You need it to be 10 feet?

Old cellphone.

An old Chromebook sounds perfect.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Chromebook+10+inch

Looks like most of those are 11.6". Double check before buying that it can be wiped and you can put Linux on it.

In that case, if it's just CLI, you don't need a new computer. Use your phone or tablet to ssh inside your main Linux computer.

old netbook HP mini 210 it's exactly 10'

If you're just using ssh to another system you could probably use a tablet.

Asus L203MA

Use Termux, you need:

• Android Tablet/Smartphone.
• Bluetooth keyboard.
• Cheap stand 4 device.

That's my setup to play tabletop rpg (DND5E) for a couple of years, all CLI using any text editor you like with markdown. I use: tmux, vis.

In your case: SC-IM, visidata, any text editor.

With Termux you can use packages from repo or from other distros with proot-distro, like: Alpine, Avoid, Debian, Arch, Fedora, Ubuntu.

If you are doing this in any kind of clinical environment it would be better to look first at the ability for the device to be cleaned or disinfected effectively and regulations around that in your area.

Favor fanless devices with as few ports as possible. I don’t know if there’s anything out there in a tablet form factor that only does wireless charging and has no usb/headphone/whatever, but that’s what you want.

An old eeePC? Dunno if Thinkpads have that small a screen.

I would look into the Surfaces, you can find a cheap second hand one and install Linux on it.

A Raspberry Pi with a touchscreen should be enough, I can't think of a cheaper alternative

In this case, you should prioritize those laptops with an Intel network card. You don’t want to deal with strange driver issues if using SSH is important.

I wonder if the steam deck will work for you. Its sacrifice of physical keyboard for portability will probably be the deal breaking issue if I were to guess, but not sure. I've seen plenty of people use them as computers for various field projects not game related. It's cheapest is 350 if you don't need a lot storage on the device and the storage is upgradeable. It's compatible with normal USB c hubs for if you do need a physical keyboard or w/e. There are definitely some hangups that may make it undesirable and from what you described some of them are definitely possible, ie if you want to pull it out in the field and do a lot of typing without setting up a dock and whatnot, it won't work for your needs. But if the fieldwork with it is mostly just start a program and connect a USB data source, and most typing will be somewhere with a desk (home office or w/e) then it may work.

I was personally looking for a Linux compatible laptop a while back (admittedly I asked the wrong community), and eventually came to the conclusion that my wife's steam deck was actually a great solution for my needs, the main times I needed a keyboard I could just setup a simple dock and plug one it (though if you get a USBC or Bluetooth keyboard the only use for the dock is for holding it upright or additional peripherals), and most of my on the go use of it doesn't need a lot of typing.

Just grab a 3-4 year old 13" business class laptop, like a Thinkpad X13. When they come off lease at 3-4 years, they hit the used market at pretty great prices. Some are in rough shape, but use trusted sellers who sell at reasonable volume, and their condition grading tends to be pretty reliable.

Be careful about upgradable RAM, or getting at least 16GB. It sounds like you'd be fine with 8GB for now, but 16GB will get you better life out of the machine.

You may want to replace the SSD straight away, depending on the write cycles. I'd probably just grab one with 256GB, and get a replacement straight away. Lenovo has all their hardware maintenance manuals online, to make checking compatibility and performing the upgrade pretty easy.

Check prices on eBay... quite reasonable for used/refurbished Dell laptops...

I've had excellent service/performance running linux for 8+ years on several Dell E6500s, 8GB, core 2 duo, 15.6". Price on eBay today $75, $12.72 shipping.

Also run linux with excellent service/performance on an E6420 with 8GB, 14", E6530 & E6540, both with16GB, 4 core, 15.6".

An 8GB, 14", E6420 can be bought, including shipping, for less than $50

Excluding the E6420, all the systems I'm using have DVD R/W drives and backlit keyboards.

Haven't had any driver or other problems with any of the systems running linux.

I have a Lenovo duet 2 that runs fedora no problem. Detachable keyboard and great size

See if you can find a (used) GPD Win (Max).

Otherwise maybe a used (~2016) 12" MacBook.

Other than that maybe some DIY solutions.

It'll be cheaper if the device can be a little bigger, plenty of dirt cheap used 13" laptops out there.

t470 or t480

You know what everyone - What if I just move my testing into the home office where the computers are? I just thought of that. Then I would not need a separate machine.