laptop/device recommendation. difficulty level - devops support
August 21, 2015 12:43 PM Subscribe
i am looking for a device that i will be carrying when i am not at home so i can provide amazon aws support. it must have a terminal and ssh client that can be configured with multiple keys, a browser/apps that can deal with various sites like slack and pivotal tracker. and lastly, it must be super cheap, so when i eventually lose it or have it stolen, there will be no cares given.
bonus points for supporting some linux flavor and remote shutoff. there will be no development done on this machine. i just need to poke around some servers in command line mode and operate a few websites.
bonus points for supporting some linux flavor and remote shutoff. there will be no development done on this machine. i just need to poke around some servers in command line mode and operate a few websites.
I use an Acer C720 chromebook with ubuntu installed via the codestarter script as my lightweight who gives a fuck laptop. I swapped in a larger SSD. Total cost $200. Pretty painless.
posted by srboisvert at 1:50 PM on August 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by srboisvert at 1:50 PM on August 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I recently searched for a machine for very similar to things to this, and my main requirement was small but reasonably powerful.
I ended up finding a lot of 1st gen surface pros, just the basic 64gb model, for like $200 on craigslist. Many included the good keyboard, maybe even a spare charger, etc.
They're all metal, fairly hardy(with the cover on), and about the size of a book. 1080p screen that's bright enough to read outside.
Alternatively, i kept looking at deals on stuff like the asus x205ta, $100 asus t100 deal, hp streams(still active!).
Those are all wimpier CPU wise, but have 8+ hour battery life(the asus is like... 12) and are SUPER CHEAP. Like, if you destroy the thing just order another one or buy an extra one just to have a spare cheap. Leave it on the table while you go to the bathroom cheap.
I ended up buying a cheapo surface pro because i decided i'd trade some battery life for a nicer screen and more power if/when i needed or wanted it, but those super cheap bay trail atom windows machines were calling my name for quite a while. They're all plasticy and cheap feeling, but they're just so cheap that who cares what happens to them. All non-touch bay trail machines have great linux support too, from what i've seen and searched for. The surface, as i remember, has issues on linux with certain things.(power management might have been one? I forget)
posted by emptythought at 5:11 PM on August 21, 2015
I ended up finding a lot of 1st gen surface pros, just the basic 64gb model, for like $200 on craigslist. Many included the good keyboard, maybe even a spare charger, etc.
They're all metal, fairly hardy(with the cover on), and about the size of a book. 1080p screen that's bright enough to read outside.
Alternatively, i kept looking at deals on stuff like the asus x205ta, $100 asus t100 deal, hp streams(still active!).
Those are all wimpier CPU wise, but have 8+ hour battery life(the asus is like... 12) and are SUPER CHEAP. Like, if you destroy the thing just order another one or buy an extra one just to have a spare cheap. Leave it on the table while you go to the bathroom cheap.
I ended up buying a cheapo surface pro because i decided i'd trade some battery life for a nicer screen and more power if/when i needed or wanted it, but those super cheap bay trail atom windows machines were calling my name for quite a while. They're all plasticy and cheap feeling, but they're just so cheap that who cares what happens to them. All non-touch bay trail machines have great linux support too, from what i've seen and searched for. The surface, as i remember, has issues on linux with certain things.(power management might have been one? I forget)
posted by emptythought at 5:11 PM on August 21, 2015
Refurb thinkpad x200/x220, upgrade to 4gb ram, an ssd, and add your favourite Linux distro. Bang, pow, best small computer a small amount of money can buy.
posted by Poldo at 10:32 PM on August 22, 2015
posted by Poldo at 10:32 PM on August 22, 2015
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posted by Itaxpica at 12:47 PM on August 21, 2015 [2 favorites]