27 votes

Suggestions for a tablet or a light laptop

Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement.

I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any help or direction.

Here are the main criteria, based on what we've discussed.

  • Can compile LaTeX.
  • Can run Jupyter notebooks, Python, and the like.
  • Can play non-AAA games like Binding of Isaac, Balatro, Dofus.
  • Can play YouTube videos, and Twitch streams. (Not picky about screen quality.)
  • Maximum 13" screen, can be smaller I think?
  • As light as possible (a tablet + keyboard combo might be worth it).
  • USB port for transferring files (to their institution's ancient printers)
  • Ports to connect a mouse, gamepad, etc.
  • Bluetooth, wifi, webcam
  • Lasts at least four hours on battery (if not gaming)
  • Under 1000 euros preferably (willing to make exceptions if you think it is worth it)

Here are the nice-to-haves:

  • HDMI slot
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Nice mic and webcam
  • Nice screen quality
  • Repairable

Don't care about:

  • Stylus
  • SD card reader

My friend is mostly used to Windows but I think if I could make a strong case for Ubuntu then they might be open to it if that's relevant.

Thanks for reading!

Edit: Thanks everyone. We ultimately settled for an IdeaPad 2-in-1. Fingers crossed that they’re happy with that.

46 comments

  1. [8]
    elight
    Link
    No one is saying MacBook Air? If you can abide MacOS, they are wonderful machines with amazing battery life and very light! EDIT: my error. Mentioned but not as a top level. I missed it.

    No one is saying MacBook Air? If you can abide MacOS, they are wonderful machines with amazing battery life and very light!

    EDIT: my error. Mentioned but not as a top level. I missed it.

    23 votes
    1. [3]
      public
      Link Parent
      I was going to second the MBA, but it seemed important for them to have USB-A ports. That's the only downside if you don't have any Windows-only software you enjoy.

      I was going to second the MBA, but it seemed important for them to have USB-A ports. That's the only downside if you don't have any Windows-only software you enjoy.

      5 votes
      1. [2]
        elight
        Link Parent
        Ah. Well, hubs. However, nuisance.

        Ah. Well, hubs. However, nuisance.

        2 votes
        1. teaearlgraycold
          Link Parent
          You can also get flash drives that are both A and C compatible. I have a reversible one with each port on an opposite side. Most peripherals can be purchased with a C port.

          You can also get flash drives that are both A and C compatible. I have a reversible one with each port on an opposite side. Most peripherals can be purchased with a C port.

          1 vote
    2. [3]
      Macha
      Link Parent
      The last gen macbook air is 25% over budget

      The last gen macbook air is 25% over budget

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        delphi
        Link Parent
        In my experience you can routinely find M1 and M2 MBAs for around 600-800 bucks if you shop around a little.

        In my experience you can routinely find M1 and M2 MBAs for around 600-800 bucks if you shop around a little.

        3 votes
        1. nukeman
          Link Parent
          Walmart.com still sells new M1 MacBook Airs (some special deal with Apple) for $600-650. I picked up one for my mom’s new laptop. @guissmo Edit: Aaand realized they were in France. Oh well,...

          Walmart.com still sells new M1 MacBook Airs (some special deal with Apple) for $600-650. I picked up one for my mom’s new laptop.

          @guissmo

          Edit: Aaand realized they were in France. Oh well, leaving info up for others.

          3 votes
    3. Tigress
      Link Parent
      I love my macbook but gaming still is not something that it is going to do well just cause not many games available.

      I love my macbook but gaming still is not something that it is going to do well just cause not many games available.

  2. [24]
    the-boy-sebastian
    Link
    not sure where you're based but refurbished X1 Carbons and XPS 13s go for about 350-500 GBP for an i7 model on eBay. they'll be a few generations old but I'm sure will be able to blitz through all...

    not sure where you're based but refurbished X1 Carbons and XPS 13s go for about 350-500 GBP for an i7 model on eBay. they'll be a few generations old but I'm sure will be able to blitz through all the requirements listed. I've had a couple laptops and a tower server off eBay and all came well-packaged and as sold.

    6 votes
    1. [20]
      Promonk
      Link Parent
      I was a field technician for Lenovo and Dell for a couple of years. I think I'm still certified for it actually, at least until the end of the year. I would avoid the X1 Carbon line if I were you,...

