Seeing all the laptop deals going past and lots of them don't quite fit my requirements. So recommend me something which fits these categories:
- USB-C charging.
- Physical Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys
- Backlit Keyboard
- 14" HD non-touchscreen (touchscreens are nasty with grease/oil)
- Good *nix support (probably Debian, but options open)
- MIL std dust/liquid proofing beneficial.
- Budget is <$1k but cheaper is always better
As you can probably guess this is a general purpose machine. Some programming and coding work in Linux, lots of flashing micros, tuning vehicles, etc. Bigger than 14" generally means that it is super uncomfortable to have it squished in front of you while tuning a car in the drivers' seat, but smaller than 14" makes for difficulty in reading gauges quickly when its on the passenger seat. Needs to have USB-C charging as it will often be used in a vehicle or in a muddy paddock (aka Parc fermé) and don't want to run an inverter to use a 19v brick. CPU and RAM aren't big concerns as it wont be particularly taxed.
I had narrowed it down to the Gigabyte U4, except the keyboard is janky as for the document scrolling section having tiny PgUp/PgDn keys with a double keypress for Home/End (need to be able to access 400+page manuals quickly without using a mouse).
Anything else out there, or will I end up compromising to the U4?
Should add too, Surface Laptop 4…. right out. Who in hell thought that a fabric top surface was a good idea 🤣