Re-creation of someone else's post because the original was removed and I found it funny when I first saw it
this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2023
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This is commonly known as a "distro". SteamOS is just particularly good at being user friendly for it's fairly narrow use-case.
SteamOS is the distro. Big Picture/Steam Deck is an overlay for the Steam application and what the majority of Steam Deck users are using and experiencing. They're not using it for day to day applications and browsing the internet.
I'd probably call Big Picture the Desktop environment in this case. Yes it's a simplified linux experience, but it's not not linux.
The point is that you could swap what OS it is in the background and it wouldn’t make a difference that it’s Linux. The Steam Deck could be running Windows with Big Picture on top of it and no one would be the wiser. It’s misleading to say that Steam Deck users are Linux users if they don’t even use any of the Linux environment.
But that's true for anything. you could swap out the OS under gnome and most users wouldn't notice either.
You’re either being intentionally obtuse or disingenuous. If there was a microwave or refrigerator out there that ran Linux for its components, you wouldn’t count people who bought that refrigerator as Linux users, would you? If anyone did, it would be to artificially inflate the Linux numbers since users only use the refrigerator/microwave functions. If they’re not exposed to any operational functions of the OS, then counting them as users of the OS is dishonest.
Or I'm simply disagreeing with you. I'm not disagreeing to disagree, I just simply am not convinced by your arguments.
No, I would not.
Right, but the steam deck exposes all that perfectly fine, a lot of uses simply choose not to engage with that. Someone using debian but then only touching the web browser still counts as them using linux surely.
No, you’re being dishonest. 99% of Steam Deck users don’t know (or care) that desktop mode exists because, much like an appliance, it’s not relevant to their use of the device. Your argument is basically that, if a refrigerator had a full Linux desktop that was accessible, it’s user would count as a Linux user because, just like the Steam Deck, not using that interface would just be the owner of said refrigerator “choosing not to engage with it”. You and I both know that’s horseshit.
You’ve just contradicted yourself. A smart fridge with a browser counts as a Linux user or doesn’t?