      I was a field technician for Lenovo and Dell for a couple of years. I think I'm still certified for it actually, at least until the end of the year.

      I would avoid the X1 Carbon line if I were you, especially the Gen 9. The USB ports on that particular generation were all faulty. I knew a certain firm that made the mistake of buying 1500 X1 Gen 9's all at once because the sales rep saw them coming. The last I heard from their IT, they had something like an 80% failure rate after two years.

      Even outside of that generation, there are problems with the design of that line, and they all boil down to how light and thin they designed them. I'll spare you the grisly details, both because I'm sure they aren't that interesting and also because I just woke up and can't word good yet.

      14 votes
      1. [14]
        ButteredToast
        Link Parent
        It seems like they finally got a CPU that’s reasonably well-matched for the Carbon’s cooling capabilities with Lunar Lake in gen 13. It’s too bad that X1’s are Intel-exclusive, they could’ve had...

        It seems like they finally got a CPU that’s reasonably well-matched for the Carbon’s cooling capabilities with Lunar Lake in gen 13. It’s too bad that X1’s are Intel-exclusive, they could’ve had this earlier if AMD CPUs were a possibility.

        2 votes
        1. [13]
          Promonk
          Link Parent
          The CPU is not the primary concern for the X1, but the layout of the system board. The Gen 9 had a whole other issue with sourcing their USB ports and inadequately reinforcing them, causing the...

          The CPU is not the primary concern for the X1, but the layout of the system board. The Gen 9 had a whole other issue with sourcing their USB ports and inadequately reinforcing them, causing the ports to fail one after the other. That issue has been improved, but the shape of the board itself hasn't changed, and that's a pretty big problem even if you aren't surreptitiously using third-shift ports.

          The dogbone design of the board is where the real problem lies. I think cooling was a consideration, since the cutout for the fan is often the failure point. They designed it so there's a long, thin bridge between the two halves of the board, and it's so thin and flexible that even minor torsion can cause the traces in the bridge to break.

          Most of the X1 series has similar problems stemming from the obsession with thinness. Dell's newer XPS machines have similar problems for the same reason, and I suspect the design team from the XPS line have taken lead on the 7000 and 9000 Latitude lines, because I've seen many of the bad design choices crop up in those models as well.

          My suggestion is to avoid ultrathin notebook designs wherever possible. I've yet to see a design that doesn't sacrifice durability or usability for the weight and bulk savings.

          5 votes
          1. [10]
            ButteredToast
            Link Parent
            Right now I own a first gen X1 Nano which has held up well. Its main issues are that its battery isn’t adequately large to feed its Tiger Lake CPU and that doing much of anything (even plugging in...

            Right now I own a first gen X1 Nano which has held up well. Its main issues are that its battery isn’t adequately large to feed its Tiger Lake CPU and that doing much of anything (even plugging in an external monitor) makes its fan spin up.

            The main reason I bought it is because of its size and the fact that it has a trackpoint. It works very well in cramped situations where more standard-size laptops and trackpads get awkward to use. I can also toss it in a bag with my much larger work laptop and not even notice a weight difference. So for my use case at least, more mainstream thicker 14” laptops like older Latitudes wouldn’t really do the trick.

            Agree on the XPS lineup though, won’t touch it with a ten foot pole. It’s had long-documented power management issues and general weirdness for many years now, and the latest revision takes the worst decisions of the infamous Touch Bar MacBooks and doubles down on them.

            2 votes
            1. [9]
              BeardyHat
              Link Parent
              Just wanna throwdown that I also have an X1 Nano (Gen 1) and just hit a year of having owned it and I love it. Hasn't caused me any issues, except for recently the fan has been running pretty...

              Just wanna throwdown that I also have an X1 Nano (Gen 1) and just hit a year of having owned it and I love it. Hasn't caused me any issues, except for recently the fan has been running pretty constantly, but I literally just sat down at my workbench to open it up for a repaste and clean.

              I love the size and thinness of the Nano and hooking it up to an eGPU has been excellent for gaming purposes. I refuse to buy another brand of computer because I absolutely need my clitmouse. Not that I'm saying @Promonk is incorrect, just that the X1 Nano has been great. At my previous job, we had ordered a ton of Dell Latitude's (can't remember which model at this point), but it seemed a good half of them needed motherboard replacement within warranty for a weird issue (which I also can't remember what that was), but I remember getting to know the technician decently. He was from Donbas, Ukraine and this was 2014 right after Putin annexed the area.

