Nils

I second this if he can find a 2013~2017 for free/cheaper, I use an old Macbook Air with EndeavourOS mostly for writing, but my use case is not that far from OP’s, it also runs some old games.

It is light and portable, and it is just as easy to find a refurbished option as the Thinkpad (at least in NA).

My only problems are with the drivers(the Wi-FI and the FacetimeHD camera) and the charging cable.

I tried a bunch of distros, but only with EndeavourOS I got them to work easily.

That said, if OP prefers better Linux support, and better cost x performance. He will be better suited with a Thinkpad T or X (T480/T490 or X280) refurbished will be in the price range.

X280 is barely above 1Kg, with a smaller screen.

T480 is chunkier, bigger screen and Ethernet port.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lenovo-thinkpad-x280-core-i7-8550u-16gb-ram-256gb-touchscreen-windows-11-laptop-12-months-guarantee-4640028

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184872920970

M1 mac is still problematic with Linux, with only Asahi offering limited support, and you cannot find one at OP’s price point.

No, I don’t think I ever seem one for under 700 USD, despite some “news” saying you could find at 500 USD.

Every time people ask for cheap computers, there is always people sharing their preferences without any regard for OP’s listed needs.

I think anything with *-punk is some sort of Sci-fi with the best people could predict of the future at the time.

My go to for finding new books and authors is to check the Sci-fi awards nominees: Nebula, Hugo, Locus, … There are also two small book-stores nearby where workers put their reviews on the shelves of books they like and recommend.

Also, science fiction is not trademarked. =p

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells https://marthawells.com/murderbot.htm
Easily my favourite contemporary author.

It is a Sci-fi, but fits the Cyberpunk high-tech low-life aspects you seek, like megacorporations dystopias, slave labour, surveillance state, robot conscience, augmented humans, etc…

I also read Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman recently. A recommendation from one of those book-stores.

Some alien corporation is going to mine Earth’s rare resources and the surviving humans participate in a dungeon crawl reality show. Kind of Running Man meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

It is LitRPG - which I am not a big fan but the writing of the first 2 books are good.
I am not a big fan of the last released couple of books of the series, as it feels more like extended power-trips that permeates the LitRPG genre.