I’m considering picking up a cheapish laptop for development, with the intent of installing Linux on it. Typically it’ll be Java development or other stuff in docket containers. Is there a best chipset to pick for Linux or are they pretty much identical these days?
I have a Lenovo ThinkPad T430 that is by now almost 10 years old, it runs perfectly on Linux and is a fantastic choice even today. It’s built like a tank and that Intel i5 powering it is immortal. DDR3 RAM is dirt cheap now and it takes up to 16Gb, you can swap its HDD to a SATA SSD (if not done already) and batteries for it are still cheap and plentiful.
If you’re looking for something affordable for software dev, I can’t think of a better choice for $200-$300
https://www.lenovo.com/lt/lt/laptops/thinkpad/t-series/t430/
They really built this one right, they don’t make them like this anymore.
And if you go just slightly older on Thinkpads, you get real keys.
you can get real keys by putting the t420 ones on the t430
I have a T440p, and it’s worth noting that on many of these Thinkpads, not only can you replace the HDD with an SSD, but you can also install a 2nd or 3rd drive.
You can get a replacement tray that allows an SSD in the optical bay. You can also install a small cache drive in the m.2 port under the keyboard (again, only with certain ones – T440p has it).
About the same, I have a Dell latitude E5470 with a i5 6th gen, 8GB, SSD, 14" IPS, less than $200, it’s a superb laptop that was like $1500 new. MX Linux runs everything 100%
X220, 300 Dollars in 2021, with i7-2640m, never look back for now. I’m thinking buying L380, as I need Waydroid to debugs app. My Phone become shitty. I think I will buy new phone, but not now I guess? Thinkpad X220 expected to work til 2027