this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2025
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I'm looking for something in the low hundreds range, mostly to do Visual Studio Code, pretty light html editing, general purpose stuff like Netflix and web browsing.

I'd kind of just like a decent tablet with a keyboard cover. The Pixel tablet might be an option, even if I have to go with something like this.

https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_tablet $280

https://www.logitech.com/en-us/shop/p/k480-multi-device-wireless $35

I'd of course prefer to run Linux over Android if it works. Is there anything in a similar form factor and function for price in the Linux world?

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[–] cyborganism@piefed.ca 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Honestly? Surface Pro tablets. I have an OG 1st gen one with Ubuntu on it with the Surface kernel and it works fantastic! Just make sure you go with the vanilla Gnome desktop and not Ubuntu's modified version and a better on screen keyboard extension for best results. The default OSK is shit. KDE Plasma is also good but I feel it lacks in stylus support and decent on screen keyboard.

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I was about to suggest the same thing. You can pick up a pro 4 with a case and get a keyboard for well within that range.

I have one and it runs Mint just fine.

Replacing the battery is a pain though.

[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Any one EXCEPT the Surface Pro 4.

The 4 is notorious for having lousy heat management and a faulty power circuit. The screen image shakes if it gets too hot.

My own SP4 worked fine for years, but as it aged it started to succumb. I can't use it for any real work anymore.

Don't get anything lower than the 5 (from 2017).

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Interesting. I got one from an auction and it seems to work okay. I'll keep an eye out for that issue. I'm wondering if it is because of bad paste between the CPU and heat sink or just poor heat disposal.

[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

From what I understand, the poor heat dispersal slowly fries the power management circuits.

If you don't do anything to taxing with it, it may be fine for a while. Ever since I installed EndeavourOS on it, it's been running cooler - much less system overhead than Windows. Still, I know one day it's bound to fail. :(

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 1 points 5 days ago

Yeah, I'm running Mint and it seems okay. It will be to play videos for children, so not overly taxing either.

[–] Shady_Shiroe@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

I'm not too knowledgeable about tablets but if you do end up with android, ACode is a decent replacement for VSCode

Don't even know if you can find them right now, but the Minisforum V3 is a stunner as a dev machine and tablet. Great Linux compatibility (even the fingerprint sensor works), and great design. The only downside is the battery life being about 2-3 hrs. Could probably get 5-6hrs out of the pixel tablet, though Android is awful for actual development.

[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

You can find a used Surface Pro with keyboard cover in your price range. It's a little heavier than your typical Android tablet, but with the Linux-Surface kernel it seems to run pretty well.

[–] wingsfortheirsmiles@feddit.uk 2 points 6 days ago

This is the way, you can pick up a Surface Pro 6 for under £250 here on eBay, i7 and 16GB

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I went for a refurbished laptop at a similar price point, maybe a bit more, but it runs Linux decently.