need a "new" laptop (solved)

[dancytron]

I managed to break my HP 2540p laptop trying to replace the keyboard (the power cable clip just fell apart when I opened it).

Looking to get something refurbished and guaranteed for around $100. Looking at the EPC website, I'm seeing:

FUJITSU LIFEBOOK U727 12.5" LAPTOP i5-6200U 2.3GHz 128GB SSD 8GB

Dell Latitude E5450/5450 Laptop i7-5600U 2.6GHz 500GB HDD 8GB RAM 14"

LENOVO THINKPAD A275 LAPTOP 12.5" A12-8830B 2.5GHz 256GB SSD 8GB

Any suggestions of good places to shop in the US besides EPC or something particularily good for linux in that range.

Dan

[Jasper]

@dancytron

Sorry, I can't help you as I am in the UK.

However, my personal belief is that the more RAM (or potential upgradability) is a good choice.

Storage is cheap and therefore you have plenty of options to play around with.

Good luck

[dancytron]

I just bought a HP Elitebook 14" Intel Core i5 3rd Gen 2.6GHz DVD 500GB HDD 8GB RAM WIN 10.

[fredx181]

And for how much ?

[dancytron]

$104 US refurbished with a 30 day no questions guarantee.

[sonny]

https://www.microcenter.com/search/sear ... y=pricelow
Will call / pick up available

[mikeslr]

I'd go with the Dell Latitude E5450/5450. FUJITSU raises too many questions about Linux compatibility. I was disappointed with the last Lenovo laptop I purchased. Sound was always barely discernible and it hasn't held up well. Despite its acquisition of IBM Thinkpad, I don't think Lenovos are as well made. Your best bets for Linux are Dells and HPs.

A quick search "Ubuntu Dell E5450" revealed that while they were relatively new Dell even published drivers to use with Ubuntu Trusty Tahr. Those, of course, can't be used with newer Puppys employing new kernels. But it speaks volumes about Linux compatibility.

[wiak]

For over ten years I've mainly been using HP Elitebooks (not the newest... they are expensive...) with Linux, and I really like them. Generally very robust machines and with great keyboards. Not all HP machines are so nice, but most not too recent models work fine with Linux.

What we have to watch out for nowadays is the tendency for newer models of all computers to be relying on the likes of TPA2 and now Proton security chips and so on. So it's important we remain able to turn off the likes of Secure Boot, and it worries me in case that becomes more difficult no matter the computer model to workaround such matters. I'm currently typing on a not very old HP Probook 430 G8 with an i7 processor. Yes, it is fast and tons of RAM and nvme storage and so on, but I had trouble with running Linux on it originally when wanting to keep Secure Boot on and functioning per its default Windows installation wishes. Fortunately, secure boot could still be turned off in its UEFI 'bios', but I wonder if that situation is under threat...? By the way, official Ubuntu was able to be installed fine when keeping secure boot on in a dual boot with Windows arrangement using Ubuntu grub2 boot loader. However, that Ubuntu grub2 is a very security conscious one that expects signed Ubuntu kernels (and more) thereafter... so couldn't boot forum distros even if a shim was provided. Previously I resorted to booting forum distros via a Puppy provided grub2 on a usb stick, but it was a pain having to insert a usb stick just to boot installations on the nvme harddrive so in the end I turned off secure boot and all fine... Having done so, this HP Probook is also a nice laptop that works well with Linux. Older HP machines fine. HP Elitebooks, very nice indeed.

[sonny]

Elitebook is HP's top model, followed by ProBook.

[williwaw]

$104 US refurbished with a 30 day no questions guarantee.

who did you buy from?

[dancytron]

$104 US refurbished with a 30 day no questions guarantee.

who did you buy from?

Ebay. [deleted ebay user name. not particularly recommended, but not nearly bad enough to call out]

It has a hard drive, not an SSD, which might explain the lowish price.

[wizard]

@dancytron

A shame about the HP 2540p, had it happen once on a Samsung tablet. The hinge piece just holds the ribbon in against the contact points. Depending on the connector design, you might try cutting a thin rigid plastic shim to insert on top of the ribbon. I used a piece of a document "sheet protector".

wizard

[dancytron]

Elitebook is HP's top model, followed by ProBook.

They're pretty sweet, especially for $100.

It's what the big boss with the corner office had when the rest of us had the cheapest plastic Dells.

edit: jinxed myself. They sent me the wrong one. It's about 5 years newer but not the Elitebook. Just the plain Hp15 plastic book. They gave me the choice to keep it or not.