wanted: suggestions for used Linux compatible notebooks

[M. Fioretti]

Greetings,

I need to buy 2 or 3 notebooks, and run Ubuntu on them. Feature-wise,
I know what I need, or so I hope. But I have NO idea which brand/model
they correspond to, and specs/prices/availability/linux compatibility
change continuously, so any feedback is welcome. Here we go:

* used/refurbished, max 4/5 years old.

  No budget for new ones, and probably no need either, see below. But
  also, regardless of price, don't want to risk on e.g 10yrs old
  machines that may break any moment. What I buy now should last 2/3
  years minimum. Is <= 300 EUR each reasonable/compatible with specs
  below? I have really no idea, please tell.

* standard size keyboard
* 15 inches or bigger screen

  (I cannot use subnotebooks/netbooks. I did in the past, but small
  keyboards give me cramps, and small screens make e.g. reading a web
  page and commenting it in an editor too slow. In case it matters, I
  have NO use for numeric pads)

* usage: NO need for games, or 3D effects. But I do need to use
  libreoffice AND firefox with 20+ tabs open all the time, as quickly
  and smoothly as possible. That is, without any of them crashing,
  slowing down or taking 5+ seconds to refresh a tab, or change zoom
  level in a slide... Or struggling to play video from YouTube, Vimeo,
  or videoconferencing with Jit.si, Zoom, Skype, whatever.

  The other major uses of these machines would be heavy text
  processing via perl/bash scripts, and maybe digikam to organize
  picture galleries.

* fully compatible with Ubuntu, of course. I CAN hack/debug/tweak
  software to make hardware work with Linux... but I simply cannot
  afford the time to do it these days. So I need something that works
  right away, or at least has a RELIABLE, fully documented procedure
  to make it work. Ideally, all laptops should be the same model, so
  once I have one working, I just clone the whole configuration on the
  other.

Optional, but very welcome: models available on Amazon, so I can use
some gift cards I got...

Thanks in advance for your help!
Marco

-- 

M. Fioretti http://mfioretti.com                   http://stop.zona-m.net

Your own civil rights and the quality of your life heavily depend on how
software is used *around* you