this post was submitted on 10 May 2025
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Cheapest new device that can run linux? (lemm.ee)
submitted 2 days ago by procapra@lemm.ee to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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More of a thought exercise/game than anything else. I saw the news that 486 support was getting cut from linux, and I was curious just how cheaply someone could replace a desktop 486 system with something new (provided the device had all the connectivity they needed).

Rules:

  1. Device must be able to run linux.

  2. Device should be cheap as possible. A good starting point is probably sub 40usd.

  3. The device must in someway support a mouse, keyboard, display, and the internet. If adapters are necessary for this connectivity, that cost should be included.

  4. Power supply should be included in the cost of the device. (in the case of most SBCs this is just the cost of a USB cable and wall wart)

  5. The device must be new & still in production. I know used devices like laptops would probably have been king here, but I don't think that would be nearly as interesting.

I suspect that SBCs and other arm devices will be the most common suggestions.

I personally know about the Raspberry Pi Zero which can be had for ~$10, and with all the added accessories necessary to make it a full computer (usb splitters, usb power, usb to rj45, storage) it costs around ~$35. Not bad at all but I'm pretty sure we can do even better!

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[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 58 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Drop the requirement for new and you can get plenty of good stuff for free.

[–] choss@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

For a clueless person like myself, do you have any advice on how to make that happen? I see @SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works say dumpster dive, but how would you know which places to patrol, and when?

(Btw Sreudian, if you see this and you're ok with dropping the local requirement, I'd love to pay for shipping for one of those macs)

[–] SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works 1 points 17 hours ago

how would you know which places to patrol, and when?

This is an extremely regional problem to solve. Where I am, which is a village and exurban-ruural, you would go to the electronics recycling depot and see if they have any choice items. Also you could call the various independent pc repair people to see if they have anything no longer supported but functional for free or cheap.

Also there's various thrift stores that sometimes have computers cheap.

The closest big city is Vancouver so to curb cruise there I would pick upper middle class neighbourhoods with alleyways, and drive around on garbage collection days. I wouldn't really dumpster dive unless I knew of a likely source from hearsay.

[–] Shdwdrgn@mander.xyz 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Especially Win10 computers :-)

[–] gradual@lemmings.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Where can I get these for free?

[–] Shdwdrgn@mander.xyz 5 points 1 day ago

My current desktop came from a co-worker, but you can also put the word out to family and friends that you're interested in their old machines. Most people are happy to give them away because otherwise it costs them money to dispose of electronics. If nothing else, you could post on Nextdoor or a local Facebook page that you're looking for a Win10 machine that would otherwise be trashed.

Older machines also mean dirt-cheap upgrades. The desktop I have came with a Celeron cpu. I dropped in an i7 for $10 from ebay, and recently upgraded it to 24GB of ram with sticks I had pulled from other free systems. When you switch to Linux you're not wasting horsepower on Microsoft spyware crap, so this machine does just fine for my needs (although I'm also not trying to play games).

[–] SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I have a bunch of old macs here with different distros onthem, mostly Mint, that I have been trying to give away to locals (without being obligated to provide support, which is the stickler apparently). They all run great. One could dumpster dive or curb cruise, or around here, lurk at Recycling.