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Linux use on Steam ends 2023 with a multi-year high (thanks Steam Deck) (www.gamingonlinux.com)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I've only ever used Windows and Apple, but I'm seriously considering giving Linux a go, so it just occurred to me that maybe the Deck would be a good way to get a taste for it amd just see what it's like, even if it's kind of an idiot proof version.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Sure, give it a try. Just know that desktop Linux will be a bit different.

The Steam Deck is basically just:

Steam Big Picture Mode by default
option to drop to a KDE desktop (looks like Windows)
read-only base system - think macOS terminal commands or WSL on Windows
package manager for installing graphical apps - like macOS's App store, but mostly open source software and no accounts needed

Regular desktop Linux is essentially the same except but without the read-only base system and probably a lot more system packages you can install. That's a pretty big deal to me, but maybe it's not a big deal to you, IDK.

As long as you don't change the read-only filesystem (you won't need to if you stick to the Discover app store), it's essentially idiot-proof.

If you already have a Steam Deck, then yeah, play around with it. However, I don't recommend getting a Steam Deck just to play around with Linux, just install it next to whatever OS you're already using on your PC as a dual boot. I only use Linux, and I honestly treat my Steam Deck essentially as a console. I could do a lot more with it, but it'll be more annoying than using my PC.