Laptop recommendations

[TriumphantPotato]

Hi!
I've been trying out linux a bit the last couple of weeks. I'm planning to switch to linux for everyday use (internet browsing and watching videos mostly), primarily to boycott the big tech companies.
I've tested a bit of Ubuntu and Linux Mint on an old laptop I had lying around, but it's in pretty bad shape and I want to buy one that isn't broken.
I've been looking at refurbished laptops in the €300 range. Searching the internet a bit it seems like some laptops have better compability than others with Linux. But the information on specific models is insufficient or even contradictory.

I need advice on what models that will work well, and give the least amount of headache for a newb, preferably with Ubuntu or mint.

Some models i've found in my price range:
Acer Aspire 5
LENOVO THINKPAD E14 G2
DELL LATITUDE 5400
HP ELITEBOOK 830 G6
HP PROBOOK 430 G7
DELL LATITUDE 5310
DELL LATITUDE 7420
LENOVO THINKPAD L15 G1

Thankful for any advice!

 

[KGIII]

Most recently, I've used MSI laptops. However, I have used, and many people also use, the Thinkpad line. In fact, you can buy a new Thinkpad with Linux as the OEM-provided operating system. The used ones you're looking at should be fine with Linux.

They're also usually pretty reliable.

 

[darry1966]

Dell and Thinkpads are pretty reliable. They are the best machines I have.

 

[kc1di]

I use refurbish Dells and Lenovo Thinkpads both perform well with linux
Currently using a Dell Latitude 5310 works well.

 

[theLegionWithin]

can confirm lenovo works fine (well, the t470 i have anyway). I've got a few older hp laptops kicking about - one I use at work as a media center, it runs Arch flawlessly, the other is a testbench that I distro hop on and have yet to run into any insurmountable issues (though it has unsupported nvidia hardware), but they both predate those models of probook/elitebook. you may want to doublecheck compatibility, especially with any touchscreen enabled laptop, every few months I see a new post here about touchscreen problems.

I have seen quite a few comments about dell laptops and their good compatibility with various linux distros.

 

[dos2unix]

Dells, MSIs, Lenovo's have been good for me. HP's are hit and miss.

 

[TrentYesThatTrent]

I currently use a ThinkPad and would recommend one as well.

 

[Brickwizard]

I always buy Dell Latitude or the slightly cheaper Insperon usually around 3/4 yrs old,, that being said I have worked on several makes so My personal opinion is, lenovo are as good, Acer come last and the rest somewhere in between, HP are ok but can present some problems but not insurmountable, I have a personal dislike of Media Star International [MSI] this goes back to the early days when they were shoddy and almost impossible to fix.
Make not withstanding, I would look for something with a comfortable screen size, 8gb of ram [linux for daily computing will run on 4gb] and a multicore multi thread CPU I5 / I7 or similar or an AMD equivalent, avoid I3 and other entry level CPU's

My current Laptop is a Dell 5490 win 10 machine, it came with an 8th gen 4 cor 8 thread I5 [more than adequate for home computing [not gaming], thanks to Microsoft's wind 11 wanting higher spec machines one of my suppliers had a glut of grade A re-furbished machines, and so managed to pick it up for less than half normal UK prices [ around 100 euro] but i dont know the market in your area.

 

[TriumphantPotato]

Thanks for all the replies!
I've now ordered a DELL LATITUDE 7420

Dell Latitude 7420 – i5, 240GB SSD, 16GB RAM – Okej skick och bra prestanda | In

Stabil prestanda och ett riktigt bra pris. Dell Latitude 7420 med i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM och 240GB SSD levereras i okej skick – fullt fungerande och redo för din arbetsdag.

shop.inrego.se

I see it's certified with Ubuntu 20.04. Let's say I go with Ubuntu, should I go for 20.04? Or should I just go for the latest version? Should I bother with the OEM stuff?
What would you do?

 

[Brickwizard]

That machine should run any Linux you wish to try, Ubuntu is a good stable distribution, use the latest LTS build [this will last a while without needing a full upgrade. but i find it a bit bulky Mint 22 [based on Ubuntu ]will also run ok [but still a little bloated] I prefer LMDE works perfectly and uses less resources, But its your choice [see links in my signature below]

 

[TriumphantPotato]

That machine should run any Linux you wish to try, Ubuntu is a good stable distribution, use the latest LTS build [this will last a while without needing a full upgrade. but i find it a bit bulky Mint 22 [based on Ubuntu ]will also run ok [but still a little bloated] I prefer LMDE works perfectly and uses less resources, But its your choice [see links in my signature below]

What is the main advantages of LMDE you think?
(I can't see your signature BTW)

 

[Brickwizard]

(I can't see your signature BTW)

the signature is the bit below the main body of the post, mine is mainly links in blue, you may need to scroll down to see them.

What is the main advantages of LMDE you think?

Well I like it because its lighter than some other distributions so runs a tad quicker, the main reason I like it is its based directly off Debian stable [my preferred base] whereas mint 22 is based on Ubuntu which in turn is based on Debian stable, it has the Cinnamon desk top as standard [screenshot of this machine below add your own picture or select a standard one from the mint range .. mine is my favorite TV show] which is functional and clean, but whatever distribution you try, you can change the desktop if you don't like the one it comes with,

 

[theLegionWithin]

mint is based on ubuntu
lmde is based on debian
different strokes for different folks, but they're both debian derivatives

I started on a debian based distro (mx linux) and debian is quite stable (in that it's not going to get the most recent updates). if you want bleeding edge packages go arch or fedora

 

[TriumphantPotato]

I read somewhere that LMDE lacks a user friendly software manager. I guess that means using the terminal for managing software.
I could live with that, but my wife will also be using the computer, and she will defenitly need user friendliness.

 

[TriumphantPotato]

@Brickwizard
Must be something wrong then, I don't see anything below your posts.

 

[Brickwizard]

scroll the post to get the 4 blue links below

I dont know where you read that, it has the same software manager as Mint Ubuntu based.

 

[TriumphantPotato]

dont know where you read that, it has the same software manager as Mint Ubuntu based.

OK, sweet. I think I will try LMDE then.
Now I just need to wait for the delivery.
Thanks for all the help!