PSA: Linux hits 3% on Steam (Actual usage over 5% of all computers)

[Indus]

With all the negative stories about us losing freedoms. it's nice to point out you might just have a lot more freedom than you think on your desktop/ laptop.

Just 5 years ago.. Linux was at 1.1% general use and 0.8% on Steam.
This week it hit 5% general use and 3% on Steam. It's reaching Critical Mass.

Windows 10 End of Life is in October and the number of people not wanting to move to Windows 11 is real!
People don't want to be forced on One Note/ One Drive.. and Steam has done a lot of the heavy lifting and 99% of games work within proton!

If you're not a gamer.. you can definitely use Linux as a daily driver instead of believing the MS bullshit about needing to upgrade your computer to move to windows 11! (that's how they get you to spend money when you don't need to)

And here's the proof it works.. a lot of people here helped me to get it up and running:



Thank you:
@igor_kavinski @WelshBloke @ch33zw1z @Zepp @Perknose @manly @Quintessa

So if you want to ditch Microsoft Windows.. it's a pretty good opportunity this year.. you can ask for help in the tech channels..

 

[Brainonska511]

It's nice to see Linux gaming taking off a bit. It would be nice if there weren't such issues with streaming video. My HTPC is my old Skylake PC transplanted without its GPU into an old Silverstone ML03b HTPC case, and it's stuck running Windows 10. We primarily use it for streaming video, and it seems that things like Netflix don't play nice with Linux for 1080P.

 

[Indus]

It's nice to see Linux gaming taking off a bit. It would be nice if there weren't such issues with streaming video. My HTPC is my old Skylake PC transplanted without its GPU into an old Silverstone ML03b HTPC case, and it's stuck running Windows 10. We primarily use it for streaming video, and it seems that things like Netflix don't play nice with Linux for 1080P.

Netflix in a browser??

My wife uses LMDE (Debian) and I use Ultramarine (Fedora)

It works fine in Chrome for us or at least it did as of last night. I know sometimes the app breaks and doesn't work but we always used Chrome.

 

[Brainonska511]

Netflix in a browser??

My wife uses LMDE (Debian) and I use Ultramarine (Fedora)

It works fine in Chrome for us or at least it did as of last night. I know sometimes the app breaks and doesn't work but we always used Chrome.

I think they have a list of supported browsers, but people have also reported that it isn't always streaming at 1080 and they get locked down to SD or 720.

 

[coldmeat]

Just tried switching over the last 2 days, but have been having issues with black screens on both Fedora and Mint, which is exactly the same problem I had with Linux 10 years ago.

Would love to finally ditch Windows.

 

[Indus]

I think they have a list of supported browsers, but people have also reported that it isn't always streaming at 1080 and they get locked down to SD or 720.

Give it a try in a VM first and try a browser.

That's what I did to test if my games worked properly.. yes they were choppy as hell but they did load.. and that's how I knew they would work.

 

[Indus]

Just tried switching over the last 2 days, but have been having issues with black screens on both Fedora and Mint, which is exactly the same problem I had with Linux 10 years ago.

Would love to finally ditch Windows.

nvidia video card??

If so try Ultramarine instead of Fedora. It's a refined version of Fedora with added drivers.

Or bazzite.. which is even better if you're a gamer.. comes preconfigured with Steam.. all you need to do is put in username/ password, redownload the games and you're good to go.

 

[Brainonska511]

Give it a try in a VM first and try a browser.

That's what I did to test if my games worked properly.. yes they were choppy as hell but they did load.. and that's how I knew they would work.

Maybe. Not really going to worry about it just yet. I have considered rebuilding the HTPC later in the year, but need to consult my spouse to see what kind of upgrade she'd be interested in. I've considered making it a modest gaming PC in addition to bumping storage capacity so that she could play a few games on the couch and not just being stuck at her PC. But that would require a new case, and there don't seem to be many horizontal HTPC cases anymore (and I do need a case with a 5.25" bay, because this thing is also our Blu-ray player).

 

[Indus]

Maybe. Not really going to worry about it just yet. I have considered rebuilding the HTPC later in the year, but need to consult my spouse to see what kind of upgrade she'd be interested in. I've considered making it a modest gaming PC in addition to bumping storage capacity so that she could play a few games on the couch and not just being stuck at her PC. But that would require a new case, and there don't seem to be many horizontal HTPC cases anymore (and I do need a case with a 5.25" bay, because this thing is also our Blu-ray player).

