I already have a cheap HP 250 G6, which computationally works decently, but has a cooler fan replaced (with 3 mo of warranty) and some plastic fixing the display bezel screws broken. I don't know if I won't break it even more upon repair/attaching glue (the probability of which is ~20-10%).
There's some review of a similar Dell laptop here [1]. I want to run at least Python, C/C++, machine learning, Blender and other CADs, data analysis on this laptop. The Dell Vostro 3510 (Core i5-1135G7/8GB/256GB SSD/15.6" FHD/Intel UHD/Cam & Mic/WLAN + BT/ US Backlit Kb/3 Cell/Ubuntu) with 4cores/8 threads, 2.40GHz, 4.20 GHz max seems decent. It has Ubuntu preinstalled and I do not want to pay for Windows, which I will eventually erase for Linux. But it seems to have a feeble casing, though on the Dell website for this laptop Dell writes that it has a hard plastic.
My budget is around 500 euros, 400 would be ideal. But for 400 there is a similar Lenovo laptop with DOS and some metal casing at the local store (eastern EU), which has only a 1 year warranty vs 3 years for Dell. On laptop media there's also information that Asus Expertbook series has a fortified casing, but all ASUS'es here come with Windows.
Is this Dell laptop decent for beginners to start long programming sessions? Or what else can you recommend?
[1] https://laptopmedia.com/review/dell-vostro-15-3510/
I used to think that the more warranty time is provided by the manufacturer, the better, as 3y for Dell. The local seller just told that the less is the warranty time, the more high quality is the product, as they're sort of so sure of it's quality. And this Thinkpad E15 has 1y of warranty. It is not T or X series, but it has 15.6" display etc, is this series ok?
[1] [link redacted]
[2] https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-11e-Windows-13-E-and-E...
If you want something more recent, I advise looking into ex-corporate laptops. Those are usually built to last.
As selfhoster11 says, you should probably look at used Thinkpads. 10th Gen i5 with 8 GB is £300, that should give you change to upgrade the memory if you want more.