Every time I review any #Linux hardware on the channel, I always get asked « where the affordable options are », so here are 2 #laptops from @slimbook, the « Elemental » line.
They start under 550€, or under 500€ if you don’t have to pay VAT, and they actually give you a really solid device for the cost:
@thelinuxEXP@slimbook the misaligned print on the keyboard, especially very visible on the 15 inch variant's F2 key is a major turn-off for me and weird that it wasn't mentioned in the video.
@thelinuxEXP@slimbook SlimBook is great ! We also add similar models in France ( barebones recognized :-) ) around 600€ TTC but it's more difficult now to reach that price.
@thelinuxEXP For those in the USA, we sell refurbished Thinkpads pre-installed with Linux. Refurbished is a great option for affordability.
senderolinux.com
@thelinuxEXP@slimbook You don't "buy a Linux laptop" for now because most of them just suck. You buy any refurbished computer or buy a recent computer after checking all drivers are available and you install Linux on it. It costs a few minutes more and a few hundred dollars less, and you get the quality of an actual laptop, not the quality of an OEM one with some random branding and Linux slapped on it.
@tarneo@slimbook That’s just not true. There are so many models from hardware sellers that are amazing. I’m only using « Linux laptops » and « Linux PCs » these days, and my laptop is higher quality than a current MacBook Pro for much cheaper. This opinion might have been true 5 years ago though.
@thelinuxEXP@slimbook I'm sorry, but apart from repairability, a macbook seems much more solid to me than a slimbook device. Tuxedo may be on par with it, and the chunkier devices from system76 are probably stronger and have an amount of hardware support that may come close to the macOS one. But if you want to talk about repairability or quality, I'd just buy a refurbished thinkpad which will have the same performance (I'll be it not the same hardware support) for half the price of a slimbook.
@tarneo@slimbook Nope. Not a Thinkpad. They used to be solid, they’re no longer that, not the recent models anyway. And if zmwere talking about previous devices, then we’re talking used vs new, which isn’t really a comparison in this case.
@thelinuxEXP@tarneo I wouldn't dismiss recent Thinkpads, they've got a great engineering team with a lead (Mark Pearson) that actively collaborates with Fedora, Ubuntu and other distro communities!
Definitely check out Mark's recent talks in places like the Fedora Project podcast.
@thelinuxEXP@tarneo
Speaking of, I'd like to hear your actual hands-on opinions on a current-gen Thinkpad model -- maybe you can get Lenovo's Linux PC team to send you a review unit? 😀
@thelinuxEXP@tarneo I see, that's too bad then 😐 hopefully Lenovo will realise having your coverage of their devices is mutually beneficial in the near future.
@tarneo@thelinuxEXP@slimbook And way worse support software-wise (you're basically on your own) with no suppprt hotline to ask, less customizability, less repairability (usually), no dedicated software to control laptop functions, no warranty and all that on top of having to install the system yourself.
@Natanox@tarneo@thelinuxEXP@slimbook Tuxedo and System76 both has a customer service in multiple ways. I don't know any other Linux laptop brands so I don't speak about them.
Quality? The Primeagen uses System76 Lemur Pro and is currently buying the new model because he liked it so much.
Also, you can't expect Linux to be Windows so RTFM but if you can't search guide for making a bootable usb stick then don't leave the Apple products.
Is it worth mentioning, in this context, Minifree as a supplier of linux laptops? They also sell *BSD laptops too. That's not even their USP, which is that they use (and indeed develop) libreboot - a FOSS BIOS for improved security.
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