              2 votes
              1. [6]
                ButteredToast
                Link Parent
                Yeah I’m bummed that the X1 Nano line is going the way of the dodo just as we’re getting Intel CPUs that’d be better suited for it. X1 Carbon G13 might have been trimmed down to a similar weight,...

                Yeah I’m bummed that the X1 Nano line is going the way of the dodo just as we’re getting Intel CPUs that’d be better suited for it. X1 Carbon G13 might have been trimmed down to a similar weight, but the form factor of the Nano is really just perfect and the Carbon’s larger size is a downgrade in my book.

                1 vote
                1. [3]
                  BeardyHat
                  Link Parent
                  No kidding? I hadn't heard. I used to be on /r/Thinkpad with some regularity, but since giving up reddit I haven't kept up! Too bad, as I agree, I really love the size of the Nano. That said, I...

                  No kidding? I hadn't heard. I used to be on /r/Thinkpad with some regularity, but since giving up reddit I haven't kept up!

                  Too bad, as I agree, I really love the size of the Nano. That said, I think I'd be ok to upgrade to the Carbon when the time comes, a little more power would be nice; I bought the Nano thinking the weight savings would be nice (My old T480s without charger was about 3lbs) and while it is, I don't really take the Nano with me everywhere as I thought I might, so I think I could stand a bit more size wise. I've traveled quite a bit with my Nano in 2024, but never actually ended-up pulling it out on a plane or anything, as I thought I might, as I just feel a bit awkward using a laptop on a plane. So the weight and size was I guess me being a dreamer, but having only had T-Series machines in the past, I'm extremely impressed with the quality and feel of the X1 line.

                  Now, all that said, I'm done with my repasting and cleaning project and very happy! My temps seem to be about 5-7* c lower across the board and my fan isn't cranking at high speed anymore either; big improvement. I'm just hoping the temps are a little better while playing Dishonored 2 now too.

                  1 vote
                  1. [2]
                    ButteredToast
                    Link Parent
                    Might try the cleaning+repaste on mine too, anything that reduces the need for the fan to run at high speeds is welcome.

                    Might try the cleaning+repaste on mine too, anything that reduces the need for the fan to run at high speeds is welcome.

                    1 vote
                    1. BeardyHat
                      Link Parent
                      So far, after using it for a couple of hours, I can report back that it was totally worth it. Took me maybe half an hour, start to finish with a thorough clean of the fan (using a soft brush to...

                      So far, after using it for a couple of hours, I can report back that it was totally worth it. Took me maybe half an hour, start to finish with a thorough clean of the fan (using a soft brush to get into the blades and dislodge dust). I used Thermal Grizzly Kyronaut and my temps are significantly lower.

                      The deck of the Nano is much, much cooler when playing Dishonored 2, where previously it would be extremely hot to the touch from the CPU area across the keys (I play using the Trackpoint and WASD), running the length of the copper pipe. It's still hot, don't get me wrong, but it's not burning my fingers anymore. As well, performance in game seems much more consistent, much fewer frame drops, which I'm guessing is due to the CPU no longer thermal throttling.

                      Highly recommended for the very small amount of work it takes.

                      I've done this same thing to my Steam Deck a year or two ago and it also improved temps across the board.

                      1 vote
                2. [2]
                  Plik
                  Link Parent
                  I am a fan of the X1 Tablet + ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard combo, literally never use the magnetically attached keyboard that came with the tablet. I would love their folding ThinkPad...

                  I am a fan of the X1 Tablet + ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard combo, literally never use the magnetically attached keyboard that came with the tablet.

                  I would love their folding ThinkPad tablet, but I really don't trust Lenovo anymore.

                  1. ButteredToast
                    Link Parent
                    ThinkPad tablets are interesting, but the Nano gets used in my lap almost all the time and so a more typical laptop design that doesn’t need extra support to keep the screen up is a better fit for...

                    ThinkPad tablets are interesting, but the Nano gets used in my lap almost all the time and so a more typical laptop design that doesn’t need extra support to keep the screen up is a better fit for me. One of the 2-in-1 Yoga models might be more practical but the hinges on those just scream “weak point”.

