I’m currently on Win11 but I’m getting that familiar Linux itch and want to dual boot a while again. I tend to gravitate towards Ubuntu simply because it’s so big and well supported by most things.

I’ve run Arch in the past but I’ve gotten too old and lazy for that if I’d be completely honest. I have played with manjaro and endeavour though… and opensuse tumbleweed, rolling is kind of nice.

Not sure what I’d try out first this time so I figured I’d get some inspiration from you guys!

  • jakepi@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I would take a look at pop_os. It’s Ubuntu, but without Snap and a closer to mainline kernel version. They have a lot of great usability tweaks too.

    I run Arch BTW. I just like to make things difficult :)

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      I installed Kubuntu… I couldn’t be assed to resize my efi partition to a gig and disrupt windows… Done that in the past with varying results. Wish they didn’t require it to be that big tbh.

      I do miss Arch… wouldn’t surprise me if I’ll install it again soon.

      Kubuntu works. But where’s the fun in that? :)

      It’s like… I installed it, messed with lutris a bit (needed a newer version) and installed Diablo 4, everything works… and now I feel like I’m missing out somehow. :)

      • jakepi@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        You’re missing out on chasing the dragon for the latest and greatest. :)

        Arch is fine once you get it setup, but I feel like the nerd in us can never just leave it be. I’ll probably go back to pop_os next major release they have.

  • Nyanix@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been on Manjaro for 3 years, honestly love it, it’s treated me great for gaming and given me so little to have to fix that my wife has also been running it for 2 years.

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      I think I just might have to give pop a go and see what all the fuss is about. :)

      • ladydascalie@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Wayland. I’ve had no issues, but then I don’t play CS:GO. However I’ve played Cyberpunk on ultra with no issues, for example.

      • Communist@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Make sure you’re running the sdl environment variable that makes them native on Wayland, in my experience when that’s on it makes my games that are native significantly more performant.

  • Bright5park@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I have been quite happy with Arch Linux, up until I got my Steam Deck, at which point I stopped playing on my non-Deck PCs, so… SteamOS, I suppose.

    • Jim P.@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Came here to say SteamOS as well. I am surprised more people aren’t saying it. But the thing is, the Steam Deck works so well I have to wonder how many people don’t know/care the OS it runs, or maybe they have forgotten it’s running Linux, or maybe they know but don’t consider themselves “Linux Gamers” just because they are using it.

      Sort of like how people playing on a Switch or PS3/4/Vita are technically FreeBSD gamers deep down.

      • Bright5park@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        It is, but I still count it as it’s own thing, in the same way most people count Debian and Ubuntu as two seperate distributions.

        • Communist@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          Yes, you’re correct, just a little funny that you moved from arch to basically steamarch, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, arch plus steam

  • brotherballan@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been running Linux Mint for a few years now and it’s been really good for me. Runs games through Steam and Lutris about as good as I’ve had it.

    I’ve also run other distros like Pop! and Fedora here and there but they seem to give me more issues.

  • lertsenem@mastodon.lertsenem.com
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    1 year ago

    I weirdly did not see anyone mentioning SteamOS? Formerly based on Ubuntu, now based on Arch, I believe.

    It’s the distribution that the #SteamDeck is packaged with, and so it’s become my main gaming distrib now. :]

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      Are they providing the arch based version for download now? I was under the impression they’ve only set it up for steam decks but not for general use?

        • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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          Yeah, thought so. Hope they’ll publish their newer versions as well soon.

      • lertsenem@mastodon.lertsenem.com
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        1 year ago

        @nlm You’re right, but there is an unofficial version (with some tweaks to work on standards PC) available here.

        It works as intended, but I would only recommend it if you intend to use your PC in a console-like setup (ie, plugged to a big screen, with a game controller).

        • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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          1 year ago

          Ah cool!

          Not something I’d use now then but still neat that you can get it :)

        • jakepi@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          I tried HoloISO and had pretty mixed results. I’ve had much better luck with ChimeraOS.

          The devs on ChimeraOS are excellent too, they take in community feedback and are very helpful.

  • s900mhz@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    A little background for context. I’m gamer and professional software developer. I’ve been dual booting windows 11 and pop os for awhile. Windows for games and pop os for everything else… Over the weekend I switched to NixOS. This came with a learning curve which I spent a day or so learning. I’ve been getting the hang of it now and I love it so much. I definitely recommend it. I managed to get steam working without much fiddling and my emulators. It’s been great! The benefits for programming are obvious. Allowing me to basically stop using docker dev containers.

    I completely removed windows from my computer and I’m very happy.

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      We used to run Ubuntu at my last job, it was so nice! I’m back in Windows land now though…

      • s900mhz@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Yeah my job recently started letting developers choose between windows and Mac now which is a step in the right direction… their excuse is that all their security software doesn’t run in Linux… Ill accept using a Mac over WSL though, that was a huge pain

        • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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          I’m still happy WSL exists, it’s definitely better than nothing if you’re stuck in Windows land!

          • s900mhz@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            Yeah absolutely! I know I dissed it, but I was happy to have it when I was stuck on windows for work.

    • Chobbes@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      NixOS is the path to enlightenment. Very good stuff. Also look into steam-run if you’re not already aware!

  • Mr_Vortex@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    I’m currently running Nobara and I really vibe with the Gnome desktop and Fedora in general. However, I recently installed Linux Mint for my girlfriend’s gaming rig and I was surprised by how lightweight and responsive it felt. It was also dead simple to use during the entire setup process and I can absolutely see how you’d never need to enter a terminal if you didn’t want to. If I ever have a reason to leave Nobara, I’m definitely going to go with Mint!

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      Tumbleweed’s always treated me very nice, you ought to try it out!

      Kind of makes me wish I opted for that right now… It’s always given me a very polished feeling!

  • Don't ask my name@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    Save yourself a lot of trouble and get a secondary SSD to put Linux on instead of doing a traditional dual boot. Normal dual boots with windows suck ass and lead to problems.

    As for a distro, I keep going back to endeavourOS. It’s just so minimal out of the box, and I still can’t find anything to match the convinience of the AUR + Pacman for package management.

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      It’s on a laptop. I do have an external usb that I have linux installed on but it feels like a hassle to connect/disconnect every time I need to switch OS. Maybe it could’ve been worth staying on it though?

      • Don't ask my name@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        I actually usually run linux on a USB SSD myself haha, but I am on a desktop so I can just leave it there. For you that’s definitely a hassle.

        • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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          I mean it works I suppose, at least when I’m at my desk at home which is where I mostly use it, but still. It’s not quite optimal. :)

  • Thorned_Rose@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I use Arch with KDE. I’ve been daily driving Arch coming up a decade now and despite testing various other distros on laptops over the years, I haven’t seen anything yet to tempt me away. I heart Pacman.

    Personally I find most of the laziness factor with Arch is a non issue once you get installation done. My previous install was 6 years old and the only reason I reinstalled was because I got a new PC.

    That said if an installer is a must-have then I would recommend Endeavour OS or Manjaro for best of both worlds.

    • nlm@beehaw.orgOP
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      True, it’s not that hard to get going either I suppose. Isn’t there a bunch of manual configuration after updates though? I have a faint memory of pacman telling me stuff that needed fixing after each update?

      Last time I played around with Arth i tried their archinstall script I think it was. Pretty neat cli installer that worked rather well.

      Endeavour is nice as well…

      Gah, you guys are making me want to spin up a whole bunch of distros :D

  • DaveedMee@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I use Arch with KDE Plasma for that comfy desktop environment feel but switch to BSPWM ever so often for productivity or to use my pc as just a media center