Ask Slashdot: What's The Best Cheap Linux-Friendly Netbook?

Seems like a good time to revisit this question -- assuming anyone's still using a netbook. Long-time Slashdot reader Qbertino writes: I'm looking for a cheap lightweight netbook that is Linux-friendly, i.e. lets me install Linux without any shoddy modern BIOS getting in my way... The Lenovo 100S-11 looks really neat, but I just read about installation problems... Are there any alternatives?

And if there aren't, what experience do you guys have running Linux on a Chromebook using Crouton -- the Linux-parallel-to-Chrome-OS hack? Is it a feasible alternative to dumping ChromeOS and installing a 100% lightweight Linux?
His budget is around $200, and he ends his submission with "Many thanks from a fellow Slashdotter." So leave your suggestions in the comments. What's the best cheap Linux-friendly netbook?

Comments

Thinkpad X220

[JoeyRox]

Going for $200 used on Fleabay.

Re:Thinkpad X220

[Rinikusu]

Even the X200/201 series are good, for half that. I'm running Mint on my X200s as my primary travel machine. Easy to upgrade and cheap .

Re:Thinkpad X220

[Antique Geekmeister]

Thinkpads have been solid workhorses for me. Do _not_ expect to run extensive virtualized environments or multiple docker containers, and under _no_ circumstances use the default Gnome or KDE window managers common to modern Linux distributions. There are many better window managers, far more stable and far less resource gobbling window managers. Since the underlying graphical environment is one of the most memory, disk, and battery consuming features of modern Linux operating systems, keeping the environment lean will make it perform far better and extend its physical lifespan.

Re:Can you completely eradicate ChromeOS?

[xeoron]

One can wipe ChromeOS and just install certain Linux flavors.... but ChromeOS is for some and is about to get the Play store on many Chromebooks. And, using Crouton to run full blown Linux side by side is very easy to do. Plus there is a built-in self destruct since the CB needs to be in Developer Mode to run Crouton and thus it is easy to powerwash at start up when in that mode since it tells you press the space bar to leave DevMode which will delete everything for a clean install.

Re:Acer Aspire Cloudbook, $151

[duckintheface]

Here are the instructions I followed to install Ubuntu 16.04 on the Acer Aspire One Cloudbook.
http://bernaerts.dyndns.org/li...

Chromebook experience

[squiggleslash]

Chromebooks are pretty high quality and worth considering especially given the price. From experience:

ChromeOS is a nice idea but the web isn't there yet and Google's (slow) integration of Android, to a certain extent, is a surrender in recognition of that fact.

I wasn't impressed with Crouton. Well, know, wait, that's unfair: what Crouton does is impressive, but it's one of those things where you think "This is what you want", and you get it, and you realize that wasn't really what you wanted. Crouton offers a way to get a user session from Ubuntu (or whatever) to co-exist with your ChromeOS session, but it only really works if you want one of the major desktops on an older version of Ubuntu. And when you finally get it working, you end up asking yourself "Why? Why not have full Ubuntu, rather than just a user session?" and then you say "Ah, but this lets me switch between ChromeOS and half assed Ubuntu" and then you slap yourself and say "Why the f--- would you want ChromeOS if you're running Ubuntu anyway?"

So... the next step is chrx. chrx is a tool to actually install Ubuntu on your Chromebook - I mean, properly, not a subset. The process feels a little like installing Slackware on a Gateway 2000 PC from the late 1990s, which is odd because Chromebook hardware is more standardized, but, well. You'll need to patch your Chromebook's BIOS, for example. Oddly it's to support something called "Legacy boot", which raises an obvious question.

chrx does allow you to partition the laptop's SSD so you can keep ChromeOS for those occasions it might be useful. But otherwise you get to install either pure Ubuntu, or (the default) a modified version called GalliumOS which has its own "optimal" desktop. I'm running the latter, with Cinnamon, and it mostly works, except the multimedia keys don't do anything (so I can't adjust the volume easily), and the mousepad is always "tap to click" for some reason. Like I said, it's like installing Slackware on a 1990s PC.

If you have patience, a Chromebook is a good idea. Like I said, very high quality hardware for the price. But you need patience.