Thanks to all who responded.

Mike <mylinux@cox.net> wrote: Hi Joe. can you share the
answers to your question. Thanks, Mike

So, Mike, I've quoted three of the most recent responses
below. Earlier replies can be found in the PLUG archives:

https://lists.phxlinux.org/lurker/splash/index.html

I've had great success with Linux installed on several
ThinkPads (both IBM and Lenovo) for many years. A couple
of installs on Dells turned out to be problematic for me.
Mint has worked best for me.

The reason I asked the "Linux laptop for a gift" question
was to see if the PLUG "brain trust" might have any newer
recommendations for any affordable pre-installed options.

I gave my wife a Chromebook, but she is not satisfied
with that.

So, I just purchased another Thinkpad 430u for $150 to set
up with Linux Mint for my wife because she is finally fed up
with Windows 10. After years of using Windows 8, she has now
been coerced into the Windows 10 nightmare and she hates it.

I personally will not have anything to do with anything
from Micro$haft and I'm now having a problem tring to install
Linux Mint on the 430u because of the UEFI annoyance.

Please see this link: http://upquick.com/temp/430/

Hope somebody can help me get past this UEFI nuisance.


== michael@butash.net wrote:
I only buy dell if I expect linux to work at all any more,
even then it's hit and miss (as I stare at my xps15 in an arch
linux install cd after a week). Thinkpads tend to have their
issues it seems too, lenovo doesn't so much seem to care about
linux, and is left to hobbiests to figure out, which only goes
so far.  Dell at least has folks that work on the kernel team
to get some real input I've found.  Using the ones they sell with
linux obviously goes a long way toward support, like the xps's,
at least with ubuntu and such they tend to support.

== kevin@fries-biro.com wrote:
You need to balance your risk of "working out of the box" with
"cheapest". You want it to work with Linux, out of the box, Zero
incompatabilities... simple, System76.  It will come with either
PopOS, or Ubuntu, from which Mint dirives. Open the box, enjoy.
Cheapest, is a crap shoot with Linux. Many of the cheapest do funny
things with the boot sequence thanks to Windows 10. But, I have yet
to see one that can not be made to work in a long time. How much
effort are you willing to put in and what is your tolerance for
things breaking on upgrade?

== trent.shipley@gmail.com wrote:
My parents use Macs. I would be OK if they used Chromebooks.
Never is a million years would I give them a solid Linux desktop,
let alone a potentially flaky, cheap, out of the box Linux.
Why are you in the market for a cheap out-of-the-box Mint machine?
There are some pretty decent, affordable Windows machines out there,
assuming you don't have a reflex objection to Windows or Microsoft.
A Chromebook can't be beat for cheap, functional, and out of the box,
and my understanding is that it's based on Gentoo, deep, deep under
the covers. So Chromebook is a really good choice for a cheap,
user-proof computer, unless you have a phobia of Google or Chromebook.



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