What you said -- you're going to install Ubuntu -- leads me to believe that the Thinkpad will provide better value. I have serious trouble using any laptop without a Thinkpoint anymore, because I hate moving my hands away from typing position.
Plus, you can always get parts to repair the Thinkpads on eBay. It's harder and more expensive to repair a Macbook. Having rebuilt both types, I'd stick with the Thinkpad, and that in fact is exactly what I do -- get used Thinkpads that other people are discarding, fix them, and use them. When I've completely destroyed a laptop, I sell it for parts on eBay, and start looking for a new one to fix.
I haven't paid for a computer in 10 years, as a result.
However, it occurs to me that this has insulated me from the Lenovo takeover. I'm pecking on an X31 right now. It's great. Took some fussing to get it to hibernate in Linux, but now it works fine. I don't know if the newer Lenovo models are as reliable as the old IBM warhorses.
Plus, you can always get parts to repair the Thinkpads on eBay. It's harder and more expensive to repair a Macbook. Having rebuilt both types, I'd stick with the Thinkpad, and that in fact is exactly what I do -- get used Thinkpads that other people are discarding, fix them, and use them. When I've completely destroyed a laptop, I sell it for parts on eBay, and start looking for a new one to fix.
I haven't paid for a computer in 10 years, as a result.
However, it occurs to me that this has insulated me from the Lenovo takeover. I'm pecking on an X31 right now. It's great. Took some fussing to get it to hibernate in Linux, but now it works fine. I don't know if the newer Lenovo models are as reliable as the old IBM warhorses.