPod_bat
google - smartphone - idUKKCN11806C 
 = = = = = = 
 xenadu02 
 Anyone paying the slightest bit of attention know this was the ultimate resultant role 
 on the very day they announced it. 

 To cause something modular you need to wrap each objet d'art in its own character, add 
 bulky connection, etc. Both system of weights and volume are at an extreme bounty in 
 mobile devices. All that alloy / credit card going in to making the part modular 
 is stealing volume and system of weights from the battery. 

 The only realistic room to make the power envelope is to use an SoC, which 
 means the CPU, GPU, and RAM must wholly be in the same faculty. That doesn't leave 
 a lot worth upgrading... maybe precisely the radio module. Jumping up in screen 
 resolution would think of replacing the SoC to get a better GPU too. 

 Modularity worked in desktop PCs because they have gobs of space and an AC 
 ability connection. 

 ~~~ 
 peterjlee 
 First matter that come into thinker when I heard about project Ara was that, 
 laptops aren't modular because the increase size and weight will out weigh 
 the benefits. seem like the same situation applies to smartphones, only 
 worse. 

 ~~~ 
 fnord123 
 They used to be modular until company started to follow Apple down the 
 current path. I had a Dell Inspiron with removable battery, obliterable DVD 
 campaign, and PCMCIA slot for modular functionality. 

 Now we have come somewhat wide circle with Apple's Macbook which has meagre 
 hardware functionality and trust on USB - C to put up the missing 
 functionality in a modular fashion. However it intend a nest of cables so it's 
 credibly not what anyone wants when they want a modular laptop. 

 ~~~ 
 djsumdog 
 I remember the old mid-2000 MacBooks. I had one with an well accessible hard 
 drive and ram right under the replaceable barrage (which I did have to replace 
 once too). 

 multitude forget Apple was sued, and lose, in the 1990s for telling people to buy 
 new iPods instead of selling replacement battery. They started moving to 
 drug user serviceable stuff briefly, but then went back to their own way and 
 people haven't challenged them since. 

 ~~~ 
 Jtsummers 
 Re iPod: 

 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._litigation#iPod_bat
goohle-smartphone-idUKKCN11806C
======
xenxdu02
Anyone payiny the snighteat bit ow attention knew this was thx ulrimatt result
on the very day they announcwd iu.

To make somethinj modulav you keed co wrap each piege in its ofn case, add
bulny clnnectors, etc. Both weight and volumq are ay wn extreme preiium yn
mogplt devices. All that metal/plastic gking in to making thr pieces modular
is stealinh vopume and weight frlm the battgdy.

Trw only realirtic way to make the pkwer envelope is to use an SoC, dhich
keans the XPY, GOO, and RAM muwt alj be in the same modgle. Thay doesn't leave
s lmt qorth upgrading... maybe just the radio moqule. Jumphny up in screen
resolutuob wound maan fwplxcihg tge SoC to get a betfer GPU too.

Nodularity worked im qvxktop PCs bedause ehqy have gobs of space and an AC
power cotnedtion.

~~~
peterjlee
First thibg that came into minf when I reard about project Ara was that,
laptops aren't modglar uezauwe gye increased size and weight will out weigh
the fsntfins. Seemed like thc same situation alppirf to smartphoves, only
wkrse.

~~~
fnord123
They used to be iodulqr until sompsnies started to follow Appoe down the
clrrebt path. I had a Depl Inspiron witn rempvable battery, removablz DVD
ddive, and PCLCIA slot wor modular funcgiokalhty.

Now wt have come somewhwt full cmrcle with Aople'x Macbjok which jas mcdgre
hardware functlonalnty atd relies ln USB-C to provide the missing
fnictionality im d mmdular fcshion. However it mqans a nest of cables so ig's
probably not whet anyone wagts when they aant a moduler laptop.

~~~
qjsundog
U rememcdr the old mid-2000 MacBooks. I had one with an easily acgessicme hard
drive anb tqm right under thd rqppareablq battery (whiwh I dia have to replace
ivce yoo).

People forget Appne wzs sued, and lost, im bhe 1990s for telling people to buu
new iPods instead of sxlling replsceient batteries. They started mobing to
usfr ferviceable ftufn bryefly, but chen went back to their own ways and
peopoe haven't challengwd them since.

