I already have Tails installed on a USB and run it on some old hardware. I’d like to buy a cheap/new laptop that basically functions as a monitor/screen/USB ports to run my existing Tails USB. From some internet/Reddit searches from awhile ago it sounds like there might be some challenges booting off a Chromebook? Does anyone have some laptop recommendations to consider for this purpose?
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I'm always a fan of old Thinkpads.
For Chromebooks, you can boot other OSs if you replace the bootloader. I've had success using resources from here: https://mrchromebox.tech/
Thinkpads are great. Grab an old one off EBay.
I agree with that. I got multiple great Thinkpads from the T series of eBay for less than 100€. All were in good shape. They are just old. But you can upgrade storage and memory easily.
At least the models I bought: T420, T420s, T430, X220
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X1 Carbon ftw
When I think about old Thinkpads, I think about old models from the T series like T420.
Does the X1 Carbon give you easy access to memory for upgrades?
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I was disappointed to discover that I cannot run Tails off of my Macbook Pro with M1 silicon. To be clear, more disappointed with Apple's opacity than with Tails' development effort.
You can't run any other OS on them can you?
There's been a ton of work being done to get Linux running on M1 macs. Asahi Linux is quite far along now
Is it Apple holding it back?
Linux distros have been the only way to make Mac laptops functional imo (Sys admin perspective)
No, apple has nothing to do with asahi. The architecture is just very different and needs a lot of work to get things working
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yeah, i noticed that and it bothered me. that’s why i’m trying to find something recommended by others that has been succcessful
https://asahilinux.org/about/
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Hi there! I'm happy to help you find a laptop that can run your existing Tails USB installation. While Chromebooks can be challenging to boot other operating systems, there are some laptops that are known to work well with Tails.
One option to consider is the Thinkpad X1 Carbon, which has been mentioned in this thread as a reliable and affordable option. Additionally, you may want to look into other laptops with similar specs and features, such as the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo Yoga C940.
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Another one for old Thinkpads. In fact I use old Thinkpads for my primary laptop as well.
If you want to go extra ham on security, get a laptop with an open source bios (core boot). System76 laptops ship with coreboot Linux.
I dunno, their all about monero over there. Very suspect.
Thinkpad x220 flashed with Coreboot
By the way . its is safe to run tail Os ????
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Old Thinkbooks ftw, just make sure it has a SSD and not a HDD
i know it was 3 months ago, but why ssd instead of hdd?
I've also been considering a similar setup, and based on my research, some users have had success booting Tails on certain Chromebook models by enabling Developer Mode and modifying the firmware. However, if you want a more hassle-free experience, laptop options like Lenovo ThinkPad or Dell XPS have been recommended for running Tails smoothly without any complications.
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