So I’m looking for a laptop, but before you downvote and move on, I’ve got a twist: I’m looking for a laptop with Linux support that’s going to intentionally be console-only and rely on TUIs to make a lower-distraction device.
I was looking at older Thinkpads with 4:3 screens and the good keyboard before Lenovo went all chicklet with them, but I’m kinda concluding they’re both way too expensive AND way too old to be a reasonable choice at this point.
A X220 or T40-whatever would be great and be the perfect aesthetic, but they’re expensive, hard to find parts for, and using enough crusty old shit that this becomes yet another delve into retro computing and not one into practical, useful computing which is the goal here.
So, anyone have any recommendations of any devices in the last decade that have a reasonable keyboard, screen, use modern enough components that you can source new drives and RAM and batteries and such, and preferably aren’t coated in a coating that’s going to turn to sticky goo?
Thin(ner) and light(er) would be nice, but probably not a dealbreaker if the rest of the pieces align. This will be almost entirely used at a table for writing and such.
If thinner, lighter and modern-ness are of interest, I’d say a chrultrabook, but they are more finicky re: swapping out parts. If you are looking for TUI-only, then it can be a sufficient option for a fraction of the price of the competition.
How about MNT Reform or it’s Pocket little brother?
They get you
- Full mechanical keyboards, ortholinear if you’re into that
- Modern components
- HIGHLY modular and repairable - their main thrust is making messing with your internals accessible
- No sticky goo coating
- Cyberdeck aesthetics (esp the Pocket reform)
They do NOT get you
- Low price - you didn’t mention a budget constraint
- Thin. They are chunky kids, though certainly the Pocket reform has a reasonably portable profile
Was about to say the same, definitely a good choice!
Are retro thinkpads that expensive in your region? Where I live you can get a functional one for ~$80 if you look on the used market enough
I would say a used Dell or HP business laptop would be a safe bet. Most business laptops have decent keyboards, replacement batteries will be relatively easy to find, and user-serviceable RAM is the norm. Given the not especially high processing power needs, probably the middle-specced ones with a few gens-old i5 will be dirt cheap and work fine for your needs.
Plus 1 for a refurb or gently used Dell Latitude series. My daily beater for has been a pre-2020 Dell Latitude 7390 13". Works really well with the *bian distros I’ve run on it, decent battery life, OK mic and speakers.
I’ve had to replace the battery once, and the keyboard once (which I damaged myself by applying a small amount of Coca Cola).
Refurb ThinkPads are also great, but they have a high resale value.
Where I am currently working they have a tech space with tons of old Thinkpads. Really crazy, these are simply not used.
framework may be worth considering, but definitely expensive considering what you need from it.
Dang, you weren’t kidding with the price of a used x220 (I have an x230 that I got for less than I’m currently seeing on ebay a while back, and the only thing that really made me switch to something newer was the screen). Maybe a newer thinkpad or an hp elitebook? I think as long as you have something newer than a 2nd Gen I series chip, there really shouldn’t be an issue if you’re basically just using it for text processing. If you start with models with ddr3 and sata drives you should be able to get very cheap replacement parts for a while yet.
If you’re not going to use graphical browsers, like ff or chrome, then get a DELL 3190 (4 gb ram, 64 gb ssd, 1366x768 res). It cost me just $150 as a refurb. I mean, if you don’t want to use it as a modern computer (e.g. aaa gaming, video editing, browser with many tabs etc), then it’s the perfect device. Image of it: https://mastodon.social/@eugenialoli/112253289106616207
I’ve got a Clevo laptop that covers most of your list. Mine’s a bit older, a 7th gen i5, but was very cheap, and easy to upgrade. If the newer models are built the same way, it’s what I’m going to go for when I eventually upgrade 👍
Aren’t System76 essentially rebranded Clevo laptops? Where do you find Clevo machines at an actually good price?
Mine is a Stone branded Clevo, a Stonebook Pro p11b, but as you say, there are others out there. I bought mine refurbished for about £150 and upgraded the SSD and RAM.
they are. props, however, for system76 branching out into their in-house hardware.
