Posted on 09/29/2025 3:17:29 PM PDT by ShadowAce
BKMK
Thank you Ace.. A couple of these I didn’t even know about...
SteamOS is the only one that is worth it as it is seamless (if you only play steam games). Otherwise, it’s a headache.
I love these!
meh, i use linix mint cinnamon os and just installed the steam app and can play loads of windows games with steam’s built in proton and other experimental programs that help windows games play on linux- haven’t tun into any yet that can’t run on linux- but i need soemthign to run windows programs- with full gpu power-
Do you have to manually choose the proton version?
Or does it pick the right one for the game?
how do these distros compare performance wise to windows when considering graphics resolution/clarity and fps?
how well are graphics cards supported?
I play one old game that I download from GoG, using a DOSbox to play it.
Is a Wine compatibility needed to play a DOSbox?
Thx.
It's hard enough to write a good program that runs on multiple modern platforms within limited budgets and time constraints, so doubling the workload by testing your creation with every old code is out of the question unless you're a hobbyist without a deadline.
Linux, on the other hand, has a proactive community that strives to keep it streamlined and user-friendly. I was running Mint 2.0 on a 12-year-old Dell laptop because it's Windows 10 OS became hopelessly corrupted for no known reason (I always use anti-virus, anti-malware and never hit untrusted sites). It just crapped out, refusing to boot or access back-ups, so I installed Linux with Rufus from a small USB stick and gave that computer a new lease on life.
Except for gaming. The old girl was showing her age with comparatively low memory, drive space and processor power so I bought a refurbished new one from Amazon ($280 for a computer originally priced at $1,200!). Great, cool...but it has Windows 10 preinstalled and I've been loathe to ditch it.
With the impending demise of Win10 support Microsoft made the decision for me. When the time comes it's back to Linux for good. Thanks for this article showing that our options are ever expanding and the day may come soon where we get to see Redmond devolve into the Dearborn of computer technology.
So far its picking the right versions, but i have had to try a few 9n 9ne game, but got it working- i thi k it was dues ex the original game whicb was pretty old, but then i reformatted drive and when i reinstalled the game, it played without having to choose wh8ch version again. Not sure why. As i hzd to rebuy the game cuz my orig8nal disk wouldnt work on steam anymore. The game was only like $2 or $4 dollars, cznt remember now- so i jusy rebought it.
If so, how do you like it?
If so, how do you like it?
As mentioned, you can’t beat the deals Amazon has on refurbished computers - which are like scratch and dent sales except you get it in far better condition than the original buyer did for less than half retail price...and with a one year warranty.
System 76 looks very reputable, in business over 20 years now, but I’d never pay $1,600 for a laptop from anyone. I’d also avoid Beta anything in operating systems. Let the nerds suffer the bugs and wait for the alpha release. JMO. Good luck!
System76 is a great laptopz a little expensive, but if you are into maintaining yourmown computer, being able tk work on it, its onemof the mkst highly modifiabke ones out there, and easily,done.
Ive read really good reports on th3m.
Personal,y though, i would go with a used laptop from ebay for onky a few hu dred dollars you czn get a rwally powerful laptop. Dell laptops are pretty decent for ability to upgrade yourself. Dell lattitudes are pretty inexpensive-
If however you can afford a system76, its a great laptop accordingmto reviews. And i especially like how customizable,it is. Id own one if money werent an issue.
Also, if you dont like pop os, you can always install another os fairly easily. I love l8nux mint cinnamon pe4sonally- pop os seemed to be tooo different for me to like. Cznt remember exactly whzt i didnt like now though. But give it a try, you might like,it fine.
Another route you could go is get a cheap used computer, put pop os on it, see if you like before committing to laptop from pop os. You might be able to sell the cheaper one for same amount or even more, or could,give it to fsmily or whwtaeverz maybe keep for,backup comouter. Lots of choices.
Read reviews on system76. There are some complaints, though every product has folks who dont like something. The reviews ive seen are mostly all very positive.
One tip, wait if you czn till blzck friday sale, or christmas ,sale... they jight offer discount. Use the time to research reviews on them.
Good things and bad, like most things out there.
Good--Pop!_OS comes preinstalled, and it has dual graphics--Intel and NVidia (Mine is a RTX 4070). I'm running a Dell 38" monitor off the built-in DisplayPort in addition to the 17" laptop screen. Storage is 100% SSD, and it's faster than anything I've had previously. Power-off to working is less than 18 secs. Quiet as a mouse, too. Has bluetooth, multiple USB ports, backlit keyboard. Lots of fun stuff.
However, since I had been running Fedora for a couple decades, I thought I'd just install Fedora on it.
Wrong.
Hardware drivers are specialized enough that other distros may or may not work. I'd stick with Pop!_OS as it comes pre-installed, and has all the required drivers set up properly.
Good news--you CAN install another DE. I'm running KDE rather than the default Gnome/COSMIC. Other than package management, I've got it set up like my old Fedora installs, so I'm happy.
But I'd do some research on any distro you're looking at to be sure you can install the correct drivers.
Bash (Linux default terminal--most common) is a lot different than DOS from MS. That's why you need WINE--to convert the DOS commands into something Linux can understand.
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