So I’m looking for a laptop, but before you downvote and move on, I’ve got a twist: I’m looking for a laptop with Linux support that’s going to intentionally be console-only and rely on TUIs to make a lower-distraction device.

I was looking at older Thinkpads with 4:3 screens and the good keyboard before Lenovo went all chicklet with them, but I’m kinda concluding they’re both way too expensive AND way too old to be a reasonable choice at this point.

A X220 or T40-whatever would be great and be the perfect aesthetic, but they’re expensive, hard to find parts for, and using enough crusty old shit that this becomes yet another delve into retro computing and not one into practical, useful computing which is the goal here.

So, anyone have any recommendations of any devices in the last decade that have a reasonable keyboard, screen, use modern enough components that you can source new drives and RAM and batteries and such, and preferably aren’t coated in a coating that’s going to turn to sticky goo?

Thin(ner) and light(er) would be nice, but probably not a dealbreaker if the rest of the pieces align. This will be almost entirely used at a table for writing and such.

  • brisk
    23·
    3 months ago

    How about MNT Reform or it’s Pocket little brother?

    They get you

    • Full mechanical keyboards, ortholinear if you’re into that
    • Modern components
    • HIGHLY modular and repairable - their main thrust is making messing with your internals accessible
    • No sticky goo coating
    • Cyberdeck aesthetics (esp the Pocket reform)

    They do NOT get you

    • Low price - you didn’t mention a budget constraint
    • Thin. They are chunky kids, though certainly the Pocket reform has a reasonably portable profile
    • schizo@forum.uncomfortable.businessOPEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      Those are cool, and they’ve definitely nailed the aesthetic. Also looks like they’re working on a new revision which looks like a reasonable upgrade.

      Not sure it’s the right choice for what I’m after (it’s kinda expensive and very performance limited for the cost), but uh, I’m going to keep an eye out because that’s a cool piece of kit.