Is it truly necessary to use such an archaic laptop to get the two essential features described at the beginning of the article: ultra-light weight and a trackpoint? I know the Surface Go 3 is light enough, but IIRC the type cover has a touchpad, not a trackpoint. In theory, with the ongoing miniaturization of electronics, there should be a modern option that meets these criteria. But of course, the mass-market nature of hardware means that there won't always be a current-generation device that is optimal for a disabled user like the author of this article.
For a brief window of time around 2013 Acer made a really nice little core i5 11" laptop (Aspire V5-171). Mine still works but I'm upset that the mass market seems to think that size is only for refurb and chromebooks now.
This was my thought as well. Even an older MacBook Air can run Linux and is lightweight enough to carry around, if weight is an issue.
It sounds like this person is just cheap (it's fine to be thrifty), but I'd rather spend a little more on hardware that doesn't get in my way of accessing medical information or communicating with others if that's my only method due to illness or medical conditions.
A Vaio P is not a cheap option. They were expensive new and are kinda collectable so prices are high on eBay and other places compared to other laptops from the same time. It's also considerably smaller than even the 11" MBA, weighs half a pound less too. Remember how Steve Jobs pulled the MacBook Air out of a manilla envelope? The Vaio P was designed to be pulled out of a jacket pocket.
