Working on the assumption that Win10 being EOL is going to cause an influx of old hardware becoming available, I was thinking it might be a good time to start looking for a good deal on a laptop for travel. It doesn’t HAVE to be an old unsupported laptop, but saving something from e-waste is a bonus. Here’s the kind of thing I’m looking for.

  • Something small-ish, around a 13" screen.
  • Can install Linux. Generally a given, I know. But I think not always an option with Chromebooks? I’m OK with a Chromebook as long as I can replace ChromeOS with Linux.
  • X86_64 preferred. For games, though obviously not a great platform for that. Not opposed to ARM, but the PineBook Pro is compelling as a small low-cost ARM laptop, it’d have to be a better deal than that.
  • Somewhat serviceable. I’d like to have the option to replace the batteries, storage, and memory. Being able to replace the wireless card would be nice.
  • Durable would be a bonus. It probably won’t see a lot of use, but it’ll get tossed around in a backpack or in luggage.
  • Specs aren’t too important. I like my distros lightweight, and a web browser will be the most demanding thing it’ll run.

All of that might be too much of a unicorn, but if I can find a good deal that mostly fits, I’ll be happy.

  • Peasley@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    The Pinebook Pro is unfortunately not a very good laptop. It’s very slow, has a weird storage setup, and the hardware isnt 100% supported by any distro even now, years later. The battery also takes forever to charge and doesnt last all that long.

    I get better performance on a Raspberry Pi 4 and even that is too slow for me

    It was a cool idea and if the software support was there it might have become a very compelling laptop, but as it currently exists the PBP is not worth what it costs

  • Jumuta@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Specs aren’t too important. I like my distros lightweight, and a web browser will be the most demanding thing it’ll run.

    web browsers are pretty fucking heavy these days, I think the minimum spec for an “ok” experience is a 3rd gen quad core “mobile” chip like the 3612qm or an 8th gen quad core “ultrabook” chip like the 8650u

  • chaosCruiser@futurology.todayEnglish
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    2 months ago

    Generally, I would recommend getting an enterprise laptop such as Lenovo T or X series, Dell Latitude, or HP EliteBook. In that order.

    Interestingly though, these models are supported by W11, because they’ve had various security features for years. If you want something specifically unsupported by W11, the selection is suddenly narrowed down to consumer-grade crapbooks. They should be cheap though, so might as well buy two while you’re at it.

  • Brokkr@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I recently got a think pad from the prior generation, so like 2-3 years old. It’s been good for most things, but I’m not trying to play the latest graphics heavy game on it either.

  • pewpew@feddit.it
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    2 months ago

    I have a Thinkpad X395 which I bought refurbished. I has average specs for a laptop, you can find it with up to 16 GB of RAM and a quite nice 1080p touchscreen (depending on the configuration). Also it may come with a fingerprint reader, an LTE modem or a Smartard reader. I don’t know how serviceable it is because I have never opened it but you can easily remove the keyboard by unclipping some clips and undoing some screws, you don’t have to open the case

  • oong3Eepa1ae1tahJozoosuu@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    Thinkpad X1 Nano. Great specs, approx. 920 grams, super lightweight. Decent CPU and RAM (I did some light video editing on mine and it’s great), and a 2k screen (13 inch).

    I’m using Debian on mine, works out of the box (like all Thinkpads, in my experience).

    • Zak@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 months ago

      A quick search suggests all X1 Nano models can run Windows 11, so they won’t be ultra-cheap because of that.

      • oong3Eepa1ae1tahJozoosuu@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        2 months ago

        I just bought one used (Gen1) for 450 EUR, I’d consider that cheap for this kind of hardware.

        Alternatively look for Thinkpad X13 (Ryzen), slightly bigger, great hardware and value.

  • stupid_asshole69 [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    For under $200 you can either get a used thinkpad t series or a dell business notebook. You can also get an Intel mac for around that price. The difference in serviceability is often what can be done by you with a screwdriver set and guitar pick versus needing a hair dryer and plastic putty knife.

  • ilinamorato@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I don’t have any specific recommendations for you, but I will say that

    • pretty much every modern Chromebook will be able to have Linux installed over ChromeOS. You might have to open it up and remove a write-protect screw.

    • Linux is a surprisingly good platform for games these days, actually. Steam has done a lot of work to get it there.

    • If you’re wanting lightweight specs, you’re probably going to find the best bang for your buck in an old Chromebook; however, I don’t know if you’ll see as many of those coming on the market, and you’ll want to watch out for old school devices. Those things get worked over pretty hard.

    • Captain Baka@feddit.org
      0·
      2 months ago

      • pretty much every modern Chromebook will be able to have Linux installed over ChromeOS. You might have to open it up and remove a write-protect screw.

      I did exactly that. That thing with the screw is only for older models. I did it on somewhat newer model and I had to oben it up and disconnect the battery. Newer models need a SuzyQ cable to switch from ChromeOS to Linux. All of them need to run the MrChromebox script after disabling write protection. Well, except ARM Chromebooks. They are not compatible with the script. For some these devices PostmarketOS is the way to go.

      • ilinamorato@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Interesting. Some of them are just dip switches, too. I hadn’t heard about needing a cable, that’s an interesting wrinkle.

      • BigHeadMode@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz
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        1 month ago

        ARM Chromebook running non-chrome is, afaik, barely functional to get to a terminal. Don’t think of running anything Linux on them unless you really like hardware development.

  • smeg@feddit.ukEnglish
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    2 months ago

    Here is a good resource for whether you can install another OS on a particular Chromebook

  • Twongo [she/her]@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    Thinkpads were basically made for Linux, depending on your Budget you can get a Thinkpad X220, X230, T420 or T430 for small money - perfectly usesble machines and Linux (my experience is CachyOS & Arch) work out of the box.

    For a bigger budget i could recomment the T480, it’s still upgradeable.

    And for a bigger budget i’d recommend a T14 GEN2

  • aim_at_me@lemmy.nzEnglish
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    1 month ago

    While an old macbook air won’t be serviceable, they are cheap, super portable, and you can replace the battery.