(Solved) I would like a small laptop to use to log medical data (Weight, Blood Pressure, etc) as I gather it. I need it to be small like 10’. it can be low power because I will probably use it only CLI, no GUI, but I need it to be inexpensive. ARM-based is ok, as long as I can SSH into my desktop machine.

    • h0bbl3s@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 months ago

      Came to second this. I have an old hp Chromebook that is indestructible, has insane battery life, and still has a few years of updates left. The built in Linux terminal is fine and just about anything you can get through apt-get, dpkg, or otherwise works fine as well (if there is an arm version), it’ll even add menu entries for GUI apps.

      I do light reading or dev work on it, and use the built in terminal to keep track of and ssh into my remote boxes. I take it on the road to take notes or hop on a wifi.

      When I first got it the interface was kinda crap for a laptop, but through the updates (dark mode, new menu, etc) it’s actually just fine now.

      It’s slow, low ram and only usable for a few tabs at a time, but for what I use it for it does fine, and it was cheap enough I won’t cry if it dies.

      • jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        3 months ago

        Yep, that’s what I started with. I had a 2014 Toshiba Chromebook with 16 GB storage and 2 GB memory.

        It was my lil ssh/vnc machine for the longest time until the battery stopped working. I replaced it with a proper Thinkpad recently.

        • h0bbl3s@lemmy.world
          2·
          3 months ago

          Mine is a 2020 with 32gb storage and 3gb ram but same ballpark. I just replaced my PC earlier this year but the Chromebook is next. I’m looking at renewed HP elitebooks or renewed ThinkPads, but I’m not sure either come in a size OP would want.

  • Eugenia@lemmy.mlEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    In that case, if it’s just CLI, you don’t need a new computer. Use your phone or tablet to ssh inside your main Linux computer.

  • bloodfart@lemmy.ml
    3·
    3 months ago

    If you are doing this in any kind of clinical environment it would be better to look first at the ability for the device to be cleaned or disinfected effectively and regulations around that in your area.

    Favor fanless devices with as few ports as possible. I don’t know if there’s anything out there in a tablet form factor that only does wireless charging and has no usb/headphone/whatever, but that’s what you want.

    • WasPentalive@lemmy.oneOPEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      Those are good points. I am collecting my own data in a home environment. Did I say that it is important to be able to move the data to my production computer to send to the doctor?

    • WasPentalive@lemmy.oneOPEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      Thanks everyone who has suggested this, I had not thought of SSH to my main machine or even my server machine for this. Good idea. I am not sure about a tablet though because I want a keyboard. Since I would be ssh-ing into a linux machine linux on the little machine is not a must anymore.

      • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        There are keyboard covers for tablets - I have one on my Samsung Tab S9 and it works pretty well, depending on your expectations of a keyboard.

  • jcarax@beehaw.org
    2·
    3 months ago

    Just grab a 3-4 year old 13" business class laptop, like a Thinkpad X13. When they come off lease at 3-4 years, they hit the used market at pretty great prices. Some are in rough shape, but use trusted sellers who sell at reasonable volume, and their condition grading tends to be pretty reliable.

    Be careful about upgradable RAM, or getting at least 16GB. It sounds like you’d be fine with 8GB for now, but 16GB will get you better life out of the machine.

    You may want to replace the SSD straight away, depending on the write cycles. I’d probably just grab one with 256GB, and get a replacement straight away. Lenovo has all their hardware maintenance manuals online, to make checking compatibility and performing the upgrade pretty easy.

  • WasPentalive@lemmy.oneOPEnglish
    1·
    3 months ago

    You know what everyone - What if I just move my testing into the home office where the computers are? I just thought of that. Then I would not need a separate machine.

  • spacetff@lemmy.ml
    1·
    3 months ago

    Check prices on eBay… quite reasonable for used/refurbished Dell laptops…

    I’ve had excellent service/performance running linux for 8+ years on several Dell E6500s, 8GB, core 2 duo, 15.6". Price on eBay today $75, $12.72 shipping.

    Also run linux with excellent service/performance on an E6420 with 8GB, 14", E6530 & E6540, both with16GB, 4 core, 15.6".

    An 8GB, 14", E6420 can be bought, including shipping, for less than $50

    Excluding the E6420, all the systems I’m using have DVD R/W drives and backlit keyboards.

    Haven’t had any driver or other problems with any of the systems running linux.