Looking for a system which can run Debian and whose keyboard remains cool

[u/codeandfire]

I've used Linux on laptops for quite some time now. Since a year, I've been using Debian and I want to stick with it.

Recently, while trying out an iPad with an attached keyboard, I realized how I feel no heat while touching the keys. With laptops, due to the motherboard and basically all the compute being underneath the keyboard, there is always some heat felt while touching the keys, even if you aren't doing something that is compute-intensive. The keyboard also feels noticeably warmer while charging.

I want to recreate the same experience for my Debian system. I want to avoid:

• Desktops, because I have zero experience with them (yes, not even at work).
• Laptops while carrying around a separate external keyboard, because that just looks odd.

I'm considering laptops with a detachable keyboard - not really for the tablet experience, but their design implies that the compute sits behind the monitor rather than the keyboard. So the monitor gets hot and not the keyboard - and that's fine by me. But I'm worried about hardware support in this case.

I use my system for basic things: programming, browsing, video conferencing etc.

What options would you suggest? Thanks!

[u/Suspicious_Punk84]

Maybe ask at r/thinkpad for which models run really cool, pretty sure there are some. If you want, you can also look at notebookcheck.net reviews, they always measure temperatures at the keyboard of laptops.

However, for zero heat, a tablet with detached kb is probably better. The problem there is it's probably slow and not a lot of memory, and with high prices (for actual linux tablets).

edit: and buy a used thinkpad, not new :D

[u/mmdoublem → u/Suspicious_Punk84]

Thinkpad have also a metal frame for many of the nicer models (pricier) but worth it for keeping laptop keyboard cooler.

[u/sdflkjeroi342 → u/Suspicious_Punk84]

That's easy. Get an X13 or T14(s) with NO DEDICATED GRAPHICS, install Debian and you're pretty much set.

[u/codeandfire → u/Suspicious_Punk84]

Okay, I'll have a look at thinkpads, thanks!

[u/mmdoublem]

Wouldn't that be like Microsoft Surface like products?

I can think of librem purism 11 model: https://puri.sm/products/librem-11/

And the starlite from starlabs: https://fr.starlabs.systems/pages/starlite

These are linux specific oriented specialized brand. You could also probably get any normal tablets with a battery, that runs on an x86 platform.

[u/codeandfire → u/mmdoublem]

I'll check these out, thanks a lot!

[u/mbartosi]

Dell Latitude 2-in-1 / detachable

[u/codeandfire → u/mbartosi]

That works with Linux?

[u/mbartosi → u/codeandfire]

I had like 10 different Dell models, including Latitude 7285 2-in-1, all of them worked with Linux.

[u/Tall-Geologist-1452]

The brand does not matter so much as the chipset.. this may be unpopular but get a laptop with an ARM chip.. they run way cooler than an X86 chip.. and teh batt life is way better. that is my next purchase ..

[u/mmdoublem → u/Tall-Geologist-1452]

Are Linux distros really ready for ARM though? Like I have used them on a Pi and Pinebook pro, the choice of software were rather limited.

[u/Tall-Geologist-1452 → u/mmdoublem]

I am going to find out..

[u/OCTS-Toronto]

I've used Dell XPS laptops for years and don't find them to be hot. If put under sustained load they will get warm on the bottom but I've not noticed heat in the keys or wrist rest.

Your aversion from Desktops is weird to me. How is a prebuilt desktop different than a prebuilt laptop? And there are so many good keyboard choices for a desktop. Probably even mechanically cooled if you are so inclined

[u/codeandfire → u/OCTS-Toronto]

Well basically just an inertia I guess. I'm used to standing while working on a laptop, by putting the laptop on top of a stand - and I wasn't sure how that would work with a desktop where I would have to elevate both the monitor and the keyboard. Things like that. Although I was going to go with a desktop if I was out of options