I have a similar story. I had a thinkpad x201 and it broke. I opened it up, tried to fix it, couldn't. After a couple of weeks having no computer, I created a O

I have a similar story. I had a thinkpad x201 and it broke. I opened it up, tried to fix it, couldn't. After a couple of weeks having no computer, I created a OpenBSD installer USB from another computer (the installer image was surprisingly only 30 MiB, so I could easily create the USB in a couple of minutes from someone else's computer). I installed OpenBSD on an old Asus 1000HE netbook I had lying around. I used the machine for a couple of weeks, and I felt I was really productive. I wrote a simple network manager, learned Org-Mode, learned Xorg customization, read Atlas Shrugged in Emacs :) ... Then I built myself a desktop, installed Windows 10 on it. Got a 32 inch big screen. I am nowhere as productive, because everything comes so easy. There is something about spartan environments, that makes you more disciplined and focused. On the other hand, you need comfortable tools to go further. Another interesting point is, even when I was building my desktop, I picked out the cheapest parts, didn't even buy a case. I put the components in two adjacent shoe-box sized cartons, and hooked a push button to the mother board power pins. I could've easily spent much more money on it, but didn't. I guess I also fear making a huge commitment to the tools I use.