                    1 vote
              2. [2]
                Plik
                Link Parent
                If you need the clitmouse (like me), get their bluetooth compact keyboard. That keyboard has lasted longer with no issues than any of their actual computers, and can be used with anything. In a...

                If you need the clitmouse (like me), get their bluetooth compact keyboard. That keyboard has lasted longer with no issues than any of their actual computers, and can be used with anything.

                In a pinch I can use it with my Samsung phone to write emails and....the clitmouse even works with Samsung's Android UI. Oh, and Dex.

                1. BeardyHat
                  Link Parent
                  I've actually considered one, but there's just a hair too expensive as an impulse purchase for me, considering I'm not sure it would see a ton of use. I might use it with my Surface Go, as that's...

                  I've actually considered one, but there's just a hair too expensive as an impulse purchase for me, considering I'm not sure it would see a ton of use. I might use it with my Surface Go, as that's a fantastic little tablet, but not having the type cover and having to transport a bigger keyboard would compromise the portability for me.

                  I do look at them periodically though, as I absolutely wouldn't mind owning one, if only even for the occasional need. Though, I do guess it would work well with my Steam Deck...

                  1 vote
          2. [2]
            Plik
            Link Parent
            Any advice/insights on their newer X1 Tablets? I have a (I think) gen 3 and am somewhat underwhelmed with the bizarre issues it has had: weird usb stuff, with constant updates warning that the...

            Any advice/insights on their newer X1 Tablets? I have a (I think) gen 3 and am somewhat underwhelmed with the bizarre issues it has had:

            • weird usb stuff, with constant updates warning that the thing might suicide itself
            • fan has gotten quite loud
            • touch screen randomly stopped working (but not the stylus digitizer)
            • magnetic keyboard often won't be detected

            In it's favor, after all of this it did survive a small motorcycle accident with me rolling over it on my back, and is still useable with their bluetooth keyboard and stylus.

            1 vote
            1. Promonk
              Link Parent
              Assuming you've updated the BIOS, chances are good that if you spoke to Lenovo they'd say the board is faulty. That's not a surprise, since nearly everything is all on that one integrated board....

              Assuming you've updated the BIOS, chances are good that if you spoke to Lenovo they'd say the board is faulty. That's not a surprise, since nearly everything is all on that one integrated board. The tablets are generally pretty reliable though, and I rarely saw any in my time as a field tech.

              It's possible that they RMA'd most of the faulty ones, so I never got a chance to dig into them. Unless the design is horrendously flawed from the start, like the X1 Carbon Gen 9 was, it's hard to tell just how reliable individual models are. They started having customers send units in to depot more often toward the end of my tenure (which is partly why I'm not doing that work right now), so it could be they all had similar problems to yours, and I just never got many assigned to me.

              Unfortunately, my knowledge of Lenovo stuff is nearly a year out of date at this point. I was laid off from the company they contracted for field services in March, so I'm not up to speed on the newest stuff. Sorry.

              1 vote
      2. the-boy-sebastian
        Link Parent
        wasn't aware of these issues, thanks for flagging it up!

        wasn't aware of these issues, thanks for flagging it up!

        2 votes
      3. [4]
        TypicalObserver
        Link Parent
        Hey your post is really insightful, do you have a recommendation for a quality laptop from the ThinkPad line? I'm thinking of either going that or with a used MacBook down the line. Thanks!

        Hey your post is really insightful, do you have a recommendation for a quality laptop from the ThinkPad line? I'm thinking of either going that or with a used MacBook down the line. Thanks!

        1 vote
        1. [3]
          Promonk
          Link Parent
          I can't give you any specific recommendations, partly because I don't really know what you want to use your computer for, and partly because Lenovo's model naming conventions are kinda whack and...

          I can't give you any specific recommendations, partly because I don't really know what you want to use your computer for, and partly because Lenovo's model naming conventions are kinda whack and don't really signify a standard of quality between different iterations of the same product line. Like, I could say to look at the T series, but there's a pretty big difference in build quality between the T490 and its predecessors, which were widely liked by the IT folks I worked with for durability and stability, and the T14/T16 variations, which can sometimes have plasticky housings that crumble around the display hinge anchors. The T series is probably still the best they offer for the money, but caveat emptor.

