- I’ll buy used, so don’t want latest and greatest. It won’t be my main laptop.
- to run linux obviously.
- good battery life, light, not too small to use, but large enough to type on (obviously can do without numeric keypad). not too fragile!
- I’ll be doing some light python work, perhaps some c/c++ but I’m not after a workhorse, just something for quickly fixing bugs, or making notes on
- sub 200 GBP / 250USD I guess
I’d be interested in hearing recommendations, and also what to avoid!
Yep. I’m using a used ThinkPad X1 Carbon. 8 years old and running Linux like a dream
what are they like for duability - e.g. knocks from being put in and pulled out of a rucksack
Magnesium frame and such. I had an older and heavier one and was always joking it would come handy as a blunt weapon if there was a sudden monster attack. It once fell from my desk to the floor and didn’t even had a scratch.
Plus if you are on budget it is really best value for the money.
Check ThinkWiki and Thinkpad wiki sites for details. You do not need high specs to run Linux.
don’t know if a refurbished thinkpad is good if you’re on a budget, by the time you realise you might have a couple dozen of them on your desk all running linux
You can get ten x130e’s for $250 too. Why buy 1 when you can get 10?
Some of the best you can get in terms of durability. You might pay for it a little in weight and thickness though compared to some ultra thin models.