While I was struggling with low water and debris in the Ashton canal some b*****d got into my canal boat and nicked my laptop. I think my insurance will pay up but the laptop was unusual and currently out of stock due to CPU shortage so a 'like-for-like' replacement will be impossible. It was a Pinebook Pro, AMD64 running Manjaro imported from the US. I imagine it's value in the backstreet pubs of Manchester is about £fuck-all so it's probably adding to the debris in the Ashton by now. After VAT and delivery it cost me just under £300 so I need a replacement in that ball park capable of running Linux. I guess the options are a Chromebook and a lot of buggering about removing Chrome or a basic Windows machine. But apparently recent cheap laptops come with Windows Home (S) and the (S) is some kind of security system to keep you tied into Windows and Office 365 and paying an annual Windows tax. Any advice on what to look out for, and what to avoid? At this price nothing powerful obviously but I want a decent desktop environment (probably KDE but not that bothered), LIbreOffice, Gimp, Firefox, Thunderbird. If it can run those, look not to shabby and weigh not too much while having a decent battery, it'll do. -- Phil Thane www.pthane.co.uk Tweet @pthane 01767 449759 07582 750607
On Tue, Jul 27, 2021 at 09:00:59PM +0100, Phil Thane wrote:
Any advice on what to look out for, and what to avoid?
I'm guessing as it's via insurance they might just give you a voucher to be used rather than cash? Anyway, as ever I'm going to suggest a refurbished Thinkpad if possible, itzoo have an X270 for £240, that's going to be a far better machine than £300 new will get you. Adam --
On Tue, Jul 27, 2021 at 09:00:59PM +0100, Phil Thane wrote:
Any advice on what to look out for, and what to avoid?
At this price nothing powerful obviously but I want a decent desktop environment (probably KDE but not that bothered), LIbreOffice, Gimp, Firefox, Thunderbird. If it can run those, look not to shabby and weigh not too much while having a decent battery, it'll do.
I'd recommend a refurbished ThinkPad, X series for 11", T series for 13/14". A refurbished T430 can be had for the sort of money you're talking about for example. -- Chris Green
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 08:56:33AM +0100, Chris Green wrote:
I'd recommend a refurbished ThinkPad, X series for 11", T series for 13/14". A refurbished T430 can be had for the sort of money you're talking about for example.
You can get a refurb T470 for £300 or an X270 for a bit less if you shop around! I wouldn't be suggesting a T430 now, they were very good machines in their time but they were first released nearly 10 years ago and are really starting to show their age, most will have a knackered battery and need the CPU to have thermal paste replaced. My W530 of a similar vintage got replaced a few months ago due to those 2 issues and it started to have random reboots although I do have a replacement motherboard to try as a rainy day job. Adam --
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 09:34:47AM +0100, Adam Bower wrote:
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 08:56:33AM +0100, Chris Green wrote:
I'd recommend a refurbished ThinkPad, X series for 11", T series for 13/14". A refurbished T430 can be had for the sort of money you're talking about for example.
You can get a refurb T470 for £300 or an X270 for a bit less if you shop around!
I wouldn't be suggesting a T430 now, they were very good machines in their time but they were first released nearly 10 years ago and are really starting to show their age, most will have a knackered battery and need the CPU to have thermal paste replaced. My W530 of a similar vintage got replaced a few months ago due to those 2 issues and it started to have random reboots although I do have a replacement motherboard to try as a rainy day job.
Yes, OK, agreed. If you really can get a t470 for £300 then it's well worth going for newer rather than older. -- Chris Green
It was a Pinebook Pro, AMD64 running Manjaro imported from the US. I imagine it's value in the backstreet pubs of Manchester is about £fuck-all so it's probably adding to the debris in the Ashton by now. After VAT and delivery it cost me just under £300 so I need a replacement in that ball park capable of running Linux. I guess the options are a Chromebook and a lot of buggering about removing Chrome or a basic Windows machine. But apparently recent cheap laptops come with Windows Home (S) and the (S) is some kind of security system to keep you tied into Windows and Office 365 and paying an annual Windows tax.