          The best advice I can give is kind of vague guidance around laptops generally. For instance, look for something with a magnesium or aluminum body. A lot of manufacturers are moving over to high-impact plastic for the chassis, which is cheaper and lighter than magnesium or aluminum alloy, but have a tendency to crumble around the anchor points for c- and d-covers (the palmrest and base cover respectively). By far these are the most common durability issues I encountered outside of USB ports.

          It's also good if you can take the d-cover off to look at the system board, because there are some clues to how well something can be repaired or upgraded inside. Integrated RAM is everywhere now, but a lot of business-class laptops will also have spare SO-DIMM slots that allow you to expand or possibly upgrade the memory to some extent, extending the working life of the machine. It's also nice to see secondary M.2 slots for adding storage, but you won't often find those outside of the big mobile workstations.

          It's also worth checking where the hinges attach to the c-cover; for some reason, Lenovo has taken to seating the system board on top of the hinges, so you have to fully remove the system board to replace a hinge or display. This is bad from a repairability standpoint, but it also means that if a hinge anchor on the c-cover does crumble, the hinge will put stress on that bit of board between it and the d-cover, which could lead to complete system failure for no good reason that I can tell. I think this is all part of the obsession with making things slim and light (thanks, Apple!), which is part of why I'm so cranky about ultra-slim builds.

          Of course, it's pretty much impossible to find a place that will let you actually open up a machine prior to purchasing. Places like Best Buy and such often simply don't understand the warranty terms for the machines they sell and don't want to take chances, and besides, actually opening up a laptop without breaking clips and stuff is a bit of a learned skill. (Also, Best Buy and the like don't really sell the business-class models, and since the consumer-class machines are often pretty terrible, that's puts pretty much anything they sell out of consideration for me.)

          Unless you really need extra oomph for serious database management or elaborate spreadsheets, I'd recommend buying a used business-class laptop from a reseller/recycler that deals in corporate end-of-life or hardware refresh disposal. They'll often say that something is "refurbished," but almost always that simply means "cleaned and tested." "Refurbishment" for them is usually just an ass-covering term that reflects what they're willing to warranty more than a description of what work has actually been done to a machine. Maybe 99% of refurbishment that happens in such places is just an alcohol cleaning and storage replacement.

          If a machine has survived its EoL cycle at whatever corporation purchased or leased it new, and it's tested to be functional by the reseller, chances are good there are no glaring defects in its components. You can never be certain, but that's the best rule of thumb.

          You also want to check to make sure the BIOS isn't password locked. A lot of corporate entities have policies to lock down their BIOS/UEFIs for security reasons, and almost never have I seen IT departments bother to unlock them prior to resale. This can cause severe problems at times, because you can't change any hardware settings in BIOS, which is often necessary for troubleshooting. BIOS updates are usually not affected by this, however, so it's not like it categorically ruins the utility of the machine. Again, YMMV.

          So I guess I'd recommend looking at the T series, but bear in mind what I said about the durability trade-offs of super thin and portable designs. They are making sacrifices there, and while they can afford to play the actuarial tables on flimsier build quality, you can't.

          As for Apple stuff, they are almost without exception absolute nightmares to repair. Unless you happen to be chummy with someone who specializes in MBP repair–if Louis Rossmann is your cousin or something–you can expect to pay through the nose for repair on one of those, or else accept that Apple will just totally replace a faulty unit as part of their RMA process. That's if you happen to get lucky enough to find a used MacBook that still has a warranty.

          Having said all that, and despite personally despising MacOS on almost every level, Apple offers the best build quality on their machines, hands down. If you have the money, can tolerate Apple's fanatical devotion to their walled garden, and don't mind bending the knee to Steve Jobs's smelly-ass ghost, you could do much worse than a MBP.

          1 vote
          1. [2]
            ButteredToast
            Link Parent
            Some aspects of repairability have improved in recent models, too. Not sure about the Airs but both sizes of MBP for example use tiny daughterboards connected to the mainboard for ports for...

            As for Apple stuff, they are almost without exception absolute nightmares to repair. Unless you happen to be chummy with someone who specializes in MBP repair–if Louis Rossmann is your cousin or something–you can expect to pay through the nose for repair on one of those, or else accept that Apple will just totally replace a faulty unit as part of their RMA process. That's if you happen to get lucky enough to find a used MacBook that still has a warranty.

