I’ve always used Windows and am super comfortable with it. I have set up a dual boot with fedora but don’t use it because I have never identified a need to use it. I see a lot of windows hate, so what does Linux have that I need? What can motivate me to migrate? What is a good Linux to have for a desktop + steam?

  • Spiracle
    25•11 months ago

    If Windows works fine for you and does not annoy you, there is no need to migrate.

    Personally, I’ve been mostly happy using Linux as my sole desktop OS for ~15 years. However, I only switched because Windows kept breaking and reinstalling no longer fixed it. I couldn’t imagine going back now, but a big part is probably being used to it.

    These days most major Linux distributions should be fine for desktop use.

    Linux Mint Cinnamon use to be the go-to beginner distribution. Its design is apparently somewhat similar to Windows, giving you some initial familiarity. Linux Mint is also based on Ubuntu, which used to be so widespread that many support pages and simple how-to instruction still default to explaining it for Ubuntu.
    (This can still lead to confusion if you search for “install [Windows program] Linux” and the instructions work for Ubuntu based distribution only, not for any other distros.)

    The last few years, I’ve seen a switch to Arch-based distributions around. Valve itself switched away from Ubuntu to Arch in some ways. (On Steam, the system requirements still use Ubuntu as default.) SteamOS used to be based on Debian, which Ubuntu is related to, until the Steam Deck. Now it is based on Arch. More specifically, Valve seems to default to:

    Base: Arch
    Desktop environment: KDE Plasma (more powerful/options than Cinnamon)
    Compositor base: Wayland for gaming, old X11 for Steam Deck’s desktop. (Apparently Wayland isn’t quite ready yet for that in their opinion.)

    EDIT: Fixed thanks to feedback.

    Arch itself is seen as a more technical distribution. There are extremely many support pages for every issue or question you may have, similar to Ubuntu, but some may be more difficult to understand. Still, support systems improve as the user base grows and Arch is growing.

    For specific distributions, EndeavourOS is the one I’ve heard about being the most friendly. Manjaro is also beginner-friendly, but the folks who maintain it have some serious issues with seriously fucking things up sometimes.

    https://itsfoss.com/arch-based-linux-distros/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVlD17OjFAc (Video compiling Manjaro fuckups.)

    • Rikudou_Sage
      3•11 months ago

      Didn’t SteamOS switch from Debian? And doesn’t it use X for the desktop mode and Wayland for the gaming mode?

      • Spiracle
        2•11 months ago

        It did. I must have mixed them up. Not sure about the desktop/gaming divide, I mostly get my info from random articles.

        Based on a brief search, you may be correct on both counts. I’ll fix my post. Thanks for pointing it out.