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My beloved Pupok (an X220) runs this, as does a T410s (though it hasn't seen much use in a few months).
For a while, I did have it running on my Framework laptop (on a 250G expansion drive), but have since wiped it so I could try a few other OSes.
Things I love:
Things that were surprisingly easy:
The list goes on, but the gist is: it's refreshingly uncomplicated.
I run this on an X230 and on my Framework laptop.
If you're unfamiliar with this Linux distro, here's what's notable:
Taken together, this means that you can't brick your machine, and you can install software without worrying about needing different versions of the same dependency installed on the same time.
What I love is that even though it uses systemd, I never actually have to deal with it directly.
The other thing that I love is that you can start a shell that has access to specific packages and programs, but without having to install those packages/programs globally. (Done using/trying the program? Close the shell.)
If learning the Nix programming language sounds like a barrier, don't worry. You can get pretty far just cobbling together bits and pieces from other people's configuration files. If you go down this path, you'll find examples that go way over the top in terms of modularity, slicing up their config into so many tiny files.
Here's a good one that's clear and understandable:
gemini://perso.pw/blog//articles/my-nixos.gmi
If you want to read about all the available options:
man configuration.nix
This is one of the first distros I put on the Framework laptop. I currently run Artix on a battery-less 2015 Macbook Pro that I use as a desktop machine.
Artix is basically Arch without systemd. (I use OpenRC, but other options include runit and S6). And, you have access to the AUR.
I've only ever bricked one installation of Arch, and that was a loooong time ago, back when I got my first ThinkPad (the T420). I didn't really know what I was doing yet.
My OnePlus 6T is my mainstream device, running Oxygen OS. I won't be getting another OnePlus, now that they're using the Color OS skin from Oppo.
I also use Android (Cyanogenmod 11) on a Kindle Fire 1st Gen.
See the retrotech page for more details
I have a 2019 intel macbook pro (for $DAYJOB) and a 2020 m1 macbook pro.
Don't get me started on the touchbar or the years of non-functioning keys or that everything is soldered onto the motherboard.
What I will say is that I have grown to loathe macOS after being one of its biggest fans back in the 10.2-10.5 days (when it was still called Mac OS X). I dislike the slow conversion of the best, modern UNIX into an OS for giant iPads.
If not for projects like nix-darwin and homebrew, I'd drive myself crazy trying to use it.
That said, the hardware (despite not being repairable or moddable) is stellar. The screen is beautiful and the battery life (especially on the m1) is off the charts.
I use the m1 as a super chromebook: it's for shopping and watching movies.
I really enjoyed Void. It's the most BSD-like Linux I have used, thanks to the package manager being created by a former NetBSD dev. The init system is so minimal and understandable. (Symlinks! You turn services on and off by creating/deleting symlinks to shell scripts!)
I'd say it's probably more stable than Arch/Artix because the package maintainers are more careful (or move more slowly). And it has all the flexibility/customizability of Arch.
I regret not opting to use the musl libc variant - I might install it onto one of the ThinkPads second drives so that I can learn from musl's C code.
The documentation is good, but not quite as good as the Arch Wiki.
I adored my Lenovo 500e. Drawing and annotating with the stylus was such a good experience. Sadly, the motherboard went kaput. (It was probably never meant to be used as heavily as I used it.)
As with macOS, I used to be a huge fan of iOS.
I converted to Android in 2015 (with a month-long journey into FireFox OS). I currently use a (non rooted) Android from OnePlus. Though it doesn't have quite as much polish as iOS, the fact that I have a Linux environment with a terminal (thanks to Termux) seals the deal for me.
I regularly ssh tunnel from my phone into my home network any time I'm out of the house.