            Having said all that, and despite personally despising MacOS on almost every level, Apple offers the best build quality on their machines, hands down. If you have the money, can tolerate Apple's fanatical devotion to their walled garden, and don't mind bending the knee to Steve Jobs's smelly-ass ghost, you could do much worse than a MBP.

            Some aspects of repairability have improved in recent models, too. Not sure about the Airs but both sizes of MBP for example use tiny daughterboards connected to the mainboard for ports for example, which is great because it means that some of the highest-wear components are easily replaced. This is rare in laptops of all brands, most solder ports directly onto the mainboard which naturally makes them much more difficult to replace. They also stopped hiding bottom plate screws under the laptops’ rubber feet, which unfortunately is still common in models from other manufacturers.

            2 votes
            1. Promonk
              Link Parent
              I haven't found base cover screws being hidden behind rubber feet to be too common in the models I've worked on in the past couple of years. Dell had a couple models a few years back that did...

              I haven't found base cover screws being hidden behind rubber feet to be too common in the models I've worked on in the past couple of years. Dell had a couple models a few years back that did that, but they stopped that maybe three or four years ago. I've mostly managed to avoid HP for the last couple of years though, so they may be an exception.

              Apple has really pushed the light and portable thing for a long time now, which has led to the worst of the repairability issues I've seen. When I worked recycling, Apple products were aggravating because some components simply weren't salvageable. The interconnects were always too thin and delicate, the PCBs some of them used were likewise thin, and the glues used to adhere them to the chassis so strong that you often couldn't take something like a Hall Effect sensor off of one defunct machine to use on another without flexing the board to death. That sort of thing. As someone who has attempted to make a career out of keeping old hardware running for as long as possible, it just feels like an intentional slap in the gob.

              I'll also never forgive them for inextricably gluing batteries to palmrests. I get why, but I don't like it any better for the understanding.

              But like I said, you really can't beat the build quality. It's just a shame the hardware is so tied up in Apple's obsessive need to control everything. I much prefer the control that older Windows versions and Linux can give to a user (and obviously much more the latter than the former) and no amount of modified, neutered bash will make up for it.

              1 vote
    2. [3]
      guissmo
      Link Parent
      Hmm. Never thought of that. I'll look into that. We're based in France.

      Hmm. Never thought of that. I'll look into that. We're based in France.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        the-boy-sebastian
        Link Parent
        the most recent laptop I got off eBay was a Latitude 7300 for £120 to use as a Linux machine (I daily drive an M2 Air because of the work I do which limits my dual-booting abilities). 8th gen i5,...

        the most recent laptop I got off eBay was a Latitude 7300 for £120 to use as a Linux machine (I daily drive an M2 Air because of the work I do which limits my dual-booting abilities). 8th gen i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVME storage, 13" FHD IPS display, fingerprint sensor (that works in Linux!), absolutely no complaints. the only reason I wouldn't recommend it for your friend is it's probably slightly thicker and heavier than they want -- I was looking at an XPS 13/X1 Carbon but went with the 7300 because it was way cheaper for pretty similar specs

        2 votes
        1. Promonk
          Link Parent
          It's a better machine in a lot of ways, especially over the X1. The 13" XPS line has some problems as well, but not to the extent of the X1. The XPS and X1 both suffer from being made too thin.

          It's a better machine in a lot of ways, especially over the X1. The 13" XPS line has some problems as well, but not to the extent of the X1. The XPS and X1 both suffer from being made too thin.

          3 votes
  3. R3qn65
    Link
    I love the Microsoft Surface series of devices, for what it's worth. Great specs, under 2lbs (900g), two USB-C ports, and the keyboards are quite pleasant to type on. I also really enjoyed being...

    I love the Microsoft Surface series of devices, for what it's worth. Great specs, under 2lbs (900g), two USB-C ports, and the keyboards are quite pleasant to type on. I also really enjoyed being able to move between a tablet and a laptop-like functionality. Less than €1000, though the OLED option is more and the type cover is like 200 or something.

    You can technically do latex and python on an ipad, but the vibe I'm getting is that your friend wants something windows or Linux.

    6 votes
  4. [4]
    Artren
    Link
    Slightly more than €1000, but the Framework 13 AMD is great for everything you need. You can save a bit and do DIY (it's really simple to put together) and maybe find RAM and storage yourself. I...

    Slightly more than €1000, but the Framework 13 AMD is great for everything you need.

