I may have the opportunity to make a computer purchase in the near future. I have gotten good ideas from the community before which lead me to the Clevo barebones, this was a great system back in ~2016.

I am looking for
-Linux driver support for all hardware
-backlit keyboard(red only is ok)
-several USB 3.0 ports
-removeable battery(bigger is better)
-slotted memory
-HDD and SSD slots
-AMD64 compatible CPU
-Probably an Nvidia GPU(blech!) with Intel mesaGPU for low power tasks
-15" size
-rugged/robust design

The CPU and even GPU are not such a priority to me except that I sometimes have to use virtualbox to run solidworks so need that AMD64 architecture.
I used to find the Clevo barebones with desktop CPU/GPU but their website no longer offers that desktop components option, it is also getting very difficult to find a removable battery
I dont care about thin, I would love a 40mm thick block of machined titanium with socketed desktop components, but then I remember the luggable computers(Compaq 286cpu with a monochrome green 6" screen and 2400baud modem). I would love to find a US mil standard 810G lappy but I could afford it like I could afford a fighter jet and fuel. What is cool about some of the real ruggedized computers is they still include a real RS232 serial port.

I would consider a Pine64 but they only make Allwinner ARM processor laptops, pretty much a 2014 tablet power level CPU, cool for their purity of driver and documentation but too weak for a working laptop and no x86/AMD64 code compatibility possible.

Why not get something used? Thinkpad, Dell, etc.

Are you sure Clevo is out?

How about something like entroware.com, system76 etc.?

I heard something about a truly modular laptop very recently on a podcast; either LateNightLinux or BadVoltage. Not sure, but I think it was this: https://frame.work/
It saddens me that this is "big news" - I somehow still live in that old world where what you ask for is the norm...

You've just made my year - it's not a widescreen! Hopefully this is a things to come, I've been dreading the death of the 1600x1200 monitor on my desktop and haven't had a laptop since college as I don't like the lack of upgradability. Maybe next time as hardware's so fast these days...

Sorry for the off topic but had to post something

One thing that I find is that all the good machines are out of stock.
I was looking for system76 back in that last thread a few years ago, are they still just selling Clevos loaded with Ubuntu?
Freme-work looks cool but like everything else OUT OF STOCK!

Out of stock where?

I don't think they even started selling these yet.

I had trouble finding ANY Clevos with a desktop processor under 17", the system76 I want is also out of stock. There are laptops out there but the durability, removable battery, and preferring a desktop CPU makes it difficult.

Indeed, system76 seems to have ALL 15" models out of stock.
You could of course sign up and get notified when they get them again (as I'm sure they will evtl.).

Where do you live? entroware.com might be a viable alternative: https://www.entroware.com/store/laptops/zeus

There's one or two more such "alternative" laptop companies...
https://slimbook.es/
https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/
https://store.vikings.net/index.php?route=common/home

Have you also considered a Dell XPS laptop?

PS: one such company already went bankrupt because of Covid19, more or less... delays might have something to do with the pandemic. I recommend patience.

Yea, even some of those were out of stock.
A side question, is anyone using a power-hog laptop that is powered via USB-c?
I like the DC5525 barrel connector my current laptop has, but since I have been spending over a decade trying to eliminate proprietary connectors transitioning everything to USB-C might have appeal assuming the connector is strong enough.
I even have a USB-C soldering iron from the same folks who make the pinephone!
https://www.pine64.org/pinecil/

IDK it lis looking like what was available a few years ago is sold out due to telecommuting and hacker/DIY entrepreneurs trying to innovate a replacement to lost jobs.

I just need a tough, flexible, upgradeable, field ready computer with no concessions to thin or lightweight. Unfortunately my wants are exactly what the consumer grade industry seems to see as the old way they are moving away from. I would love a toughbook but that is around >$3k or a mil-surplus from the Iraq war with WinXP era components; what am I going to do with a 56k modem?

Is one of the XMG laptops for you, maybe? They make/sell laptops based off of Clevo designs. This one seems to tick a lot of your boxes if I'm not mistaking: https://bestware.com/en/xmg-apex-15.html