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> No modern laptop in the current price range can beat it. > I'm also super interested to try out the new ARM-based Macbooks I’m having a hard time choosing b

> No modern laptop in the current price range can beat it. > I'm also super interested to try out the new ARM-based Macbooks I’m having a hard time choosing between an old Thinkpad and the Pinebook Pro for a GNU/Linux laptop. Thinkpads have a better battle-tested durability + repairability reputation and Libreboot is a significant selling point to me. But x86 seems like it’s just beginning to fade into the past in favor of source-available ARM in the present and open-source RISC V in the future, and the Pinebook isn’t exactly terribly flimsy (magnesium-alloy outer shell, maybe inspired by Thinkpads) or expensive ($200).

ekianjo 6y ago
Pinebook Pros are nice and cheap, but the hardware support is still very far from equivalent from what you have on x86 desktops. (GPU acceleration is hardly supported, sound issues, etc...) https://boilingsteam.com/a-complete-look-at-the-pinebook-pro/ https://boilingsteam.com/a-complete-look-at-the-pinebook-pro...
hashedout 6y ago
Up your budget about 100$ and you get get a 4th gen intel X1 carbon used. Very good laptop.
jsperson 6y ago
Recommend not going with the pinebook pro for real work. It is an excellent concept and I bought one to both support the cause and have an interesting toy. That’s about all it is though. Most significantly the trackpad is rubbish. It’s the worst I’ve ever used.
boring_twenties 6y ago
I like my Pinebook Pro, but it is slow compared to my T420, and maybe even slow compared to my X200. The Thinkpads will also work out of the box with basically any kernel from the past 10 years, whereas the Pinebook requiers a patched kernel, patched u-boot, and a third patched component I didn't even know existed and don't remember the name of. It's a pretty awesome device for $200 but it can't replace a real laptop IMHO, and hardware support is under active development.

ekianjo 6y ago

Pinebook Pros are nice and cheap, but the hardware support is still very far from equivalent from what you have on x86 desktops. (GPU acceleration is hardly supported, sound issues, etc...) https://boilingsteam.com/a-complete-look-at-the-pinebook-pro/ https://boilingsteam.com/a-complete-look-at-the-pinebook-pro...

hashedout 6y ago

Up your budget about 100$ and you get get a 4th gen intel X1 carbon used. Very good laptop.

jsperson 6y ago

Recommend not going with the pinebook pro for real work. It is an excellent concept and I bought one to both support the cause and have an interesting toy. That’s about all it is though. Most significantly the trackpad is rubbish. It’s the worst I’ve ever used.

boring_twenties 6y ago

I like my Pinebook Pro, but it is slow compared to my T420, and maybe even slow compared to my X200. The Thinkpads will also work out of the box with basically any kernel from the past 10 years, whereas the Pinebook requiers a patched kernel, patched u-boot, and a third patched component I didn't even know existed and don't remember the name of. It's a pretty awesome device for $200 but it can't replace a real laptop IMHO, and hardware support is under active development.