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I have been running an E14 which is one of the cheaper ThinkPads. Everything is supported in Debian Stable. I'm finding this to be a delightful replacement to my Walmart brand "Motile" laptop (which was actually quite a good "consumer" laptop). ThinkPad is the "business" line of laptop with heavy duty construction. I am a fan. Everything feels solid and durable. They keyboard is soft-click with a double-width (almost) backspace key just like I like it. \ is slightly enlarged below backspace.

My work laptop is a nice Dell - but I prefer the thinkpad.

If you shop for one here is a pro tip: You can read the specs of the laptop you think you want and they will tell you whether the RAM is soldered onto the board or replaceable. I went for a lower price unit with replaceable RAM so I can upgrade. The cheapest ones have soldered RAM. This one is nice for me. Resolution is higher than the old laptop and it has a non-glossy screen.

Keyboard drawback - the Fn key is in the lower left corner where you expect CTRL to be. I went old-school and swapped CTRL and CAPS LOCK because I still miss Sun Microsystems.

Thanks for explaining the ThinkPad experience - I get it. It was worth a few more dollars.

I have been running an E14 which is one of the cheaper ThinkPads. Everything is supported in Debian Stable. I'm finding this to be a delightful replacement to my Walmart brand "Motile" laptop (which was actually quite a good "consumer" laptop). ThinkPad is the "business" line of laptop with heavy duty construction. I am a fan. Everything feels solid and durable. They keyboard is soft-click with a double-width (almost) backspace key just like I like it. \ is slightly enlarged below backspace. My work laptop is a nice Dell - but I prefer the thinkpad. If you shop for one here is a pro tip: You can read the specs of the laptop you think you want and they will tell you whether the RAM is soldered onto the board or replaceable. I went for a lower price unit with replaceable RAM so I can upgrade. The cheapest ones have soldered RAM. This one is nice for me. Resolution is higher than the old laptop and it has a non-glossy screen. Keyboard drawback - the Fn key is in the lower left corner where you expect CTRL to be. I went old-school and swapped CTRL and CAPS LOCK because I still miss Sun Microsystems. Thanks for explaining the ThinkPad experience - I get it. It was worth a few more dollars.
[–] • 1 pt

I suggested the x1 carbon if I remember right. 14” small light runs like a top. Depending on the gen has replaceable ram. Newer ones no.

[–] • 1 pt

Well I'm happy because of it even if I didn't get that exact one. Thanks!

[–] • 0 pt

I took my wife’s old x1 and just leave it in the vehicle so if I need one. For the 150 I spend on that older one, if it gets stolen so be it.

[–] • 0 pt

Both the cheapest AND most expensive laptops these days have soldered ram. If you want ultra thing the low profile soldered ram is the only way to go. I think it has a very slight speed advantage but nothing crazy.

The T series of thinkpads can get pretty beefy spec wise.

[–] • 0 pt

I have a refurbished ThinkPad from Amazon that I run Linux mint on. It's pretty good.