    You can save a bit and do DIY (it's really simple to put together) and maybe find RAM and storage yourself. I love my first gen Framework.

    https://frame.work/pt/en/products/laptop-13-gen-amd/configuration/new

    5 votes
    1. [3]
      onceuponaban
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Seconding, and as a bonus you can over-provision while ordering port expansion cards which allows you to change the laptop's I/O as needed without having to resort to an external dock. Note for OP...

      Seconding, and as a bonus you can over-provision while ordering port expansion cards which allows you to change the laptop's I/O as needed without having to resort to an external dock.

      Note for OP @guissmo: given that the Framework 13 already goes over-budget (picking the base AMD CPU option, 1504p screen, 1TB of storage, 32GB of RAM and a standard set of I/O cards yields a ~1350€ price tag, though as the parent comment points out this can be reduced by getting your storage and RAM from a third party rather than Framework themselves), the OS would necessarily need to be some flavor of Linux or, if Windows turns out to be absolutely required, going grossly overbudget or sailing the high seas. The laptop is fully compatible with either OS option. If Linux is a credible option, my personal recommendation for the distro would be Linux Mint.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        chum-cha
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        I absolutely love my Framework and would recommend it with a couple of caveats: The build quality is fine, but not great, at least compared to MacBooks and Lenovos. It doesn't bother me...

        I absolutely love my Framework and would recommend it with a couple of caveats:

        • The build quality is fine, but not great, at least compared to MacBooks and Lenovos. It doesn't bother me personally, but it is noticeable if you're switching between the two.
        • The battery life isn't great. Again, not an issue for me, and I've read various things about how to improve it, but I probably get somewhere around 4-6 hours of screen on time between charges, depending on what I'm doing.

        All said though, their support team is fantastic and I really love what they're trying to do. Other than those two caveats, the Framework really is a great machine, especially if you're running Linux.

        Edit: Probably worth mentioning my experience is with an older Intel model. I believe you'll get much better battery life with the newer AMD models, but I haven't actually looked into that.

        2 votes
        1. crulife
          Link Parent
          Some numbers from my AMD Framework: I'm currently looking at 26% battery and my Fedora says there's 2 hours 31 minutes remaining with my current usage pattern of commenting here and elsewhere....

          Edit: Probably worth mentioning my experience is with an older Intel model. I believe you'll get much better battery life with the newer AMD models, but I haven't actually looked into that.

          Some numbers from my AMD Framework: I'm currently looking at 26% battery and my Fedora says there's 2 hours 31 minutes remaining with my current usage pattern of commenting here and elsewhere. I've set the battery to charge only up to 80% for some imagined battery life improvements. So anyway, if it's linear, I guess I could be getting 9-10 hours if I charged it to full and didn't do anything more taxing.

          Subjectively, it feels like I have to charge it all the time, but I came to this computer from a macbook, so I might be spoiled.

          1 vote
  5. [2]
    vord
    Link
    The AMD Thinkpad P14 is the update of what I loved, does well with Windows or Linux. No touchscreen. 14 inches, but only 1.3 kg. I ended up upgrading to a slightly larger Ideapad, with a...

    The AMD Thinkpad P14 is the update of what I loved, does well with Windows or Linux. No touchscreen. 14 inches, but only 1.3 kg.

    I ended up upgrading to a slightly larger Ideapad, with a touchscreen, because I was able to get it for under $500, but I miss the nipple, how light it was, and a functional fingerprint sensor on Linux.

    3 votes
    1. patience_limited
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I have a Thinkpad AMD P14 (1st Gen) for work, and it meets OP's requirements with the possible exception of the 4 hour battery life if used for anything demanding. Even at 14", the keyboard is...

      I have a Thinkpad AMD P14 (1st Gen) for work, and it meets OP's requirements with the possible exception of the 4 hour battery life if used for anything demanding. Even at 14", the keyboard is very usable. The Ryzen 7 processor has 8 cores, so with 32 GB RAM I could run half a dozen reasonably capable VMs if needed.

      Two USB-C ports, though only one can be used for 4K video out, and there is an HDMI port, Ethernet, etc. Note that Lightning is not supported with this chip set.

      I don't love the dim 1080p touchscreen, but it's got a built-in privacy filter and it's matte. The laptop is more than usable with external 4K monitors. Graphics are integrated Radeon, good enough for light gaming, streaming video, etc.

