Easy.
Lenovo Thinkpad T550s !
I'd second that.
I've got a T550.
Everything works with Debian (Jessie+backports) without a hitch, theres a real trackpoint, decent keyboard (as laptop keyboards go), easy-to-open case and two batteries (You can hotswap one while running off the other one)
Only downside is that the internal M.2 SSD slot only accepts short (2242) cards, which can be hard to find.
I prefer the layout of the old keyboard and don't really like chiclet keys, although I haven't tried the Thinkpad chiclets.
If they decide to make the "retro" Thinkpad that was mentioned a while ago they should give a lot of thought to the keyboard since that seems to be one of the biggest complaints about recent models.Yes, that's exactly it. The new chiclet keys are not the best. I much prefer the previous design. But i am not sure they intend to come back to it...
Prior to getting the Mac Book Pro I was anti Apple (only brought it out of necessity to build iOS software) but I now have an exception for Mac Book Pros (nothing else from Apple!) they do cost a little more but I personally have found it to be worth while.
Second place for me is AlienWare, I have a pretty solid laptop from them
If they decide to make the "retro" Thinkpad that was mentioned a while ago they should give a lot of thought to the keyboard since that seems to be one of the biggest complaints about recent models.
Since no laptops exist with good keyboards, a decent keyboard is the best you can get. The only valid candidate for this, is this insane machine, which is rather ridiculous and barely qualifies as a laptop.rygD, ekianjo - Re Keyboard, thank you a decent keyboard is high on the list of priorities.