I’ve noticed in the Linux community whenever someone asks for a recommendation on a laptop that runs Linux the answer is always “Get a Thinkpad” yet Lenovo doesn’t seem to be a big Linux contributor or ally. There’s also at least six Linux/FOSS-oriented computer manufacturers now:

So what gives? Why the love for a primarily Windows-oriented laptop when there are better alternatives?

  • Corroded@leminal.space
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    1 year ago

    It comes down to price. You can buy used ThinkPads and replacement parts for them quite cheap a lot of the time.

    It’s been a while since I’ve looked at devices from places like System 76 but if I recall correctly they are still over a thousand dollars when a used ThinkPad T440P for example can be found for around two hundred dollars.

    • smoothbrain coldtakes@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      Framework laptops are interesting and I hope eventually the modularity allows the components to go down in price. Right now I was looking at a 16 (which all sold out within 3 hours of pre-order launch) but it comes out to easily over 3k CAD for a disassembled kit, skimping on RAM and an SSD.

    • Siliconic@discuss.online
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      T440P is cheap for a reason. Personally I don’t want a 6 pound laptop with a decade old CPU and a crappy TN screen. Something like a used T480 is reasonable though I guess

      • Autisticky [they/them]@hexbear.net
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        I use an early 2010s Thinkpad, with Ubuntu, and I can play Minecraft pretty well on it. It’s great. I don’t often carry it places, it’s a desk laptop, but I don’t know of any other affordable laptop that would have such a long useful lifespan. If you know of any, please tell me, but my experiences has made me quite the Lenovo loyalist.

  • Lee Duna@lemmy.nz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 year ago

    Those linux laptops are too expensive and they are not available in some countries

    Used thinkpad is much cheaper

    • ikiru@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Maybe there’s a better place for this question, but how do you make sure a used laptop is safe? Or would removing Windows and installing Linux be enough?

      I want to buy a laptop for Linux, and would buy a used one so that it’s cheaper but I have to admit I worry about it. I know one could be worried even about new laptops and what manufacturers could be up to, but I feel like the unknown arbitrariness of a used laptop gets to me.

  • lckdscl [they/them]@whiskers.bim.boats
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Because of better accessibility. How so?

    Because not everyone has the money to afford these new and expensive laptops designed for a niche market. They are still enthusiast-grade products, the prices speak for themselves.

    Because not everyone comes from Europe / the US, so it’s not easy to find these with affordable shipping.

    Because these laptops are only normally offered new, which, for responsible and personal ownership, is excessive. There are thousands of used hardware lying around, why not put some life back into them instead?

    It comes down to price, availability and ethical concerns. Unless money doesn’t mean anything to you, why do you need a $1000 laptop when someone wants a device for higher education or personal casual use? The world doesn’t need more rampant marketing of niche, hyped-up tech. While a fully-FOSS system may be the ideal machine for every Linux enthusiast, we live in a material world with finite resources and chasing after some unicorn laptop is unsustainable.

  • space@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Because these are small shops that have limited availability outside North America, and are fairly expensive compared to Thinkpads which are widely used by corporations, and can be found pretty cheaply.

    • aport@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      A few years ago I bought a librem 13 and it was the biggest piece of trash I’ve ever had the displeasure of owning.

  • circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Cost.

    Older Thinkpads remain extremely capable and (crucially) highly repairable. The T series in particular is also better built (read: more solid chassis) than many others, including some on this list.

    It doesn’t make a lot of sense to support these alternatives given the absolute shock difference in cost. $300 bucks for a used T series gets you a lot from a customizability, repairability, and reliability standpoint.

  • Venutianxspring@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    They can be found cheap as shit. I got a great t480 for less than $150 and another $50 I upgraded my RAM and battery. It’s a really nice laptop and only cost me a couple hundred.

  • Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Cost and availability.

    Most of those laptops cost over 1000€ if not even closer to 2000. And they don’t seem to ship to all countries.

    While you can get a good used Thinkpad for 500€ everywhere in the world.

  • Certainity45@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I hope nobody recommends Thinkpads manufactured after 2020. They’re pure garbage in so many ways, that there’s no point to list them all.

  • smoothbrain coldtakes@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Thinkpads are cheap and accessible basically everywhere. They are business-grade devices and you can get one when folks retire their machines. A lot of places practically give them away. They were just gonna get thrown out anyways.

    Framework is dumb expensive - a 16 even skimping out on RAM/HDDs comes out to over 3k CAD, and that’s for a disassembled kit – pre-built with full components comes out to easily over 3.5k, which is like a MacBook price for the promise of upgradability down the line.

    System76 are rebranded shitty components from Chinese manufacturers. They’re not better for Linux than any general consumer laptop, and their entire position is basically branding regarding freedom and 1776. Ironic that a company so deeply American in nature basically just resells garbage from China.

  • weshgo@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    for a lot of people (me included), a cheap second hand thinkpad (or dell pro) with a light distro would be more than enough to cover their computing needs for years.

  • Castelllan@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    For me it is mostly the price. I don’t need much and a Seconds Hand ThinkPad ist enough for my needs and much less expensive than buying a New Laptop.