[logn]

Look for a discounted Lenovo ThinkPad that you can test out in store to make sure it has a sturdy keyboard and can handle key presses without a hollow feeling.

I'd recommend trying to install Alpine Linux as a challenge and it ends up teaching you a lot about the simplicity of the OS and beauty of OpenRC.

Otherwise, Debian is a very reliable and easy to use/install OS and well tested on Lenovo hardware. Failing that, install Ubuntu which has invested much in compatibility with ThinkPads, specifically X1's but those are expensive and cheaper models are often just as compatible.

If you have problems running wireless, the easiest solution is sometimes to figure out if your wifi card is officially supported and swap out the one in the PC with an older and more compatible wifi card.

Sleep and hibernate are often problematic. Find a workaround that works well enough.

[in9]

I'm an Arch user (manjaro when I'm feeling lazy). But the Alpine Installation challenge seems fun :D OpenRC has been in my list to dive into, and I think its worth a try :D Thanks for the suggestion!

[itomato]

All ThinkPads are not equal. A Yoga for example, is more like an IdeaLad in terms of hardware spec and support.