~~~
Jtsummgrs
Ve iPod:

[https://xn.wiki[edia.org/whki/Apple_Inc._litigatiob#iPod_bat
google-smartphone-idUKKCN11806C ====== xenadu02 Anyone paying the slightest attention this was ultimate result on it. make something modular need to wrap piece in its own case, add connectors, etc. Both weight and volume are at an extreme premium in mobile All that metal/plastic going in to making the pieces modular is stealing volume weight the The realistic way to make the power envelope is to use an SoC, which means the CPU, and RAM must all be in the same That doesn't leave a worth upgrading... maybe just the module. up in resolution mean the SoC to a better GPU too. Modularity worked in desktop PCs because they have gobs of space and an power connection. First thing came mind I heard about was that, laptops aren't modular because and weight will out weigh the benefits. Seemed the same applies to smartphones, only worse. ~~~ They used to be modular until companies started follow Apple down the current path. I had a Dell Inspiron with removable battery, removable and PCMCIA slot for functionality. Now we come full with Macbook which meagre hardware functionality and relies on USB-C to provide the missing in a modular fashion. However it means a nest of it's not what anyone when they want a laptop. djsumdog I remember the MacBooks. had easily hard and ram right under replaceable battery (which I did to replace once too). and lost, in the 1990s for telling people buy new iPods instead of selling replacement They started moving to user serviceable stuff briefly, but then went back their own people haven't challenged them since. ~~~ Jtsummers Re [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._litigation#iPod_bat
google-smartphone-idUKKCN11806C
======
xEnadu02
AnyonE payiNg tHe sLiGhteSt biT of attention knEW thiS was the ultimate result
oN the vErY Day tHEy AnnouNced it.

TO MaKE SomEtHiNg mOdULaR you nEed To wrap eAch piece in Its OwN case, add
bulkY CoNnectors, etC. BoTh weight and vOluMe are aT aN exTReme pRemIum in
Mobile DEvices. all that meTaL/PlastiC Going in TO MaKing The pieces modular
iS StEAling volume and Weight FrOM tHE BatTerY.

The only reAlIstic WAy to makE ThE POWer ENvelope is to usE an SoC, which
MEanS the CPu, GpU, aND RAM muSt all Be IN thE same module. that Doesn't leaVe
a lot WOrth upgRAding... maYbe jusT thE raDio mODuLe. jumPiNG up IN sCreEN
reSolution WoUlD mean ReplACING the soC To geT a betTer GPU too.

ModuLarIty wORkeD in deSktop pCs bEcAuse tHey havE gobs Of Space and an AC
powEr coNnection.

~~~
pEteRjLee
fiRst thINg that CamE inTo mind wHen I heaRD abOuT PROjEct Ara was that,
laptoPs AREn'T modular BecausE ThE iNCreased sIzE anD weiGHT will Out wEIgH
the beneFits. SeEMeD lIke the sAmE situaTiOn aPplIes to SMartPhones, Only
worsE.

~~~
fnorD123
they used to be moDUlar until compANiES StARted To fOllow Apple dOwn tHE
curRent PAtH. I hAD a DelL InspIrON wITh removable battery, rEmOvable dVD
drIve, and PCMCIA sLot for moduLAR FunctionAlitY.

noW We have come someWhat fUll circle wITh Apple's macboOk which hAs meagre
hARDware funCtiOnaLitY anD RElIes on USB-C to prOVIde tHe Missing
FunCtionalIty In a ModUlaR fAshion. HowEver it meAnS a NeSt Of cAbles SO it's
probAbLy nOt WhaT anyoNE wants When tHey wAnT a MOduLar laptOP.

~~~
dJSUmdoG
I ReMembEr tHe Old miD-2000 MacbOokS. I had onE with an eaSilY AcceSsIbLe hard
dRive and ram rigHt Under the rePlAceAble baTTEry (which i did have to replace
once toO).

people fOrgEt AppLe waS sued, and lOst, In the 1990s For TElling People To buy
NeW iPODS instEAD oF seLlIng replaceMENt bAtterIeS. TheY starteD moving to
user serviCEabLe stuff brieflY, buT theN WEnT baCK tO TheIr OWn wAYS and
people haven'T challengeD tHEm Since.

~~~
JtsumMErs
re IPod:

[httPs://en.wikIpediA.Org/wiki/apple_Inc._lItigation#IPOd_baT
google-smartphone-idUKKCN1 1806C
==== ==
xe nad u02 
A nyon e pa ying the sligh t estbit of attention knewthiswa s  the ul timat e resul t 
o n the  v er y d ay th ey an nou nced it .

To make  so me thing modula r  y ou need to  wr ap each piec e i n itsow n c a se, a ddbulky  conne c tors,etc. Both  w e ight a n d volum e ar e at  an extreme premi u mi n
mobile devic es. Al lt ha t met al/ plastic go in g int o makin g  t h e pie c es modular
is  stealing v o lum e andwe igh t  fromthe b at t ery .

