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Ask HN: Cheap laptop for Linux without GUI (for writing)

17 pointslocusofself16 comments

Hey HN,

I'm on a quest for a distraction-free writing device and considering a super cheap laptop which I can just run vim/nano on.

I'd like: - Excellent battery life - Good keyboard - Sleep/wake capabilities (why is this so hard with Linux?)

I'm thinking some kind of chromebook? Maybe an old thinkpad?

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Old thinkpads are usually pretty good.

If you're looking at a chromebook I suggest doing research on the specific model first. Esp. by looking here... https://docs.mrchromebox.tech/docs/supported-devices.html

Old MS Surface tablets are also decent options IMHO... https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supporte...

I'm presently writing on a Surface 3 w/ x7-Z8700 atom that's running Ubuntu Noble and vanilla 6.8 kernel. They're about $50. Everything works rather well (including gfx/audio/sleep/hibernate), except the camera, which I haven't bothered with. I'm quite happy w/ it tbh.

One thing to note w/ this model is you'll need the OEM keyboard to install linux since there's only one usb port; which will be required by the install media. Once you've installed though you can use any bluetooth or usb keyboard you want. Another thing is any micro-usb charger should work but I wouldn't rely on just 1amp, go w/ a 3amp.

Anyway, happy hunting!

An older ThinkPad is a great choice. Sometimes when a company goes out of business or upgrade, they dump a bunch of laptops and you can get used ThinkPads on the cheap.

I haven’t actually tried step three yet, but:

1. Kobo ereaders are dirt cheap at thrift stores (and run Linux)

2. KOreader is simple to install (I have done this)

3. KOReader has a text editor + terminal built in, and has a setting to switch to USB-OTG mode, which should allow you to plug in a USB-C hub, and a mechanical keyboard.

Boom! Internet connected e-ink writing tablet with excellent battery life, and the best keyboard you have, for ~$5-100.

I am using CudaText [0] with the Distraction Free mode [1] to have a full screen editor "always on" the weekend when I write (on Windows 11, but it should work on Linux).

There is also a full screen mode plugin on GVim [2] but I haven't tested it.

[0] https://cudatext.github.io/ [1] https://wiki.freepascal.org/CudaText#Full-screen_mode [2] https://github.com/lambdalisue/vim-fullscreen

Used n4120 hp stream 11 maybe, should be sub-$100 and more than 8 hours battery. I don't know how sleep/wake works from a text mode TTY machine if that's what you mean.

> I don't know how sleep/wake works from a text mode TTY machine if that's what you mean.

Usually, I expect, by just issuing a command... e.g. `systemctl suspend`

Depending on what you consider to be a good keyboard, an older MacBook Pro or air? One of the pre-butterfly models or a last-gen intel machine.

Without Linux, just for writing: https://valentine.getfreewrite.com/

I agree with a couple of other commentators. Why not a notebook or a typewriter? Looks like you just want to write.

Obviously I can't speak for op, but... spellcheck and copy/paste alone make paper more difficult to work with.

Basically, writing involves a lot of re-writing and revision. Electronic documents make that easier.

That's a fair point, although I'd just cross them out and write a clean version afterwards. Writing with pen is faster and easier than anything else, I have found that out. I can easily draw schemes and charts at any place, any page. It's just a lot easier than using a computer -- unless I'm using a pad and write on it.

It certainly depends on the kind of writing too. Very technical writing should benefit from a computer. Poetry... probably not as much.

Either a typewriter or a paper notebook

i highly recommend looking at an alphasmart neo or neo2. it’s a “can’t live without” tool in my daily life.

used chromebooks like c720p, but usually older laptops do not have excellent battery life

Manual typewriter?

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