Look for a discounted Lenovo ThinkPad that you can test out in store to make sure it has a sturdy keyboard and can handle key presses without a hollow feeling. I'd recommend trying to install Alpine Linux as a challenge and it ends up teaching you a lot about the simplicity of the OS and beauty of OpenRC. Otherwise, Debian is a very reliable and easy to use/install OS and well tested on Lenovo hardware. Failing that,…
Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?
81–85 of 85 posts
Re: Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?
#82I have an 11" Chromebook (Intel CPU) with the Linux extension enabled (you get a Debian VM), I can run any Linux program on it, even programs that require graphics. It is perfect for travel (battery is good for about 8 - 10 hours, depending on usage). If you decide to go on this route, make sure that you buy a supported machine (as in it will receive updates for at least a few years from now).
I also run this config as a daily. The Debian container experience is seriously lacking compared to native.
Re: Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?
#83Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is it - nothing beats my asahi m1 air on anything: price, battery life, desktop cpu grunt, no throttling either thermally or on battery. I can't believe the best arm machine is made by Apple, 3 years on. Eventually we'll have arm machines made by other PC manufacturers, I'm most excited by Lenovo, but till then. $600 gets you a powerhouse of a machine.
where are you buying these for $600? Lowest I am seeing is $800.
Re: Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?
#84I have used Asus, Dell and HP Laptops with Ubuntu on them. The battery management is so pathetic that within a few months the battery is fried. Now, I have Ubuntu on my Desktop and Windows 10 on my laptop although I hate it.
Which line of HP laptops? The battery in my ZBook from 2014 lasted until the end of last year before dropping to 75% overnight and lasting about two hours unplugged. As a reference, the new battery I replaced it with drops only to 95+%. I used Ubuntu all those years before switching to Debian
Asus X555ld
Dell Vostro some briefcase model.