Advice for a Linux Laptop in 2025
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What were the interactions with support like each time?
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So that's why everyone recommends the T480 over the T580.
The T580 doesn't have a libreboot build.
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Thinkpad X1 Carbon if you're swimming in money and want the lightest possible laptop, Thinkpad T14 if not.
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Up until very recently the t480 didnt either
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Thinkpad t480 with libreboot from minifree
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Brb gonna go libreboot my sister's t580 when that comes out
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You would probrally have to wait a very long time, keep in mind not all features (ex: Thunderbolt 3) are working on the t480. In addition I dont think the t580 is even supported by coreboot yet.
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It was a few years ago so I can't really comment on newer versions. But I recall the plastic bottom coming away from the top more and more over time. They don't manufacture their own laptops, so they are kinda stuck relying on a third party. (Clevo, I think.)
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That's good, they might have improved. Mine didn't last a year, but I think it was an earlier version.
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Best is Framework in every regard. Works 100%, great Linux support, specify exactly what you want and it's fully repairable. (They're also by far the most satisfying machine to unbox, given you have to plug it all together yourself)
Lenovo and Dell are okay, in my experience. The odd thing but generally fair quality hardware and reasonably compatible. (Thinkpad quality isn't what it used to be, so don't pay a premium thinking it'll last, Lenovo are trading on its past glories)
Avoid HP - shoddy flimsy things now, and with a lot of bespoke drivers (graphics and audio, plus function buttons in particular)
There's quite a lot of random-branded Chinese laptops around now. I've no direct experience of them, but I imagine they're exactly how you'd expect them to be. Cheap, tailored for the OS they ship with, but will probably work to some degree. Linux is past its initial hardware problems (and to be fair, hardware is problematic now)
There's another thread that's a few years old, but still contains some useful info - such as "Check the Arch Wiki"
