As I was dropping my laptop off at an authorized repair shop, I went and typed on last year's MacBook they had on display and was reminded why I may never buy another MBP -- the butterfly keyboard. There's hardly any keyboard travel at all so it was like typing on concrete. If I wasn't looking at the screen, I'd never be sure if my key presses registered or not. If Apple doesn't bring back the scissors keyboard I may never buy another Mac. Ever. Between the butterfly keyboard, that stupid touchbar, and the lack of a physical escape key, Apple has ruined the MBP line for (non-Apple) web developers like myself.
Beware that all machines in the world right now are struggling with the fact that windows invented a new sleep method (s3 or some shit, I can't keep track) which ubuntu/the linux kernel / something beyond my understanding doesn't support. LONG story short, some laptops running ubuntu can't sleep when the lid closes.
X1 carbon does now, but for example the HP Spectre does not (which is a shame because it's a great platform).
Good keyboard. Every port you probably need. Fantastic screen. Nub mouse thing. Runs ubuntu great.
If you're worried about transferring from OSX to some flavor of linux that's fair. For me I couldn't get window management like I wanted in OSX so Ubuntu + Gnome is actually a more comfortable environment for me than OSX. I say that as not some old linux fart - I just tried them all and naturally gravitated to the things old linux farts like.
I agree, it is a tough market. I say give a shot to non-aluminum chassis. The Thinkpad may not "look" as tough, but it reeeeally is, I've abused the absolute piss out of mine.
Purism's laptops are pretty premium, coming at an apple tier price.
Have to admit my gut is to trust the Thinkpads more simply due to the number of units they ship. Librem seems super niche, despite me loving their goals/etc.
If you're looking at other Thinkpads, the Librem machines may be worth investigating.
I'm not sure how well they run operating systems that run non-free software (this includes Ubuntu, note), they have some OS of their own?
If you want dumb-proof, tested Ubuntu-tops, then yea, Thinkpad.
If I could recommend something, it would be to look for similar. A SSD + Name Brand Video Card in any laptop will be fine.
Though, unfortunately I don't hear great things about alternatives. I plan on moving to Linux, but I'm unsure what to do about laptops. Nothing seems quality, even counting Macbook Pro's recent downtrend.
Best I've heard of is the various Thinkpad lines, but even those are a mixed bag. I see some people defend them, and others trash them.. tough market out there for people who simply want quality unix laptops.