Literally any laptop will be able to run just Linux with TUI my dude.
this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024
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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!
Those are cool, and they've definitely nailed the aesthetic. Also looks like they're working on a new revision which looks like a reasonable upgrade.
Not sure it's the right choice for what I'm after (it's kinda expensive and very performance limited for the cost), but uh, I'm going to keep an eye out because that's a cool piece of kit.
So there are some linux laptop companies that make dedicated linux laptops. See Purism and Tuxedo. They are very compatible and customizable, but I would recommend taking a look at Tuxedo because they have a much wider range of devices. Purism is like if Apple was a pro-consumer company. Their devices are all 100% libre, but are quite expensive.
What are your thoughts on NovaCustom?
I hadn't heard of it before, but it seems like a solid company.
Where I am currently working they have a tech space with tons of old Thinkpads. Really crazy, these are simply not used.
T4xx thinkpads or the 12” MacBook Pro 2012.
They’re both very well supported by Linux and have oodles of parts hanging around.
Careful with think pads from the last 6ish years. Their build quality is absolute garbage, even the T series
past like 8 years they've turned shit imo. I got a used t460s and it feels so cheap compared to the t530 I had before. Like I know it's the s version and it's slimmer but it feels so fragile and I can not for the life of me figure out why it keeps freezing when I pick it up by the bottom left corner or if it bangs around too much in my bag. just overall shit. still better then most other laptops tho
my T570 crashed when pickup it up on the bottom right corner.
And after 2 years an 1 month (1 month after warranty), it broke completely. Likely a mainboard defect.
That's when I said "oh hey, frameworks are exactly as expensive as thinkpads, but way better to repair"
Wack.
Guess I'm going to just keep using this one til that happens and I'll start saving for a framework
And don't get any Macbook past 2014. 2015 and later kinda ditched normal connectivity and MagSafe. I have 2016 with only 2 C ports and a jack and it is not the nicest experience out there.
Btw, on recent machines the ports are back. I wonder why, ...
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
Before I continue, you should probably specify your budget explicitly.
With that said, almost anything older than a few years should do what you need to just fine. I have a Lenovo Yoga 710 from 2016 that works decent, and had an old Fujitsu Lifebook from 2010 that wasn't too shabby as well. Heck, I once booted Linux off a cheap piano black Toshiba laptop originally made for Vista.
Just choose a random old laptop and you'll most likely be good.
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?
they are. props, however, for system76 branching out into their in-house hardware.
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.
Lenovo X1 Carbon for mainstream. NovaCustom for small business.