I'm using a ASUS E203MA 11.6 Inch Cloudbook (Intel N4000 Processor, 64 GB eMMC, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10 S) which cost me about 200 quid and it's very light. I installed Ubuntu and everything works with great battery life and I use it as a travel laptop and for general browsing. Ironically web pages fit better on the smaller screen than on a larger laptop. It's actually my second since the first was nicked with my bag waiting for the Eurostar in Belgium. I used to take a Chromebook travelling but I didn't like the cut down keyboard and it was too restrictive (even with fuller Linux). It also occurs to me that a stolen Chromebook can be power washed and resold easily whereas a Cloudbook with Linux is probably useless to the thief. I like old Thinkpads and own one but it's probably worth checking Cloudbooks which will have a new battery. Cheers Steve -- Steve Mynott <steve.mynott@gmail.com> cv25519/ECF8B611205B447E091246AF959E3D6197190DD5
In case Phil or anyone else is interested, I have a fairly mint condition Pinebook Pro which I never have time to use and I wouldn't mind letting it go to a good home for a very reasonable price. I love it but have another laptop that is in the personal use queue ahead of it. I also don't mind keeping it so win:win :-)
On 28 Jul 2021, at 10:11, Steve Mynott <steve.mynott@gmail.com> wrote:
It was a Pinebook Pro, AMD64 running Manjaro imported from the US. I imagine it's value in the backstreet pubs of Manchester is about £fuck-all so it's probably adding to the debris in the Ashton by now. After VAT and delivery it cost me just under £300 so I need a replacement in that ball park capable of running Linux. I guess the options are a Chromebook and a lot of buggering about removing Chrome or a basic Windows machine. But apparently recent cheap laptops come with Windows Home (S) and the (S) is some kind of security system to keep you tied into Windows and Office 365 and paying an annual Windows tax.
I'm using a ASUS E203MA 11.6 Inch Cloudbook (Intel N4000 Processor, 64 GB eMMC, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10 S) which cost me about 200 quid and it's very light.
I installed Ubuntu and everything works with great battery life and I use it as a travel laptop and for general browsing. Ironically web pages fit better on the smaller screen than on a larger laptop.
It's actually my second since the first was nicked with my bag waiting for the Eurostar in Belgium. I used to take a Chromebook travelling but I didn't like the cut down keyboard and it was too restrictive (even with fuller Linux). It also occurs to me that a stolen Chromebook can be power washed and resold easily whereas a Cloudbook with Linux is probably useless to the thief.
I like old Thinkpads and own one but it's probably worth checking Cloudbooks which will have a new battery.
Cheers Steve
-- Steve Mynott <steve.mynott@gmail.com> cv25519/ECF8B611205B447E091246AF959E3D6197190DD5
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Thanks for all the advice/offers. Once I've sorted out the insurance I'll probably make Susan an offer for her PinebookPro. Phil Thane www.pthane.co.uk Tweet @pthane 01767 449759 07582 750607 On 28/07/2021 10:20, Susan Spence wrote:
In case Phil or anyone else is interested, I have a fairly mint condition Pinebook Pro which I never have time to use and I wouldn't mind letting it go to a good home for a very reasonable price.
I love it but have another laptop that is in the personal use queue ahead of it. I also don't mind keeping it so win:win :-)
On 28 Jul 2021, at 10:11, Steve Mynott <steve.mynott@gmail.com> wrote:
It was a Pinebook Pro, AMD64 running Manjaro imported from the US. I imagine it's value in the backstreet pubs of Manchester is about £fuck-all so it's probably adding to the debris in the Ashton by now. After VAT and delivery it cost me just under £300 so I need a replacement in that ball park capable of running Linux. I guess the options are a Chromebook and a lot of buggering about removing Chrome or a basic Windows machine. But apparently recent cheap laptops come with Windows Home (S) and the (S) is some kind of security system to keep you tied into Windows and Office 365 and paying an annual Windows tax. I'm using a ASUS E203MA 11.6 Inch Cloudbook (Intel N4000 Processor, 64 GB eMMC, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10 S) which cost me about 200 quid and it's very light.
I installed Ubuntu and everything works with great battery life and I use it as a travel laptop and for general browsing. Ironically web pages fit better on the smaller screen than on a larger laptop.
It's actually my second since the first was nicked with my bag waiting for the Eurostar in Belgium. I used to take a Chromebook travelling but I didn't like the cut down keyboard and it was too restrictive (even with fuller Linux). It also occurs to me that a stolen Chromebook can be power washed and resold easily whereas a Cloudbook with Linux is probably useless to the thief.
I like old Thinkpads and own one but it's probably worth checking Cloudbooks which will have a new battery.
Cheers Steve
-- Steve Mynott <steve.mynott@gmail.com> cv25519/ECF8B611205B447E091246AF959E3D6197190DD5
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participants (5)
-
Adam Bower -
Chris Green -
Phil Thane -
Steve Mynott -
Susan Spence