I have been using Windows my entire life, but since I got my Steam Deck I’ve been considering trying to get into Linux.

I obviously don’t have much of an idea where to begin, other than that I’m currently also trying to learn Javascript. I’d like a basic workstation I can code on and mess with, that doesn’t run more than a couple hundred. Could use some recommendations for hardware plus where to begin.

  • Certainity45@lemmy.ml
    2·
    5 months ago

    Thinkpad T480 is the last of the good Thinkpads and should be more than your Budget

    Edit. Corrected typo.

    • laurelraven@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      5 months ago

      Too bad they don’t make the old keyboards anymore, last of those was the T#20 (T420, T520,etc) line. New one is still better than most, but the old one was hands down the best laptop keyboard

      • Certainity45@lemmy.ml
        1·
        5 months ago

        That’s true. Nothing beats the 7-row. Luckily you can mod T480 with T25 keyboard if you can source the parts.

        • Abracadaniel [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
          1·
          5 months ago

          Could you elaborate on why Thinkpads that came after the 480 are no good? I’m looking to get a laptop and am probably getting a thinkpad. Is it the easily removable battery?

          • Certainity45@lemmy.ml
            2·
            5 months ago

            T490 is the first model with only internal battery, but removal is fairly easy. 2020 lineup changed the F9-F11 function into osme MS Teams crap, which didn’t (or don’t) work with MS Teams out of the box. The old layout for function keys (keyboard lsyour switch, bluetooth toggle on/off and settings) were super handy in daily use.

            I don’t know about 2022 lineup since I don’t own one, but 2023 lineup don’t have option for simple bios UI and don’t allow user to disable unneeded hardware, which was a feature since the first Thinkpad ever released.