[GTALUG] brands matter; Lenovo's brands

[mwilson at Vex.Net]

> It would be interesting to see how anyone here who has only started buying
> computers in the last 15 years or so regards this reverence for Lenovo.
>
> - Evan

Off-topic due to my buying history, but ...

My old principal computer, an HP/Compaq laptop, is mostly out of action
due to a failing keyboard.  Until I get motivated to replace the keyboard
I've substituted a refurbished Thinkpad T460s from the computer store here
in town.  Debian 12 simply installed (from the network install CD) and
from then on just worked -- down to the Fn mappings for F1..F12; the guy
at the store wondered whether those would be available.  The Wikipedia
page suggests that good Linux support is expected from Thinkpad T series. 
Also that the T460s dates from 2016, which is why I consider myself barely
on-topic.

This is my first run-in with a netbook style laptop.  I miss having an
optical drive, but added a USB DVD drive, and that did everything I need
to do, including booting the Debian installer, IIRC.  The DVD drive and
mouse use all 3 USB ports, so I will probably be docking it to a powered
USB hub if I get more ambitious.

After the thread on favourite desktop managers (for which I thank
everyone), I log in with the MATE manager, and everything goes the way I
want.
That includes being able to open audio CDs to read in to Rhythmbox -- it
seems I lost that on the HP/Compaq with Xfce.