Little laptop recommendations

Post date: 2024-10-27 03:22:53

I am traveling overseas more and need a small, light computer with a keyboard to take with me. I've been using a Lenovo X1 Yoga but it's big. Do you have any recommendations? Too many details are below the fold.

The primary use is for email (mutt), browsing (preferably Firefox, occasionally Chromium), and backing up photographs and video using rclone. I won't be doing any serious photo manipulation, but I do need to be able to view photos and would like to occasionally print them while on the road using a portable Linux compatible printer that I already have.

I vastly prefer Linux, though I could use Windows in a pinch. A command line is a must. I've tried using Chromebooks and I've found them clunky (even using the Linux environment) but if that can be overcome, I'm fine with that as well. I absolutely do not want to use Apple.

Physically, I want small but not tiny, with a screen between 10" and 13". Something the size of the Asus Eee would be ideal, but about 8 oz lighter or that feels quick enough to justify the weight. I'm ok-ish with a tablet and keyboard solution, but I want a trackpad and I must to be able to access an external drive and an SD Card at the same time. A SIM card slot and an HDMI port are bonuses.

I am technically skilled enough to go through significant, complicated work to get a solution working but once it's working, I don't want to spend any time maintaining it or fixing it while on the road.

I want something that can be stolen or damaged and not break me. My budget is a soft $500. Used is fine, even preferred if it fits into that sweet spot where it's new enough to be quick but old enough to have most of the software kinks ironed out.

Things I am considering: an old Asus Eee I have on hand (Atom processor), the HP Elitebook 810 Revolve (that hinge scares me), the Lenovo 500w and the Asus Vivobook GO 12. I welcome specific feedback on all of these as well as any other solutions you may have. Also welcome are recommendations of review websites to use for research.

Please click Here to read the full story.