Can anyone recommend cheap laptops that have good build quality and see lightweight?

I aim to use it for programming, but I connect to my desktop for most hefty work so it doesn’t need to have solid performance. 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage are enough for me. a lower grade CPU would still be good; a i3 that’s 6 cores is enough.

What’s really important to me is build quality, especially the keyboard. I also don’t want it to be big. 13" would be enough, but not too picky here.

Any recommendations? And are there any communities that are better to ask this in?

Budget: I am hoping to pay $400 or less, but willing to pay $1000 or even more if it’s justified or the value is worthwhile

OS: Linux. I can install it myself.

  • 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world
    223·
    11 months ago

    Honestly, you might look into the new arm-based apple silicon macbook air laptops. Those processors will actually get faster over time as more developers optimize their apps to take advantage of the efficiency.

    Super thin, 18+ hour battery life, aluminum casing, amazing retina screen, and works nicely with iPhones if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.

    [Edit] If you dont want to use macOS, you can throw Asahi Linux on it. Its optimized for the Apple silicon hardware.

    • CyclohexaneOP
      151·
      11 months ago

      I’m not a fan of the keyboards on MacBooks :/

      • makingStuffForFun
        101·
        11 months ago

        Agree. Little to no key travel is a solid no for me. They feel cheap.

        • 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world
          61·
          11 months ago

          Theyre not nearly as bad as the butterfly keyboards they used in previous models. They went with a scissor switch style with a ~1.0-1.1mm key travel here.

          Ive owned a few mechy keyboards and older thinkpads, but even so, ive never thought that the m1 macbook air keyboard is terrible.

          I can understand if its a deal breaker for some though.