Well IMO do what I did..

Just buy a new hard drive (I bought 1 new NVME and 1 new SATA) and experimented..

I left everything as is on the Windows drive and intentionally put Linux on the second NVME drive so it would install it's bootloader on its own drive.

If I didn't like it or if something broke.. I would still have the completely intact windows option with a simple reboot and bootloader option:



The second SATA I used was because my computer system was so old it was on MBR and not UEFI.. so I had to move and convert data so having a new empty Hard Drive helped a lot! (not to mention I have more room for stuff now)

Edit: A lot of people try to dual boot on their original master hard drive and that creates problem as the dual boot will overwrite the windows boot loader.. I avoided that problem by getting the second drive.

 

[coldmeat]

nvidia video card??

If so try Ultramarine instead of Fedora. It's a refined version of Fedora with added drivers.

Or bazzite.. which is even better if you're a gamer.. comes preconfigured with Steam.. all you need to do is put in username/ password, redownload the games and you're good to go.

No a 6750xt, which is kind of frustrating because when I search for help I find a lot of nvidia specific topics for this issue.

I summed up my troubles here if you're curious. I'm beginning to suspect it could be my HDMI cable but I don't have a spare to try.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/1mi9cq1/black_screen_on_both_mint_and_fedora

 

[Brainonska511]

Well IMO do what I did..

Just buy a new hard drive (I bought 1 new NVME and 1 new SATA) and experimented..

I left everything as is on the Windows drive and intentionally put Linux on the second NVME drive so it would install it's bootloader on its own drive.

If I didn't like it or if something broke.. I would still have the completely intact windows option with a simple reboot and bootloader option:

View attachment 128314

The second SATA I used was because my computer system was so old it was on MBR and not UEFI.. so I had to move and convert data so having a new empty Hard Drive helped a lot! (not to mention I have more room for stuff now)

Edit: A lot of people try to dual boot on their original master hard drive and that creates problem as the dual boot will overwrite the windows boot loader.. I avoided that problem by getting the second drive.

I've done this type of thing before. I just don't really have the space in the current case for more drives, and the NVME slot, currently unoccupied, is on the reverse side of the board. The next time I have to go into that case, it's getting a serious upgrade/rebuild.

 

[evident]

I have a laptop my wife and i use as a "kitchen" computer. checking emails, looking up recipes while cooking, videos, etc. I dont want to fucking sign into my microsoft account on this computer and I hate that it keeps forcing us to do so. I did the offline install so that i'd be able to log in locally but who knows how long till thats disabled. I would like to use linux on it but we need to use MS office on it every once in a while. and no, the freeware apps on linux for office still suck ass!

I use linux at work plenty and would really like to use it at home more.

 

[Indus]

I've done this type of thing before. I just don't really have the space in the current case for more drives, and the NVME slot, currently unoccupied, is on the reverse side of the board. The next time I have to go into that case, it's getting a serious upgrade/rebuild.

Get a Fractal define R5 if you can find it on sale. I have room for 8 Hard Drives.. I'm currently running 7!

The downside is you're limited to 12 inch graphics card which is hitting me hard since everyone is making LONGER video cards rather than taller ones. But I have 3 options for a 9070XT instead of 15.

If I go with a 9060.. just about all of them will fit.

 

[Indus]

I have a laptop my wife and i use as a "kitchen" computer. checking emails, looking up recipes while cooking, videos, etc. I dont want to fucking sign into my microsoft account on this computer and I hate that it keeps forcing us to do so. I did the offline install so that i'd be able to log in locally but who knows how long till thats disabled. I would like to use linux on it but we need to use MS office on it every once in a while. and no, the freeware apps on linux for office still suck ass!

I use linux at work plenty and would really like to use it at home more.

Can you migrate to google docs??

That's what I did a few years back..

 

[Brainonska511]

Get a Fractal define R5 if you can find it on sale. I have room for 8 Hard Drives.. I'm currently running 7!

