https://gitlab.gnome.org/chergert/ptyxis
Ptyxis is my current go-to. It can detect available pods or toolboxes (maybe docker too haven’t tested it) and you can open terminals directly into them. It also highlights ssh terms and root shells differently.
There are a huge number of built-in color schemes as well and I’ve had no trouble finding any configuration option I’ve found myself wanting to look for.
It’s also available on flathub so it’s easily installed in most distros.
I just treat them like regular pickles and refrigerate after opening.
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.
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.
Check out James Enge. He wrote a series that I really enjoyed that sounds like just what you are looking for.