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Lenovo Thinkpad T460s can go 2560x1440 (so not super high resolution, but not really bad either), 10 hours battery. Certified for RHEL 7.2 and Ubuntu 14.04. For

by derekp7 10y ago

Lenovo Thinkpad T460s can go 2560x1440 (so not super high resolution, but not really bad either), 10 hours battery. Certified for RHEL 7.2 and Ubuntu 14.04. For more portability, the X260 is good too (1920x1080 in a 12.5 inch screen), and currently certified for Ubuntu 14.04. See https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd031426 https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd031426 for certification information. I've been using the X230 as my daily driver for a while, and it's held up quite well running Fedora. The trackpad was a bit jittery, but that just required a quick parameter fix in Xorg.conf (I don't think that is even required anymore). The only complaints, are that Lenovo has pulled some stunts before, mostly with their non-thinkpad line, such as Superfish. Or the recent issue with a Microsoft-specific release of one of their Yoga machines. But, stick to the models on the Linux certified list, and it should be OK. Other than that, it would be nice to get a 3k or 4k screen, but I'm having a hard time seeing how that would be a big deal on a smaller sized screen. As long as it is above 1080 vertical (I have issues with some IDEs default layout on my current X230 with a 720 vertical resolution screen). But the newer models are available with at least 1080.

eknkc 10y ago
Wow these look god awful but they weight a lot less than the MBPs so that's a huge selling point for me. Thanks for mentioning these. However, after all those shady stuff they did, makes it hard to go for Lenovo.
- kyriakos 10y ago
  unfortunately most enterprise/workstation grade notebooks from Lenovo are ugly, talking from my experience though they are workhorses and can take a lot of misuse before anything breaks. their consumer models tend to have better aesthetics.
- op00to 10y ago
  I used to love Lenovo - I had a T40, T60, T420s, T440, and a T460. Each one, in the first year I had them, were awful with Linux, but over time they got better. Under Linux, no Lenovo matched the battery life, screen quality, build quality, or touchpad quality of my MacBook Pro. They were usable, but nowhere near as intuitive to use as my MBP. Example: Sleep, on the Lenovos w/ Linux, is a crapshoot. There seemed to be a 50% chance that any time I pulled the Lenovo out of my bag that it would be dead because it never really slept. I never had this problem with any Mac laptop. Battery life, which is a similar situation, also can't be compared. I remember once having to crawl around on the floor under a table at a client site because my Lenovo was dying mid-presentation. All the clients laughed because they had Macs, and only plugged in at night to charge. Windows is a non-starter for me, and even now Linux is just not well supported enough for a daily driver laptop. I'll gladly remap caps lock to avoid the certain bug-opening that comes with a Linux laptop.
- Spivak 10y ago
  Counterpoint, I think they look great! They're boxy but keep a rectangular profile. They keyboard feels smooth with just enough resistance and plenty of tactile feedback. The matte black isn't showy but it gets out of your way during use. They're plastic but personally, and in my office, we've actually found them to be more durable and easier to repair. Sure, they're different aesthetics but they both look and feel solid. They're basically 'no-frills' laptops made by people with very different ideas about what the frills are.
0xFFC 10y ago
Respectfully, this is difference between you and me. I prefer 100% reliability when I am buying something for working. I cannot accept jittery trackpoint or wireless driver problem or low battery life. This is what makes Mac perfect laptop in comparison to what you mentioned. I do see what you saying , but I don't agree with you.
- derekp7 10y ago
  In turn, I can see the value in having it "just work". In my case, I'm satisfied with "I can make it work without doing too much". So if I have to put in an additional parameter in a config file that isn't a big deal for me. But if I need to do something like trace down a binary-only module that breaks on kernel updates, just to get a wifi card going, that is where I personally draw the line. But on the other hand, I like having enough choice. And, I like the ability to customize after purchase (that is, buy with lower amount of ram, and upgrade it in a year or two). So it is just a matter of where each person puts their priorities (too bad we can't all have everything, at least not yet).
vladimir-y 10y ago
There is no one Lenovo's laptop on the market with Thunderbolt 3 support, so not an option at all.
- cheiVia0 10y ago
  Not one? http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p50/ http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p50/ http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p70/ http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p70/ http://shop.lenovo.com/lv/lv/laptops/ideapad/y900-series/y900-17/ http://shop.lenovo.com/lv/lv/laptops/ideapad/y900-series/y90...
  - vladimir-y 10y ago
    I was wrong, I have never considered heavy P/Y series.

by derekp7 10y ago

eknkc 10y ago

Wow these look god awful but they weight a lot less than the MBPs so that's a huge selling point for me. Thanks for mentioning these. However, after all those shady stuff they did, makes it hard to go for Lenovo.

kyriakos 10y ago
unfortunately most enterprise/workstation grade notebooks from Lenovo are ugly, talking from my experience though they are workhorses and can take a lot of misuse before anything breaks. their consumer models tend to have better aesthetics.
op00to 10y ago
I used to love Lenovo - I had a T40, T60, T420s, T440, and a T460. Each one, in the first year I had them, were awful with Linux, but over time they got better. Under Linux, no Lenovo matched the battery life, screen quality, build quality, or touchpad quality of my MacBook Pro. They were usable, but nowhere near as intuitive to use as my MBP. Example: Sleep, on the Lenovos w/ Linux, is a crapshoot. There seemed to be a 50% chance that any time I pulled the Lenovo out of my bag that it would be dead because it never really slept. I never had this problem with any Mac laptop. Battery life, which is a similar situation, also can't be compared. I remember once having to crawl around on the floor under a table at a client site because my Lenovo was dying mid-presentation. All the clients laughed because they had Macs, and only plugged in at night to charge. Windows is a non-starter for me, and even now Linux is just not well supported enough for a daily driver laptop. I'll gladly remap caps lock to avoid the certain bug-opening that comes with a Linux laptop.
Spivak 10y ago
Counterpoint, I think they look great! They're boxy but keep a rectangular profile. They keyboard feels smooth with just enough resistance and plenty of tactile feedback. The matte black isn't showy but it gets out of your way during use. They're plastic but personally, and in my office, we've actually found them to be more durable and easier to repair. Sure, they're different aesthetics but they both look and feel solid. They're basically 'no-frills' laptops made by people with very different ideas about what the frills are.

0xFFC 10y ago

Respectfully, this is difference between you and me. I prefer 100% reliability when I am buying something for working. I cannot accept jittery trackpoint or wireless driver problem or low battery life. This is what makes Mac perfect laptop in comparison to what you mentioned. I do see what you saying , but I don't agree with you.

derekp7 10y ago
In turn, I can see the value in having it "just work". In my case, I'm satisfied with "I can make it work without doing too much". So if I have to put in an additional parameter in a config file that isn't a big deal for me. But if I need to do something like trace down a binary-only module that breaks on kernel updates, just to get a wifi card going, that is where I personally draw the line. But on the other hand, I like having enough choice. And, I like the ability to customize after purchase (that is, buy with lower amount of ram, and upgrade it in a year or two). So it is just a matter of where each person puts their priorities (too bad we can't all have everything, at least not yet).

vladimir-y 10y ago

There is no one Lenovo's laptop on the market with Thunderbolt 3 support, so not an option at all.

cheiVia0 10y ago
Not one? http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p50/ http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p50/ http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p70/ http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p70/ http://shop.lenovo.com/lv/lv/laptops/ideapad/y900-series/y900-17/ http://shop.lenovo.com/lv/lv/laptops/ideapad/y900-series/y90...
- vladimir-y 10y ago
  I was wrong, I have never considered heavy P/Y series.