      The Gen 4 version (better screen and battery life are the biggest improvements) is currently available refurbished on Lenovo Outlet for about $650 USD, and I'd highly recommend this as an all-around Linux-compatible lightweight performer.

      4 votes
  6. redbearsam
    Link
    I've one of these and I think the world of it Asus zenbook 13. Thinnest lightest work of art imaginable.

    I've one of these and I think the world of it
    Asus zenbook 13. Thinnest lightest work of art imaginable.

    3 votes
  7. [4]
    ButteredToast
    Link
    If the need weren’t immediate, I might recommend waiting until some time early next year when Lenovo knocks down the price and adds more config options for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition...

    If the need weren’t immediate, I might recommend waiting until some time early next year when Lenovo knocks down the price and adds more config options for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition which looks to be a nicely rounded package, being thin and light, well built, and having good battery life while also traditionally being Linux-friendly (and of course Windows runs great). Should be getting a “normal” DPI 1920x1200 IPS screen option too which further improves battery life and eliminates burn-in as a concern. The lower end specs of that should be going for somewhere around the US$1k mark. I’m waiting for this one myself.

    NotebookCheck review

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      vord
      Link Parent
      I gotta say, I'm loving that 1920x1200 on laptops is a thing now. I had finally been stockholmed into accepting 1080p, and now that I'm back to 1200 I remember why I loved my 1600x1200 laptop from...

      I gotta say, I'm loving that 1920x1200 on laptops is a thing now. I had finally been stockholmed into accepting 1080p, and now that I'm back to 1200 I remember why I loved my 1600x1200 laptop from 2001 so much. You did it society, it only took 20+ years to give me more laptop pixels on a reasonably sized screen.

      HDTV specs set monitor development back a decade.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        ButteredToast
        Link Parent
        Oh yes, I’m over the moon that 16:9 is going out of fashion on laptops in favor of 16:10 and 5:4 among other taller ratios. Especially on smaller laptops 16:9 is awkwardly short. If only this...

        Oh yes, I’m over the moon that 16:9 is going out of fashion on laptops in favor of 16:10 and 5:4 among other taller ratios. Especially on smaller laptops 16:9 is awkwardly short. If only this trend found its way to desktop monitors so we could have 30” 2560x1600 back in addition to its HiDPI counterpart…

        That’s one trend that Apple never adopted. It kept making 16:10 MacBooks while the rest of the world had standardized on 16:9. The only 16:9 MacBook that’s ever existed is the 11” MacBook Air, which funny enough is also one of the more maligned models.

        2 votes
        1. elight
          Link Parent
          Had the first model! Wonderful for portability. Painful because of screen resolution.

          Had the first model! Wonderful for portability. Painful because of screen resolution.

          1 vote
  8. ingannilo
    Link
    Lots of good ideas here. For my two bits, I'm a ThinkPad fan-boy with a real love for their older models which were more repairable than the X1 carbon discussed in earlier comments. I daily drive...

    Lots of good ideas here. For my two bits, I'm a ThinkPad fan-boy with a real love for their older models which were more repairable than the X1 carbon discussed in earlier comments.

    I daily drive a T480 now and by my standards it is highly portable for its size (14 inch). My previous daily was a smaller X230, which was excellent but is arguably too old to consider for a purchase today. If you like the modularity and can tolerate the slightly larger screen than requested, I'd look into the T-series on low budget, or P-series for higher budget options. I'm not sure what happened to the X-series, but there were some more modern revisions that I would consider if portability is priority.

    The most important thing for me is repairability, and slightly older ThinkPads are great for this. Framework I believe is the only other option that comes close in terms of modularity and ease of fixing/replacing/upgrading bits.

    1 vote
  9. Nihilego
    Link
    While I wouldn’t recommend it to most people, maybe look into Surface Laptop Go 2/3? They’re 12.4 inches iirc. Screen is less than 1080p but has that Surface aspect ratio. Has a USB C and a USB A...

    While I wouldn’t recommend it to most people, maybe look into Surface Laptop Go 2/3?
    They’re 12.4 inches iirc.
    Screen is less than 1080p but has that Surface aspect ratio.
    Has a USB C and a USB A port, BT and Wifi, the battery should last for 4 hours.