The downside is you're limited to 12 inch graphics card which is hitting me hard since everyone is making LONGER video cards rather than taller ones. But I have 3 options for a 9070XT instead of 15.

If I go with a 9060.. just about all of them will fit.

I'd probably look for a Silverstone case. They still have one or two HTPC style cases that can fit decent GPUs and have space for enough drives. I want something that fits in my entertainment center, not something that's kind of going to look out of place and not fit on the shelf below my TV.

 

[evident]

Can you migrate to google docs??

That's what I did a few years back..

probably. we're just set in our old ways and want convenient. and that might take more time to set up lol.

 

[nakedfrog]

You're not forced to use OneNote/OneDrive in Windows 11.

 

[Indus]

You're not forced to use OneNote/OneDrive in Windows 11.

I like Bill Gates, I'm Vaccinated!

But I'm pretty pissed off about them selling me on Windows 10 - It'll be the last version of Windows ever and then backtracking.

Fuck you Microsoft and fuck the cloud you want to roll everywhere!

 

[Zepp]

I have a laptop my wife and i use as a "kitchen" computer. checking emails, looking up recipes while cooking, videos, etc. I dont want to fucking sign into my microsoft account on this computer and I hate that it keeps forcing us to do so. I did the offline install so that i'd be able to log in locally but who knows how long till thats disabled. I would like to use linux on it but we need to use MS office on it every once in a while. and no, the freeware apps on linux for office still suck ass!

I use linux at work plenty and would really like to use it at home more.

Try the Office365 online version in browser. Its not as feature rich but may suffice.

the best office suite on linux is probably OnlyOffice though, definitely not libreoffice or openoffice. give that one a try if you havent yet.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'd probably look for a Silverstone case. They still have one or two HTPC style cases that can fit decent GPUs and have space for enough drives. I want something that fits in my entertainment center, not something that's kind of going to look out of place and not fit on the shelf below my TV.

I was looking for something similar a few years ago and ended up with a Phanteks Evolv, cooling wasn't great on it for air-cooling, but there's a newer version. Depends what shape you're looking for though, I had plenty of width but not a lot of height and worked out for me.

 

[nakedfrog]

I like Bill Gates, I'm Vaccinated!

But I'm pretty pissed off about them selling me on Windows 10 - It'll be the last version of Windows ever and then backtracking.

Fuck you Microsoft and fuck the cloud you want to roll everywhere!

I never believed that Win10 would be the final version

 

[evident]

Get a Fractal define R5 if you can find it on sale. I have room for 8 Hard Drives.. I'm currently running 7!

The downside is you're limited to 12 inch graphics card which is hitting me hard since everyone is making LONGER video cards rather than taller ones. But I have 3 options for a 9070XT instead of 15.

If I go with a 9060.. just about all of them will fit.

I have an HTPC inside a fractal north. it's an overkill i7-12600K with a RTX3070 because i'm also gaming on it. It has a VERY nice aesthetic in the living room and wife has not complained. Only issue is it's a big ATX style case and sits next to my media stand. it blends in very nicely if you have furniture that matches the wood tone.

 

[Indus]

I didn't particularly like Arch myself but I'm just posting this video here to make you see.. that gaming on linux is very realistic:

 

[nakedfrog]

Arch is only for a specific kind of self-hating Linux user.

 

[Indus]

Arch is only for a specific kind of self-hating Linux user.

That's why I prefer Debian based distros. Debian is the KING OF STABILITY. They're so dedicated to stability.. they're just now releasing a version that can handle the 9070XT.. so they took their time testing it for crashes and bugs!

Debian is the base of Ubuntu, Linux Mint and just about half of the distro's out there. No Debian.. no Ubuntu, no Linux Mint, no Pop OS.. etc!

But it's rock solid stable.. my wife has used it 3-4 years now.. she doesn't miss windows at all! It also helps her system isn't cutting edge.. i5 - 3470, 16GB DDR 3, and she uses integrated graphics for her needs, which is mostly just web browsing, facebook, emails and stuff.

She switched after her laptop would freeze up and overheat on 1080p videos and that annoyed her along with windows updates. Gave her my old desktop and threw on Linux Mint Debian Edition (basically debian in a Linux Mint - added drivers flavor). She hasn't complained once.

I just gave her a new hard drive to store her vacation pics and vids!