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Cheap Durable laptops

1 2022-09-14 07:11

I want to buy a cheap laptop for software development. I'm okay with the bare minimum specs. I want it to last long with minimum repairs. Please recommend laptops which fit this description.

I looked into buying an old Thinkpad but the hype has marked its price up and there aren't good sellers near me. Please share your experience with laptops as well.

2 2022-09-14 12:19

You should post your budget. I think Dell laptops are the best on market atm. Old Thinkpads are great too (especially for the durability).

Please share your experience with laptops as well.

I think Laptop are only good for the portability, and I think desktop PCs are better otherwise (desktop PCs are much easier to upgrade and its easier replace broken parts. And you can get the build/parts you want). If you need a system that you can use to freely test stuff on, I recommend you get a Raspberry Pi (or a clone) or use a virtual machine (like VirtualBox or Qemu).

3 2022-09-14 12:48

>>2
Under $400 if possible

4 2022-09-14 18:55

Opinionated list:

https://www.ebay.com/b/PC-Laptops-Netbooks/177?mag=1&_fsrp=0&rt=nc&RAM%2520Size=8%2520GB%7C12%2520GB%7C16%2520GB%7C24%2520GB%7C32%2520GB&LH_ItemCondition=3000&Brand=Dell%7CLenovo&Type=Notebook%252FLaptop&_sacat=177&Storage%2520Type=SSD%2520%2528Solid%2520State%2520Drive%2529&Screen%2520Size=14%252D14%252E9%2520in%7C15%252D15%252E9%2520in%7C16%252D16%252E9%2520in&_udhi=400

A few months ago, I bought a used ThinkPad T450s for about $190 (including shipping). Durable, but I have had some strange hardware issues. A track pad button will stop working randomly, but a restart will fix it. I also had an issue with ghost pixels, but that seems to have stopped. I'm running GNU/Linux, so ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

(I do prefer workstations for development work TBH.)

5 2022-09-20 12:06

I just bought one of these: https://www.newegg.com/lenovo-thinkpad-11e-3rd-gen-everyday-value/p/1TS-000E-0W6S9?Item=9SIAANWHDD1534
I've used much less powerful machines in the past, as long as you have a decent desktop your laptop can be the cheapest smallest piece of shit you can find.

6 2022-09-21 18:56

>>2
Dell laptops are cheap crap nowadays. I bought a Dell Lattitude recently and it's really bad.

7 2022-09-23 22:35

I just bought a laptop. It was ~$75.
Literally just get anything with EFI. Linux will probably work. Anything more than $200 is absolute bullshit.

8 2022-12-11 21:09

Thinkpad x220 (you can get them for under 100$ used), and the Thinkpad t420, best value, put Linux/BSD on it and it's good to go.

9 2022-12-12 03:34

x230s are good

10 2022-12-12 12:33

I've had my hp probook for years and I use it much more often than my desktop

Think I'll get another soon, I prefer to use laptops, desktops are dead to me

11