Quoting: MohandevirI don't think that Linux on the desktop will ever be mainstream. The chokehold that Microsoft has on this market segment is nearly impossible to break. But, I've said it multiple times: "Linux shines in a dedicated hardware use cases." We now have another good example of that.

I actually think it's more mainstream than it's ever been given how functional it is, how much is moving to the cloud, and how many programming languages are moving to multi-platform implementation.

Mainstream as a percentage of users - Well, there you're likely right, and I actually think it's possibly likely to get worse there simply because Windows isn't so bad it's pushing people off the platform anymore. Modern Windows is fully usable and functional and no longer is a laggy, miserable mess after several months of use. Oh, it's not great to be sure, but there will be fewer people like me who, like happened to me in 2012, was so furious at how bad Windows was that I was actively seeking out alternatives - and here I am.

Sadly, we'll see less of that and have to more appeal to tinkerers for future users (like Rapsberry Pis and other hardware cases, as you say). I'd personally like to see a lot more emphasis on Linux on phone hardware now, as that's what most people use for "computers" these days.

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Quoting: Mohandevir

Quoting: slaapliedjeI was wondering if we could look up how many people went and ruined their Deck by installing Windows on it...

Thing is, I also see comments of Windows users that complains about battery life, fan noise and heat that are much worse vs SteamOS... They are probably affecting the Steam Deck's lifespan, by using an "unsupported" OS. Personnally, the heat issue would worry me a lot.

After years of the reverse with Linux on laptop hardware optimized for Windows, the cosmic irony of all of that is too delicious to even attempt to put into words. I will just have to sit here and reread that comment several times to fully savor it....

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"Now THIS is podracing!"

Seriously, though, this looks incredibly fun and will definitely be a buy for me.

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I'm looking forward to hearing battery life reports. I wish one of the modules was a larger battery. If this thing can match or break 8 hrs on a single charge, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. It has virtually everything else I want. But I'm currently reading more like 4-6 hrs for Linux users, which is a non-starter for me in my workday....

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Quoting: STiATI like Budgie, but I do not see myself switching back to it from Gnome any time soon. I really got used to the workflows in Gnome by now.

Arguably, Budgie's reason to exist previously was it was the lightweight, snappy alternative to what then was a slow, bloated, heavy Gnome. Now that Gnome itself is snappy and lighter weight than before, plus having all of Gnome's notable features and scale with rapid ongoing development, Budgie's original brand proposition is somewhat eroded....

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Quoting: fenglengshunThe main reason why I stopped using Budgie was that there was this problem with Wine apps that decorates their own windows, particularly with ribbon UI (Foxit PhantomPDF, Office 365, a few games), not playing well with maximization when I last tested it.

Issues with game compatibility and Wine was one of the reasons I stopped using it as well years back. Also, for a while, it just felt like Budgie wasn't being developed that much and it seemed to be falling behind in implementation of newer features and technologies that other DE's were developing. If not for the Ubuntu Budgie folks add-ons to it, it would have been completely stagnant.

I am happy to see a renewed emphasis and push on Budgie, but think they still have a ways to go...

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My 10 year old daughter just adores this game (which, of course, she plays on Linux). The appeal somewhat escapes me, but I have to admire the craft and attention to detail and atmosphere of what is essentially a one man project.

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Quoting: ahoneybun

Quoting: iiariI love S76 and own two of their laptops, but they're aging a bit and to rebuy from S76 I kind of need them to step-up and do a 16:10 or 3:2 screened laptop that can get me 8 hrs or more of battery life. Until they're at that point, I just can't justify a purchase. Same for the Thelios, which never seemed to have the combos of chip or GPU options I wanted when I was ready to buy. My money is waiting for you folks!

I personally feel that 1080p is as great as you can get on a laptop without being unusable though 1440p is perfect for desktop displays.

As for the GPU options the last year has been rough in that regards but it may be getting better soon.

My last three laptops have been 3:2 screen laptops, and once you've gotten used to that extra vertical real estate (and the work I do is with a lot of vertical reports, lists, and such) it's hard to go back to 16:9, which feels like squinting.

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I love S76 and own two of their laptops, but they're aging a bit and to rebuy from S76 I kind of need them to step-up and do a 16:10 or 3:2 screened laptop that can get me 8 hrs or more of battery life. Until they're at that point, I just can't justify a purchase. Same for the Thelios, which never seemed to have the combos of chip or GPU options I wanted when I was ready to buy. My money is waiting for you folks!

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Quoting: WorMzy...What would be a better metric is: how many devs have they convinced to release and maintain native Linux versions of their games?

Well, even aside from that, it's obvious a lot more devs than ever before are aiming at Proton and overall Steam Deck functionality. That's real and happening and just as much as a win in my book as native versions.

Bret

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