@voyager39 thank you for asking this question. I am also at the point of needing a new laptop and am trying to discover what laptop to try with the hope that it will not cause the issues you and I and others on this forum experience.
For the last 6+ years I've been using a Lenovo Thinkpad x140e daily. This laptop has a great keyboard and an AMD processor. It was intended for school use. I've put in an SSD, changed the wifi module and upped the RAM, and run MX Linux 21.3 on it with no strain at all. I probably use it between 4 and 8 hours at a stretch.
Now this laptop is old and slow, but is perfectly adequate for light programming and heavy text editing, which is my primary use. So why the need for a new laptop?
I can run MX Linux with Fluxbox or Herbstluftwm with no strain. But this version of MX Linux is based on Debian 11, which is "end of life". When I tried the new MX Linux (23), it was horrible - stabbing eye pain, disorientation, blurry eyesight, etc. Antix also gives the same problem. I am wondering if this is because of the 6x kernel, but idk.
One possibility is that a higher resolution screen will work better with the newer OS/kernel/software than this 1368x764. I can't go back to Windows and have never been able to grok Mac.
What do you all suggest - does not have to be Lenovo. My preferences:
- Good keyboard
- Smaller size (13" ideal, 14" might be okay)
- Replaceable battery
- Upgradable HD
Also, where would you all suggest purchasing knowing that a return may be necessary. (I hate having to return things and don't want to purchase a used computer from someone for this reason.)
Not sure if any of this is helpful to you Voyager39, but at least you know you are not alone with this. Perseverance does pay off.