(07-10-2021, 06:22 PM)esanmiguel1 Wrote: Any word on when there might be some pine book pros available to purchase in the US? I am a cybersecurity student and could really use an affordable laptop with a Linux OS. Im desperate PLEASE HELP!
If you need a Linux laptop ASAP and you don't need specifically an ARM machine I would recommend buying a used ThinkPad - it's likely not going to have as good battery life or be as compact and lightweight, but historically ThinkPads had pretty good compatibility with Linux. You can easily get a ThinkPad T510 for as little as $115 Buy It Now on eBay, and then you can just buy a new battery separately with the remaining money if you already budgeted the whole $220+shipping. The prices will likely be higher if you go for more compact and lightweight models like X-series. But so long as you get something with at least Core 2 Duo - the performance you'll get will be about as good as PBP, and if it is anything with Core i3/i5/i7 it will exceed PBP's performance. If this route is acceptable to you - check
http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/ to make sure you're know what to expect.
But if you want specifically an ARM machine - patience, young padawan. Last I've heard there is components shortage of... just about everything electronics. Big companies have resources to secure their stocks, while the small fish like Pine64 are forced to scrape the bottom of the barrel. But if brand new is not a hard requirement even here - occasionally people here on these forums unload their lightly (ab)used PBPs. Watch for any of those posts, or maybe write your own WTB (willing to buy) post. You might want to set up eBay search notifications too.
In fact, had you had your private messaging enabled I'd sent you this listing in private:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284363420357?ha...SwJ1lg5j6u
You have six days to bid, and even if you win it'll likely cost you more than $220, but if you're in a hurry and you want specifically PBP - it's an option too.