Yeah I only have used the steam deck, but I imagine the alternative Windows based handhelds feel much more clunky/hacky since Windows has issues suspending things in general, especially games. Maybe they fixed some of the issues on that end by now, but I feel like SteamOS is really the best and most viable option here for these other companies looking to cash in on this trend. Especially since Windows is bloated as is and not really made for this type of thing.
Not sure if Valve does this already, but perhaps they could license out SteamOS to other manufacturers too? It would make Valve’s “competition” more lucrative for them. At the very least, I hope more people start using SteamOS so Linux gaming gets more adoption as time goes on. Valve has done absolute wonders for the linux community with Proton.
But be aware, it is an immutable distro. This means that it is basically unbreakable (you hear stories about how linux machines can become broken by some update or such, but not bazzite or other immutable distros).
But this also means that if you don’t find an flatpak (or appimage) of a program you need, it can be a little teadious to install it.
Just a warning. The distrobox option is especially flexible and powerful, but you do need to do a little reading up and setting up to install stuff using these methods.
Otherwise everything on bazzite JUST WORKS, especially gaming. And the flatpak store has a ton of stuff, I have never needed anything that wasn’t on there.
Yeah I only have used the steam deck, but I imagine the alternative Windows based handhelds feel much more clunky/hacky since Windows has issues suspending things in general, especially games. Maybe they fixed some of the issues on that end by now, but I feel like SteamOS is really the best and most viable option here for these other companies looking to cash in on this trend. Especially since Windows is bloated as is and not really made for this type of thing.
Not sure if Valve does this already, but perhaps they could license out SteamOS to other manufacturers too? It would make Valve’s “competition” more lucrative for them. At the very least, I hope more people start using SteamOS so Linux gaming gets more adoption as time goes on. Valve has done absolute wonders for the linux community with Proton.
SteamOS is free to use for everyone, making it a legit Linux FOSS operating system.
https://store.steampowered.com/steamos
It’s not easy to install for non-technical people though. But Bazzite is, and it’s basically a different “flavor” of steamOS.
https://bazzite.gg/
It’s what I use, and it’s great.
I support this.
My gaming PC is not suitable for Windows11. I don’t play much, but I do play.
I switch to Pop!_OS in June, did not like it that much but it got the job done.
I’ve been using SteamOS on this machine since mid September and honestly I don’t ever want to go back.
Thanks for the info. Gonna check it out!
Edit: Ok you know what bazzite looks awesome. I’m definitely gonna install it later this week on my main pc and see how it goes
You won’t regret it.
But be aware, it is an immutable distro. This means that it is basically unbreakable (you hear stories about how linux machines can become broken by some update or such, but not bazzite or other immutable distros).
But this also means that if you don’t find an flatpak (or appimage) of a program you need, it can be a little teadious to install it.
https://docs.bazzite.gg/Installing_and_Managing_Software/
Just a warning. The distrobox option is especially flexible and powerful, but you do need to do a little reading up and setting up to install stuff using these methods.
Otherwise everything on bazzite JUST WORKS, especially gaming. And the flatpak store has a ton of stuff, I have never needed anything that wasn’t on there.
I’ve been using Bazzite on my main laptop as well and it’s fantastic.
I even found out that you can create a steamOS distrobox. No real need to use it, but thought that was cool.