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Ok, semi serious(ish) question from Bowie's photographer.
Before I get started: Please don't put too much thought into the response, just weighing my options (I'm probably going to just succumb to the dark side and go with Windows because it's the least friction [but heck it feels slimey lately]).
Currently running Windows 10 for Steam + Game Pass + Photoshop/Lightroom
My install is starting to feel flakey and I either need to do a clean install of Windows 11 or find an alternative (Linux + with whatever game magic is running on the Steamdeck).
I could technically do the Photoshop stuff on my Intel Macbook, but that means getting a KVM switch that lets me switch between 3 machines.
So, what's the most reliable brain-dead Linux distro that's game friendly?
Mint has been running all my games without issue so far. It's great if you want to switch from Windows with as little hassle as possible. Not always the most up to date though, so that's a minus for some people.
I'll take a look. Thank you
Kubuntu is the easiest entrypoint for a noob IME. It was my first distro.
Perfect thank you, this gives me the starting point I need!
As for gaming, literally just install Steam and try installing some games from your library. Steam automatically loads up Proton which is the compatibility tool that makes Steam games work on Linux. If you want to check, you can go to the website ProtonDB, but 99% of the time, they'll just work.
If you need something not on steam (GOG, Epic etc) you'll also want Heroic Game Launcher which wraps those services in the same Steam Linux magic.
Awesome. Thank you!
Because no one addressed it yet, you won't be able to use Game Pass at all on Linux (unless you're using the streaming service). There's no way of making that work currently, and may never be a way. But for most everyone else? Most things just work out of the gate with no tweaking. But for things that don't, use https://protondb.com
I assumed it wouldn't work. I've been thinking about cancelling anyway. I feel like I haven't used it in months, it's not a huge issue though.
Proton is very gaming on Linux friendly, i main on Linux for a few decades now and had about 3-4 games not work. So i wouldn't worry about that, however lightroom (and i assume the rest of adobe suit) is out. Couldn't find a way to install it sensibly at all. Which is unfortunate. The backup for this for me was to use an old android tablet and sometimes id use the work mac out of hours to do some post-processing.
But the rest doesn't matter much, i personally like Manjaro but the distro doesn't really matter.
Heck. Photoshop is a big one for me.
I have the Mac book (got it from a former employer), but switching between the PC/Mac/and current work computer would be a hassle
I would imagine whatever the Steam Deck uses. You can install it on a desktop, and is literally intended for gaming. IDK if they are still referring to it as SteamOS or if it's entirely different from that old shit.
Steam Deck is modified Arch with KDE desktop so probably not beginner friendly.