I used ThinkPads before too and swapped to tuxedo books now.
They make laptops specifically for Linux and even provide software updates etc. For Linux. I'm quite happy, but it's more expensive.
But one must be aware that tuxedo doesn't "make" laptops in the narrower sense. They're a Schenker reseller and while I'm overall satisfied with my tuxedo the build quality isn't close to ThinkPads T or X series.