[jll29]

Great article.

I have had a similarly positive experience with older laptops, in particular ThinkPads (x230) and Latitudes (e7460). The older machines often also have much better keyboards than more recent laptops, IMHO.

As the OP writes, swapping out HDD for SSD (1 usually prefer at least 1 TB) and maxing out RAM are affordable things that you won't regret.

[jerome-jh]

On my side I prefer Dell Latitudes and Fujitsu Siemens, which only makes "professional" laptops. I agree with the keyboards, however really good keyboards have totally disappeared now.

That said a used laptop is perfect for web browsing, office stuff, casual development and light gaming. When it dies you have no regrets. It is almost 20 years I have not bought a new laptop. Of course my kids have used laptops too. At some point they had Fujitsu Siemens with a Wacom stylus/digitizer. I do not think they still make those. They were rock solid and quite fun to use.

I only buy new laptops for my wife. She is very careful with her stuff, they last ages. I bought her a new one recently only to offer her a better screen.

[latentpot]

Dell makes devices with mpp compatible touch screens. Cheap stylii, good pressure response

[herbst]

This. Used my T420 for years, got a T460 and was so disappointed about it's build quality that I now have a X1 of some generation which isn't much better but at least lighter for travel.

All bought used, never spent more than maybe $250 and $200 for max RAM and nice SSD.

[Jgrubb]

Unless it's a Mac ofc