Linux or Windows?

[Mr Jt (Gog is king)]

So in general there is now wrong site to choose, but i would like to know why you choose linux over windows or vice versa?

[tfk]

I don't have to choose. But that's my preference. Just use what meets your needs.

[R-iel]

SteamOS is all I need.

[vanishedchief2021]

linux is good now valve as these protons you can use. Quite a few games work now. But if you like sim racing like i do it's not good because there's no driver support for steering wheels.

[Clone303]

both aka main PC Window and Steam Deck Steam OS and smartphone Android what also is Linux

[zBeeble]

So... Valve has put enormous effort into both SteamOS and the desktop mode. Windows, OTOH, runs ... but seems kinda an orphan. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to recommend it, either.

[[?]legit]

There is nothing to chose, you get Steam OS on the steam deck. However:

Steam OS = limited, windows = full experience.

Apart from saving costs for Valve, there's not a single reason to not have included windows by default. Most people here tell you how much better steamos and Linux is, But I'm 100% sure that the overwhelming majority of them is not using Linux on their home computers. Steam OS is bad, I see it as a major bottleneck for the steam deck. Not in terms of performance, but in the overall usability.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by ?legit | R.I.P MnK:

There is nothing to chose, you get Steam OS on the steam deck. However:

Steam OS = limited, windows = full experience.

Apart from saving costs for Valve, there's not a single reason to not have included windows by default. Most people here tell you how much better steamos and Linux is, But I'm 100% sure that the overwhelming majority of them is not using Linux on their home computers. Steam OS is bad, I see it as a major bottleneck for the steam deck. Not in terms of performance, but in the overall usability.

Except the Deck was built specifically around SteamOS. The only 'issues' are mostly with games that have an anti-cheat where the developers didn't select a simple box to make it work on Linux as well.

Not having Linux on a desktop doesn't mean Linux isn't good or SteamOS(which isn't available on desktops) is bad. They are two completely different environments.

[Haruspex]

I've waffled back and forth over the years, but I think I'm finally on Linux for good. With Windows, Google, Apple, all these big "free" services, you're basically trading your freedom and privacy for convenience. I've decided I'm okay with a little less convenience in exchange for a little more freedom and privacy. How much of each really depends on your own threat model.

I'm not big on multiplayer, so I don't need to worry too much about kernel level anti-cheats ruining my day. When I do play multiplayer it's typically locally via LAN, and I've had no problems there.

One big thing I've found is with older Windows games. People often focus on new games, saying this one or that one doesn't work on Linux. First off, that changes very rapidly and what doesn't work today could easily work tomorrow with a new Proton update. Really though when it comes to older titles that just refuse to run on modern Windows, I've found Linux handles them beautifully. I've had this title called "Hard Truck Apocalypse" aka "Ex Machina" in my library for years. Never played it. Couldn't get it to run right under Windows 10 and 11, until recently I gave it a shot under Linux.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/285500/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse__Ex_Machina/
Works perfectly right out the gate. No tweaking or extra patching needed.

Other games that are problematic on Windows but run perfectly or even better on Linux include Fallout 3, Bully: Scholarship Edition, SWAT 3, The Sims 2 and 3, Beyond Good and Evil, and any game in the Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver series, to name a few.

So if you consider that any new game that doesn't work on Linux likely will work before too long, and also consider older games that are increasingly unlikely to work on modern Windows, it's reasonable to say that Linux may actually have better compatibility than Windows in the grand scheme of things.

[tfk]

I use Linux dedicated. No Windows here. I'm not really into multi player but I have played Apex Legends and Overwatch 2...on Linux.

[[?]legit]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Except the Deck was built specifically around SteamOS. The only 'issues' are mostly with games that have an anti-cheat where the developers didn't select a simple box to make it work on Linux as well.

There are a lot more problems than that.

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Not having Linux on a desktop doesn't mean Linux isn't good or SteamOS(which isn't available on desktops) is bad. They are two completely different environments.

Linux is not bad, Linux on something like a steam deck is a bad choice though. So instead of using windows, you create an OS that relies on "emulating" windows under the hood. Well, why don't you play on windows right away?? Steam OS with all the proton stuff is complicated and prone to errors. In the worst case, games "are unsopported" or the user has to mess with proton versions and further.

And yeah, incompatibilities are not the devs faults, it's Valve's fault for introducing yet another software barrier for no reason, but definitely not the devs for because they "didn't select a box".

