HACKER Q&A
📣 laserstrahl

Recommendation 12" Laptop


Hey I wanna know what is available for me. I used the x230 with classic keyboard a lot, so I am used to 12” laptops.

I sold it now and the prices are high for it specs. Anyone can recommend me a laptop for browsing and doing office? It could be nice when I can upgrade it too like a x220/230 dunno if I should use a framework. Are there old MacBooks laying around with gentoo support? If there’s no 12” I’d take a 14” like a t440p.

I also thought about getting a skulls/librebootable laptop.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

  👤 369548684892826 Accepted Answer ✓
I just went from x230 to X1 Carbon (Gen 7) and even though it's a 14" laptop, it's so much thinner and lighter than the x230 it feels smaller over all. Battery life is better than the 9-cell x230 as well, which is nice.
👤 brudgers
If you like Thinkpads, get a Thinkpad. I'm typing this on an L13 which is nothing special. But it's a Thinkpad and it's good enough.

I mean is a laptop just needs to be good enough. It isn't a process worth optimizing. As for Libreboot, if that's your jam it's cool with me, but if you're looking at Apple laptops then it probably isn't among the values you are willing to suffer for. That's ok and it's ok if you decide it is.

The work you do with your laptop is what matters. Good luck.

👤 factorialboy
Thinkpad X13 is close to you desired form factor. And has excellent Linux support. And comes with Intel or AMD versions.

I have the AMD version and I run Fedora. I assume Gentoo might run fine.

👤 nik736
Check out the Lenovo Yogas with the new Ryzen 7000 CPU. They are amazing value and for me so far very stable.
👤 greatpostman
MacBook Air m2