I just bought a ThinkPad on eBay for $90 :)
going to install Linux. if it works out for me, I will sell my MacBook Air.
if you have a specific distro you want to push on me please do so below👇👇👇
5 months ago · 👍 martin, bavarianbarbarian, devyl, userfxnet, zero
Debian / XFCE works quite well on Thinkpads · 5 months ago
thank you so much everyone! it will arrive next week. i’m definitely going to try a few things, try booting from external drives and play around for a bit · 5 months ago
Void linux is pretty sweet. Like arch, but the package manager doesn't break randomly. There's an installer and live image too. However, be prepared to struggle with audio and maybe wifi if you're using post-market hardware or an obscure WM / audio server. · 5 months ago
I use Arch on a x220. Works great. The TLP package helps with the battery : https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/TLP · 5 months ago
if you decide to go with Arch, you can use "arch install" which makes the installation very easy : https://github.com/archlinux/archinstall · 5 months ago
if you have friends or coworkers nearby with a preference it might be good to start there (for assistance getting started) ... bonŝancon al vi! · 5 months ago
IDK bout you, but I got me a Thinkpad too from some years back, and recently been running *nix VM's on it preparing to hit up an all-in-one I have with a distro. If you're feeling uneasy or indecisive about any of it, go w/ trialing a few live distros like Tails, MX Linux, I've also been havin' fun w/ Knoppix n Antix. Put em on some CD's or some flash drives n hve at it · 5 months ago
Replying from a Thinkpad X220 running https://vanilla-dpup.github.io/ (I'm the developer of this ugly thing) · 5 months ago
voidlinux, if you know what you are doing · 5 months ago
Arch is the best and more streamlined. Gentoo is better than arch but much more advanced. Debian is pretty user friendly just get the minimal install. · 5 months ago
for me this approach never worked. i use linux on my homeserver, devterm, steam deck and some other devices. but still i feel much more at home on Mac OS X... still... more on 10.12 and older then current releases. it's sad but for me linux is still a much more ux mess than current macOS is. good luck!!! ah, and i use armbian/debian or arch/steamos most of the time · 5 months ago
Depending on your previous linux exposure I'd recommend: LinuxMint, PopOS, EndeavourOS. Linux Mint being most user friendly and EndeavourOS being the least. If you intent to code or game PopOS is a great middle ground (much nearer Mint than Endeavour) which will pretty much just work and has a huge repo of software. · 5 months ago
@martin haha let me know :) · 5 months ago
@techpriest good idea! that's probably the best thing. · 5 months ago
Manjaro is great · 5 months ago
Go with Debian, install Boxes, test out a bunch of different distros, see which one clicks for you. A few hours trying things out now will save a lot of "what if..." thoughts later. · 5 months ago
bunsenlabs, debian based · 5 months ago
Every year I feel like doing this and still never have. If I buy one this weekend, I'm blaming you @satch! :) · 5 months ago
I run debian on my VPS but I want to try something else for my laptop 🤷♂️ · 5 months ago
devuan has all the tradition and stability of debian, but with init system freedom (at the cost of a bit slower update schedule. · 5 months ago
Debian? · 5 months ago
currently thinking arch but I need to do more research · 5 months ago