For ~97% of the computer using population it is a hot new tech.
Compared to the state of consumer-grade Linux 5 years ago to today, it’s absolutely a hot new tech.
One cannot understate the impact that the Steam Deck and Proton had on driving consumer-friendly features to Linux simply from the demand of an exploding user base.
This right here. Got a Steam Deck. My Surface Pro 4 finally died. So after years of hassling from my best friend, who runs Arch btw, I got a Framework 13 and put PopOS on it. Zero issues, to the point, sadly, where I haven’t really learned to troubleshoot it much yet. We’re gonna install Bazzite on my home theatre PC this weekend when he comes down.
The only Windows I’m gonna run from here out is on my work PC, and the AI shilling, spyware, and cloud requirements sure ain’t changing my mind.
Be forewarned, Bazzite has some install issues and can lock up or appear locked up during a painfully long install process. Also, VR support is meh on Bazzite and their immutable distro and managed packages make it more challenging to get non-managed solutions rolling.
As somebody running Bazzite and loving it on their HTPC, I am looking at switching to CachyOS using the Handheld (SteamOS) Display Environment or launching directly into Kodi.
Well there’s always dual booting. I’ll consider VR again one of these days, maybe. I early adopted the Oculus Rift way back, but I’ve never had the space for full motion and stuff. Did a fair amount of space travel with it though. That was nice.
Truly. I honestly feel like a lot of the linux oldheads got off on being part of an exclusive club and actually hated when things became easier to use (hence all the crying whenever anyone who isn’t literally a cis admin or c developer points out the glaring UX flaws that plauged and still plagued linux).
Steam has the money to both fix a lot of problems and bulldoze through the wave of elitist condescending douches that typically inhabit linux spaces.
On top of that, and I know this part will get hate, now with LLMs, a lot of the questions that would get you absurdly rude and defeating remarks, you can just ask an LLM and get on average more accurate answers and less hazing for no reason. Yes, I am saying that LLMs give more accurate responses, as that has been my experience when it comes to asking questions on forums vs them.
And just to be clear, I have always been the type of person to ask questions as a last resort because I can’t deal with those people and don’t think being hazed should be a necessary part of doing power computing. You shouldn’t need a thick skin to fix a driver issue for instance.
Anyways, I do think that these things have made linux far more approachable, but common apps being supported is still something that needs focus. Like the only CAD options for linux are what, freecad, where its free because you pay with your time and frustration, SolveSpace… or onshape, which is simply not viable for hobbyists who at all ever want to make any money from their hobbies?
The same is true for video editting where there are absolutely some first class programs that run on linux, but the media creation pipeline also clearly has adobe shaped holes (just to be clear, though I feel it doesn’t need stating, I do hate adobe).
For ~97% of the computer using population it is a hot new tech.
Compared to the state of consumer-grade Linux 5 years ago to today, it’s absolutely a hot new tech.
One cannot understate the impact that the Steam Deck and Proton had on driving consumer-friendly features to Linux simply from the demand of an exploding user base.
Alas, argumentum populum is no valid vindication nor excuse.
“Anybody here work in advertising or marketing?” [–Bill Hicks, and the rest of that bit] hints at the reason though.
This right here. Got a Steam Deck. My Surface Pro 4 finally died. So after years of hassling from my best friend, who runs Arch btw, I got a Framework 13 and put PopOS on it. Zero issues, to the point, sadly, where I haven’t really learned to troubleshoot it much yet. We’re gonna install Bazzite on my home theatre PC this weekend when he comes down.
The only Windows I’m gonna run from here out is on my work PC, and the AI shilling, spyware, and cloud requirements sure ain’t changing my mind.
Be forewarned, Bazzite has some install issues and can lock up or appear locked up during a painfully long install process. Also, VR support is meh on Bazzite and their immutable distro and managed packages make it more challenging to get non-managed solutions rolling.
As somebody running Bazzite and loving it on their HTPC, I am looking at switching to CachyOS using the Handheld (SteamOS) Display Environment or launching directly into Kodi.
Well there’s always dual booting. I’ll consider VR again one of these days, maybe. I early adopted the Oculus Rift way back, but I’ve never had the space for full motion and stuff. Did a fair amount of space travel with it though. That was nice.
Truly. I honestly feel like a lot of the linux oldheads got off on being part of an exclusive club and actually hated when things became easier to use (hence all the crying whenever anyone who isn’t literally a cis admin or c developer points out the glaring UX flaws that plauged and still plagued linux).
Steam has the money to both fix a lot of problems and bulldoze through the wave of elitist condescending douches that typically inhabit linux spaces.
On top of that, and I know this part will get hate, now with LLMs, a lot of the questions that would get you absurdly rude and defeating remarks, you can just ask an LLM and get on average more accurate answers and less hazing for no reason. Yes, I am saying that LLMs give more accurate responses, as that has been my experience when it comes to asking questions on forums vs them.
And just to be clear, I have always been the type of person to ask questions as a last resort because I can’t deal with those people and don’t think being hazed should be a necessary part of doing power computing. You shouldn’t need a thick skin to fix a driver issue for instance.
Anyways, I do think that these things have made linux far more approachable, but common apps being supported is still something that needs focus. Like the only CAD options for linux are what, freecad, where its free because you pay with your time and frustration, SolveSpace… or onshape, which is simply not viable for hobbyists who at all ever want to make any money from their hobbies?
The same is true for video editting where there are absolutely some first class programs that run on linux, but the media creation pipeline also clearly has adobe shaped holes (just to be clear, though I feel it doesn’t need stating, I do hate adobe).
Yeah the elitism thing is detrimental because it drives newcomers away. The more people who get interested in linux and start using it the better.