probably_a_robot

Private/for profit prisons

I bought a DIY Edition Framework Laptop 13 with an i5 1240p for about $1050 after buying my RAM and SSD on their own. This is the best option if you're into modularity and upgradability and second only to buying used when it comes to environmental friendliness (in my opinion). Battery life isn't anything to write home about at least on 12th Intel though, supposedly 13th gen Intel CPUs do better

Otherwise, System76, Tuxedo Computers, and Laptop with Linux are probably good options if you want Linux pre-installed. All 3 of those take Clevo laptops and make them their own.

Starlabs also looks like an interesting option, but I believe the Starlite is the only option under $1000 USD. As far as I know, they're the only company that makes their own laptop chases from scratch for Linux.

Links:

Framework

Starlabs

System 76

Laptop with Linux

Tuxedo

GNOME 44 with a couple extensions. I'm a big fan of its general look and feel

This was my first distro! It's very beginner friendly and customization was very easier without requiring knowledge of GNOME extensions (which aren't hard to set up once you know they exist). The Wine integration is nothing short of fantastic making it very easy to install Windows apps and it even recommends some native Linux equivalents (Heroic Games launcher if you try to install Epic Games). I have since switched to Fedora Workstation Edition, but Zorin is a good way to dip your toe in the Linux pool while you learn more about it

I've had the best luck with Liftoff so far. I used Jerboa for awhile until it kept crashing within seconds of opening it. Not sure how much this affects it, but I'm using GrapheneOS instead of stock Android on a Pixel 6

Nationalism

Illinois, US. tap water has always been safe to drink wherever I've lived in this state. I've only been under a boil order a couple times in my life. That being said, I do filter my tap water otherwise it tastes strange to me

This is a big part of why I bought a Framework laptop. Every part is easily accessible and they sell replacement parts. The laptops are even modular and upgradable

GrapheneOS on a Pixel 6. Works great! I've had to override the custom memory allocator one or two times for banking apps, but that's just flipping a switch in the app info.

I won't go back unless they reverse the changes. And even the it would just be for the subreddits that don't have equivalents here at the moment

They everything is so well integrated and the performance per watt of their m series CPUs are genuinely impressive. But for me, their hatred of open source, their unrivalled lobbying against right to repair while green washing about how much they care about the environment, preaching privacy while collecting similar amounts of data as Microsoft and Google (but generally keeping it for themselves and their contractors), and the extreme restrictions they impose on their platforms (especially iOS) means I would never spend money on one.