If you want to install something outside steam, wow, battle net games, fortnite or maybe just some programs, then the real trouble begins. It's not impossible in all cases, but far more complicated to do compared to windows.

By the way, I am happy to change my mind on steam OS, as I periodically reinstall it to see what has improved. I acknowledge having too high expectations due to using windows all the time on the deck, so I'm already prepared for disappointment. But after all this time Valve has worked on the OS, it still feels like using an early alpha.

Usability is bad, but I'm afraid the whole concept is bad. Wanna do something else than just starting a game? HAve fun booting in the desktop mode (that "switching alone is annoying tbh") and enjoy your linux experience.

Linux is a terminal os. You do stuff in the terminal all the time and it's supposed to be done like that. Most of the linux advocates claim this is great and an advantage, I think it's not very user friendly and an ancient way to use an OS. Sooner or later you will really feel that on the Linux Desktop. So why would you integrate something like that into a handheld environment that doesn't even have a physical keyboard?

Windows on the other hand has been used for tablets since years, and the touchscreen experience is fantastic. It is infinitely more fun and "smart" than Steam OS. The steam deck desktop feels like using a PDA from 2002.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by ?legit | R.I.P MnK:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Except the Deck was built specifically around SteamOS. The only 'issues' are mostly with games that have an anti-cheat where the developers didn't select a simple box to make it work on Linux as well.

There are a lot more problems than that.

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Not having Linux on a desktop doesn't mean Linux isn't good or SteamOS(which isn't available on desktops) is bad. They are two completely different environments.

Linux is not bad, Linux on something like a steam deck is a bad choice though. So instead of using windows, you create an OS that relies on "emulating" windows under the hood. Well, why don't you play on windows right away?? Steam OS with all the proton stuff is complicated and prone to errors. In the worst case, games "are unsopported" or the user has to mess with proton versions and further.

Nothing about Steam OS with Proton is complicated at all.

Originally posted by ?legit | R.I.P MnK:

And yeah, it's not the devs fault, it's Valve's fault for introducing yet another software barrier for no reason.

That makes no sense.

Originally posted by ?legit | R.I.P MnK:

If you want to install something outside steam, wow, battle net games, fortnite or maybe just some programs, then the real trouble begins. It's not impossible in all cases, but far more complicated to do compared to windows.

By the way, I am happy to change my mind on steam OS, as I periodically reinstall it to see what has improved. I acknowledge having too high expectations due to using windows all the time on the deck, so I'm already prepared for disappointment. But after all this time Valve has worked on the OS, it still feels like using an early alpha.

Usability is bad, but I'm afraid the whole concept is bad. Wanna do something else than just starting a game? HAve fun booting in the desktop mode (that "switching alone is annoying tbh") and enjoy your linux experience.

You literally hold the power button for a few seconds and then select 'enter desktop mode'. It is extremely simple and easy to do.

Originally posted by ?legit | R.I.P MnK:

Linux is a terminal os. You do stuff in the terminal all the time and it's supposed to be done like that. Most of the linux advocates claim this is great and an advantage, I think it's not very user friendly and an ancient way to use an OS. Sooner or later you will really feel that on the Linux Desktop. So why would you integrate something like that into a handheld environment that hasn't even a physical keyboard?

Except Steam OS isn't based in terminal and most users will never even need to open the terminal on the desktop interface.

Originally posted by ?legit | R.I.P MnK:

Windows on the other hand has been used for tablets since years, and the touchscreen experience is fantastic. It is infinitely more fun and "smart" than Steam OS. The steam deck desktop feels like using a PDA from 2002. :anlpsmile:

As someone who has used a PDA from the era, that is an extreme exaggeration and makes me highly doubt you've actually used the desktop environment in any meaningful capcity.

[Mr Jt (Gog is king)]

Windows pro gives you also the freedom and control but it cost a lot

[[?]legit]

Originally posted by Mr Jt (Gog is king):

Windows pro gives you also the freedom and control but it cost a lot

You can find a key for a few bucks. But there's no need for a windows pro version. You can download winodws for free and chose to not activate it.

[tfk]

Installing programs on Linux is much easier. We've had repositories for that for ages. Beats having to go to shady websites to download stuff which could contain malware.

[jrepin]

GNU/Linux only for a few years now. because it is free (most importantly as in freedom), open source, is much more powerful and advanced, and it also develops much faster, has by far the most customizable and powerful desktop (KDE Plasma), is much more secure and it is only getting better. Also I do not want to have anything to do anymore with what has become a bloated spyware and increasingly adware which Windows is nowadays, and it is just getting worse.