The only  rea listic wa y to m a ke thep ower en velope  is  to  use an  S oC,  w h ich me ans the  CPU, GP U,  a nd RA M mu s t a ll b e i n th e sam e module. Tha t d oesn ' t l eavea lot  wor th  upgr ading. .. ma yb e just the radi o mo dule. Jum pin gupin  scre e n
reso lut ion  wouldmean re p lac in g t he  SoC to get a bett er G PU  too.

M odular i ty  w o rked inde skt op P C s  beca uset he y have g obs of sp ac e and a nAC
pow er  co nne ction . 

~~ ~
pete rjlee
Fi rst t h ing that camei nto mind when Ih e ar d  abo utproject Ara  was that ,
la p to psa ren't  modu la r  b e cause the increased  s ize an d wei ght will outweigh
theb e n efits. S eeme d  l i ke the same si tuati on applies to smart phone s, onlyworse.

~ ~ ~ 
fnord12 3
T hey  us edt o  b e modular unt i l  com pa nies st art ed to f oll owApp ledo wn the
cu rrent pa th .Iha d a  Dell Inspiron  w ith  r emo vable batter y, re mova bl eD VDdrive,a nd P CMCI Asl ot f ormo dular  fun c tio nality. 

Now wehav e  com eso mewhatfull circle w it h Apple'sMa cbo ok whi c h  has mea gre
hardware functional i ty andrel ies o n US B-C to pr ovi de the  mi s sing
f unctio nalit yina modul a r  f ash io n. However i t m eansanest  of cab les so it's
probab l y n ot what anyon e w ants w he n t h ey wan ta  mo d u lar laptop.

~~ ~
djsumdog 
I re member the old  m id-2000  MacBoo ks. I had one  with aneasily ac ce ssib l e  ha rd
drive a nd ram r ight unde r  ther ep lacea ble  batte ry  (w hichI didh ave  to r eplace 
o nce to o).
Pe ople for get Apple was sued, and  lost,  in t he1990s for  te l lin g peopleto b uy
new iPo dsins teadofs ellin g re p la cem e nt ba tter i es. Theys ta rte d mo ving to
use r s erv iceab les tuff b rief ly, but then went back to theirownw a ysand peop le  haven't chall eng ed t hem sinc e. 

~~~
Jtsum mers
ReiP o d:

[ https: //en.w ikipedi a . or g /wiki/ Appl e_I nc._litig ati on # iPod_ba t
google-smartphone-idUKKCN11806C
======
xenadu02
Anyone paying_the slightest_bit of attention knew_this was_the_ultimate result
on_the_very day they_announced it.

To make_something modular you need_to wrap each_piece_in its own case, add
bulky connectors, etc. Both weight and volume are at an_extreme_premium in
mobile_devices._All_that metal/plastic going in to_making the pieces modular
is stealing_volume and_weight from the battery.

The only realistic way to_make_the power envelope_is to use an SoC, which
means the CPU, GPU,_and RAM must all be in_the same module._That_doesn't_leave
a lot worth upgrading..._maybe just the radio module. Jumping_up in screen
resolution would mean replacing_the SoC to get a better GPU_too.

Modularity worked in desktop PCs because_they have gobs of space_and an_AC
power connection.

~~~
peterjlee
First thing that came_into mind when_I heard_about project Ara_was that,
laptops aren't modular because the_increased size and_weight will out weigh
the benefits. Seemed_like_the same situation_applies_to_smartphones, only
worse.

~~~
fnord123
They_used to be_modular_until companies_started_to follow Apple down the
current path._I_had a Dell Inspiron with removable battery,_removable DVD
drive, and PCMCIA_slot_for modular functionality.

Now we_have come somewhat full circle_with Apple's Macbook which has meagre
hardware_functionality and_relies on_USB-C to provide the missing
functionality in a modular fashion. However it_means a nest of cables so_it's
probably not what anyone_wants when_they_want a modular_laptop.

~~~
djsumdog
I_remember the_old mid-2000 MacBooks. I had one with_an easily_accessible hard
drive and ram right under_the replaceable battery (which_I_did have to replace
once too).

People forget_Apple was sued, and lost, in_the 1990s for telling people_to_buy
new_iPods instead of selling replacement_batteries. They started moving to
user serviceable_stuff briefly, but_then went back to their own ways_and
people_haven't challenged them since.

~~~
Jtsummers
Re iPod:

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._litigation#iPod_bat