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I file all of this under "I'll believe it when I see it."

• Qwant has claimed since 2016 that they have an index. That lie has earned them investments and funding. They do not have an index and they've said so after the fact. They also give data to Bing. They are not private but they say they are because the data they share is anonymized.

• Ecosia is just a Bing frontend like DDG. Caron offsets never work. In order for Ecosia to work you need to see and click on some ads, so anybody using adblockers will not be helping. Their servers aren't green either.

• This is because Bing is going to raise their prices and now these companies need to lure in new investors to keep the lights on. It isn't about sovereignty or data privacy; it's just about money.

I only have a Switch but I'll add it to my Deku Deals list

https://www.dekudeals.com/items/rite-switch

Platformers are amazing. I think I like most of the big series that I've played---Mario, Sonic, DKC, Crash, Mega Man, etc.---and I really enjoy indie platformers.

Recent indie games that have taken the tried and true formula of unforgiving precision platforming to the extreme are also amazing. Celeste is a gorgeous games, Kaze kicks ass and retro throwback games like Byte the Bullet and Bzzzt are soooo satisfying.

I like a good pick up and play game, platformers fit the bill.

Once muscle memory kicks in, you're golden. As long as the learning curve is right.

Going back and playing the first levels with the skill gained by completing the game is such a good feeling.

For me, SMB Wonder is a 10/10 platformer if we're looking at recent 2D only. I don't know many 3D platformers, but Crash 4 is a must play (I think that's the most recent 3D platformer I've played).

You gotta try Mega Man. And if that doesn't do anything for you, try Mega Man X or Zero. I love all of them, but X7 and X8 were my leas favourite.

Personally, I like them because of the art style, the music, and the challenge.

If you've just installed Ubuntu, stick with it for a bit. Get things set up the way you like them. Make a mess if you must. But don't switch because someone on the internet said one is better than the other. Lots of the Linux sites are just content farms (that 9to5 site) and copy other sites and then people read those and they suggest what they read.

Mint does have some bespoke tools that users like, but those tools can be installed on other distros.

Anyway. First, play around, make a mess, clean it up, get used to it. Then figure out how to backup the configs before you reinstall a new distro.

Other beginner distros are Zorin and Elementary.

I'm a Debian user myself, but I've been around and have tried many different distros, WMs, DEs, etc. over the past 19 years. Keep messing around and you'll find your comfort zone.

Wow, LXQt is just motoring along aren't they. I use LXQt as my daily driver, but on good old Debian Stable I won't be seeing this for years haha. Looks like it is only available in the AUR and on Pisilinux (which is cool because it's only just been released!).

Both of these offer persistence. With Puppy you can choose when you shutdown to save. I think PorteuX works the same way.

Puppy and Porteux

• https://puppylinux-woof-ce.github.io/
• https://github.com/porteux/porteux

I've only tried Puppy but PorteuX offers more DEs.

DistroWatch has a filter for that

https://distrowatch.com/search-mobile.php?category=Live+Medium#simple

Try be sure to include various DEs or WMs for your friend to see (KDE, Xfce, GNOME, LXQt, and maybe a tiling WM?)

Shmupdate:

GreyLancer (oldie but a goodie, too tempting to play on easy mode with rewinds so replay value is lowish, but was still very enjoyable.)

Crisis Wing (love the graphics, good difficulty levels for near-beginner.)

Radiant Silvergun (what the hell were they smokin at Treasure!? Even on very easy this is going to take me at least 25 hours to beat using every life/ship I can get. Probably double that! In the first hour of play I went from "well this is garbage" to "oh, I see, you just need to put in the time and effort and then it's awesome.)

Still haven't finished the boss rush on Andro Dunos II so those extra levels will be a mystery to me...

R-Type Dimensions EX is on sale right now, so I'll probably buy that tomorrow.

Accelerated Mobile Pages

Main issue, for me at least, is about locking publishers into a Google-built version of the Web that generates less revenue for the publisher and sometimes uses more data for the end user.

I found Iconoclasts to be pretty uplifting to play. The ending is marvellously satisfying.

The Shantae games are good.

Disney Illusion Island fits in here too.