this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2026
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Let's be honest... people who can't figure out how to deal with Windows licenses wouldn't be able to deal with a switch to Linux either.
This is about OEMs, which realistically only have 2 choices: Either sell it with windows, or Linux pre-installed.
The general public isn't going to buy a device without an OS installed.
People that can rub two neurons together have figured out they can get their 10yr old nephew to install something for them... so the included OS means nothing besides how it affects the final price. They'll buy a laptop with Windows/Linux/no OS or whatever on it. In markets that don't allow computing devices to be sold without an OS it doesn't even have to be Linux, the vendors and manufacturers will happily slap FreeDOS on it to bypass the regulation.
Shit, even those who do know Windows will find it daunting.
I just bought a PC over the weekend to replace my PS5 (because fuck Sony) and I installed SteamOS onto it.
I am having a hell of a time figuring it out. It's such an alien OS to me as a lifelong Windows user. I'm still trying to learn how everything works, like udev rules and the file structure/hierarchy it uses. It's mad confusing, normal/less tech savvy people definitely wouldn't be able to handle it.
udev rules is a bit of a deep end dive tbf. There are enough Linux distros where you can stick to the desktop most of the time.
I'd suggest Bazzite instead, still gaming oriented but it's a lot more user friendly than SteamOS which is moreso designed with the steam deck and steam machine in mind.
Yeah, a friend of mine well-versed in Debian suggested I switch to Bazzite.
The main issue I was having with SteamOS is I couldn't wake the PC up from sleep with a wireless peripheral of any kind. Went into BIOS and made all the necessary changes and whatnot.
As much as I absolutely despise it, AI was able to assist me with a udev script that worked first try. I was mainly hoping to get my 8bitdo Pro 3 to wake the system since it had a 2.4ghz dongle/station, but even my PS5 controller can wake it now via Bluetooth, no matter how much time has passed.
Now that I don't really need to worry about switching to the desktop, it's been a pretty great experience so far.
SteamOS is not meant to be used on normal desktop/laptops. You're making things harder for yourself.
Personally, what I hate about Linux is terminals and having even less reliable information about what has gone wrong. I will revisit Club Penguin in a couple of years, provided that Valve has further expanded SteamOS to the desktop PC.
In the meantime, I am using Windows Enterprise via Masgravel activation, installed via RUFUS, and paired with ShutUp10 to improve privacy without having to be a guru. ShutUp10 also has a paid version that automatically reverts changes that Microsoft does to privacy settings.
No Chris Titus?