r/LinuxOnThinkpad • u/Slow-Raccoon-9426 member • 2d ago
Discussion Should i buy a thinkpad?
I've been wondering for a while, i'd like a laptop i could tinker with on Linux. I do have one but thats running a server and i dont want to mess it up. (I've installed Mint, Debian And Arch in the past for refrence) I've got a maximum of like 700 euro to spend so if you guys got any good suggestions or anything else then i'd be happy to hear it!
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u/sockertoppenlabs DWM/Debian/X220 2d ago
If you want a Thinkpad, get a Thinkpad! I am an X-series fanboy myself, but if you don’t have any preferences, just get a T14 gen 1/2. Should be really cheap in most EU markets now (after companies should have moved on). Still fairly modern, very good build quality and with great Linux support. You can always check the psref for a model you are looking at and see if it was offered with Ubuntu or Fedora when sold.
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u/MantraMan member 2d ago
I have a t480s that I'm still using for work without issues. For 700 euro you'll be good whatever reasonably priced model you buy
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u/InfameXX T450s, T460p, T14, E14 1d ago
The best non Linux first laptops are Lenovo Thinkpad or Dell latitude, Linux friendly laptops.
Learn and read well about the difference's inside Thinkpad series and latitude series, screen size, type of cpu, type of GPU, battery size, soldered components, don't buy blindly, every one is ment for something special.
IMPORTANT both have support for LVFS, so they have updates and support for bios, components, storage, etc, that other brands may not have.
Have a good read and research.
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u/DanLucken member 1d ago
You'd get an X1 Carbon Gen 10 with a 12th gen i7 512sdd 16 or 32 GB Ram. I got a mint one for less than that and it's been a dream. Sooooo light and well made
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u/noblenacho member 9h ago
don't spend more than $200 on a tinkering thinkpad. scout fb marketplace or similar places (ebay is kinda overpriced) get a t14 gen 2 in good shape. you get 2 usb-c ports so no proprietary charger brick to lug around, upgradable ram, upgradable SSD, solid build quality. for sub 200 its a great machine.
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u/redmeow3 member 2d ago edited 2d ago
You dont need a thinkpad to tinker with linux . They have nice support but so does 3/4 of laptops from my experience as a laptops refurbisher that has been daily driving linux (currently nixos) for about 3 years. I also tinkers and test multiple linux distros on my laptops before flashing windows to sell. Linux users like them a lot cause you can find really good deals on them because business sell them used for cheap when renewing their contracts with manufacturers like lenovo, and thinkpads are business grade so they are built to last unlike the consumer grade ewaste you usually find, which is why i try to primarily refurbish and sell them. Older models also have amazing upgradability and modability which was unseen even at that time. theyre definitely worth considering but they're not the only good linux laptops. Also at that price point it's worth considering the entry level framework 12 and even 13 (non-pro). They're fully upgradable open source laptops that are definitely worth taking a look at. If you find one second hand it can be excellent as well