Lightweight laptop for a Linux Machine? Cheap?

[Paul F.]

I've been using a Chromebook borrowed from work for a couple months, and it's been doing about 90% of what I need a "laptop" for... but it's got me thinking about getting a machine to putter around with Linux on, as well.

I've seen this; https://www.pine64.org/?product=pinebook
And for $99, in a very Chromebook-like package, it's very tempting!
The only thing that stops me is the rash of bad reviews.. apparently the "software end" is not really well worked out for the Pinebook. At least, not yet.

I don't need a lot of horsepower... maybe a skosh more than what the Pinebook is advertising.
An 11"-14" monitor, 4-8Gb RAM, and maybe as little as 64Gb of storage would be plenty for my tinkering and "web surfing" Linux toy.

I KNOW some folks have installed Linux ON Chromebooks, but from what I've read, it proves somewhat temperamental... I'm not above tinkering, but if there's a slightly better option, for not much more money (I'm hoping for about a $200 budget... knowing that's not a lot of money), I'd prefer that.

Suggestions welcomed!

[Carm]

A hacked chromebook?
http://m.androidcentral.com/hacking-your...-you-think
Older 13" latitude 6330 they run about 80 - 100

[Robert M]

Paul,

Lots of options for standard laptops in the sub-$200 to $250 range. Especially factoring in refurbs and memorial day sales. Been tempted to get a cheap windows laptop for exactly the same reason as you - to tinker with one of the better Linux distributions. Worst case, if you're not happy with Linux on it, you can always revert to whatever flavor of Windows it had on it out of the box.

Robert