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Windows 11 is now an ad platform--this is why we're here (www.ghacks.net)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The writing is on the wall--I suspect the next Windows OS will be a subscription service. Gather your ISOs while ye may.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Whatever linux version is on the Steam Deck wasn't bad to use when I needed Desktop mode. It was pretty similar experience-wise to windows (no mac experience).

[–] [email protected] 28 points 6 months ago (1 children)

SteamOS is based on Arch, which you do not want to use and maintain as a beginner. what matter is the desktop environment, which in SteamOS' case is KDE Plasma, a great choice in my completely unbiased opinion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Good points. Its worth mentioning that while SteamOS is based on arch (a famously unstable distro), it is immutable, so the user will have a much harder time bricking their system. KDE plasma was the right choice I agree, considering the number of windows users Valve is marketing towards.

[–] onlinepersona 15 points 6 months ago (2 children)

That's probably KDE - the K Desktop Environment. Linux variants are called "distributions" and they are basically software bundles maintained by groups.

Desktop environments are basically bundled themes and software to present a desktop, bars, effects, and so on. Windows basically has one desktop environment, but linux has many: Most popular are KDE (windows like) and Gnome (Mac like), but there are more like Cinnamon, XFCE, LXQt, LXDE, which look more like windows.

Desktop environments also have window managers - they do what they say, manage your windows: maximize and minimize them, stack them (stacking window managers), tile them (tiling window managers), or even allow only one window at a time (like kiosks).

If you want to start your linux journey, grab bazzite if you want to game or linux mint debian edition (comes standard with cinnamon desktop environment, but you have the choice during installation to use KDE too) and give it a go!

You can also test distros (linux mint for example) online!

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That linux distro tester is really cool. Bazzite is also pretty neat. Thanks for sharing!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

This is good to know. I want to put Mint on my laptop but I do like the look of steamdeck desktop too.