I’m trying to downsize from an aging gaming laptop to an ultrabook I can use for writing, web browsing, and JavaScript / Python web development. I understand an ultrabook will be a downgrade in the performance department, but I don’t need all the performance my current laptop offers.

I’ve been looking at ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8 machines and they seem like a good sweet spot of price to recent parts/repair-ability. Anybody have other suggestions for Linux ultrabooks? Needs to be <$400 USD.

PS. For more intense tasks, such as training language models, I plan on renting cloud compute as I don’t have the space for a deep learning machine at home.

edit: meant under $400, I am a dumbass

  •  lodronsi   ( @lodronsi@beehaw.org ) 
    1•1 year ago

    I recently picked up a Dell latitude 7300 for less than $300usd. It has two sodimm slots (supports 32gb) and up to 1TB SSD. I’m pretty happy with it although it’s a touch older than the x1 carbon gen8. The 7400 is slightly larger with a 14” display and is the same generation otherwise.

    I’m running Linux mint on it and haven’t tried your specific distro.

    •  rotopenguin   ( @rotopenguin@infosec.pub ) 
      2•1 year ago

      I just picked up one of those Latitudes too, and sent it back. I was not impressed with how dell “refurbished” it - it was chock full of dust and the display hinges were practically falling off. To top it off, the battery wouldn’t charge. Nobody spend 2 seconds looking over this dud before they shipped it to me.