Steam OS page gets a redesign, finally retiring the old design from the Steam OS 2.0 era
Here's the old page:
Here's the link: https://store.steampowered.com/steamos/
Credit to @abobla@lemm.ee for the post.
I've got a gaming laptop from a few years back. Republic of gamers, or some such nonsense.
Been thinking of switching to some brand of Linux. Seems like this might be a good way to try it out.
Be mindful of Nvidia drivers, should that notebook come with a GeForce GPU. SteamOS does not support Nvidia. Use Bazzite in such a case.
Appreciate the heads up. I'm pretty sure it's an AMD processor, but I don't know about the video card.
Is Bazzite an OS that I would use, or is it a set of drivers that lets SteamOS play nice with Nvidia?
Is Bazzite an OS that I would use, or is it a set of drivers that lets SteamOS play nice with Nvidia?
You cannot install Nvidia drivers on SteamOS without jumping through more hoops than it's worth because the system partition is write protected. You can unprotect it but the next SteamOS update everything will be reset.
All improvements from SteamOS eventually trickle down to all mainstream desktop Linux distributions anyway, just as all Red Hat improvements trickle down to SteamOS.
Bazzite happens to be a gaming-focused distribution but you can also just get Fedora KDE and have a good time as well. I happen to like the download assistant at https://bazzite.gg/#image-picker which more distribution should adopt.
If you're assuming the user will have trouble with SteamOS' write protection, which I totally agree with, Bazzite is also surely going to cause headaches. The idea of a locked down system that gets most apps as Flatpaks sounds appealing, until the cracks start to show up.
I strongly suggest going with your other proposal, something like plain Fedora with KDE.
Bazzite founder here. I started Bazzite after spending a few months helping with support on the steam deck Discord because I had already been using atomic fedora and knew the proper workarounds for people who wanted to install applications on a read-only distro like SteamOS.
Bazzite was initially an experiment to see what it would take to get SteamOS packages working in Fedora Atomic, because I knew Fedora Atomic provided a better experience for installing applications that had to be a part of the root system than SteamOS could.
Unlike SteamOS you can layer applications over the root system and they will be kept across updates instead of being removed entirely. You're also able to spin off custom images with any changes you want through a GitHub action. You have full access to the roof file system during the build process.
Hi. Can I apologize for getting so upset on your Discord and ask something? Next time you won't do something, please at least recommend another Distro that might.
I discovered my best option is Arch Linux, though setup was not easy. Projects like Steam Handheld Integration Project are probably the best option for someone if they ask for a feature and you are unable or unwilling to provide it, I understand you're not obligated to code anything and just want to say that if a feature is outside of scope, recommendations for other distros is the best approach to deal with Linux newbies like me.
Also, to anyone asking, yes Arch was a pain. It's a small miracle I got it working. It is, however, a good option for Windows 11 handhelds like the OneXFly if you understand command lines (CLIs) like my brother.
Thank you.
You are not forgiven, your behavior was disgusting beyond all measure.
In no uncertain terms would I ever recommend Arch to a beginner, nor would I help a user behaving in the way that you did.
Do not reach out to me again on any platform.
You are not forgiven, your behavior was disgusting beyond all measure.
Oh, what a wonderful person that is:
If you’re assuming the user will have trouble with SteamOS’ write protection, which I totally agree with, Bazzite is also surely going to cause headaches.
For the specific context I was replying to – Nvidia drivers – Bazzite's write protection is completely irrelevant because there are editions with Nvidia drivers preinstalled.
The idea of a locked down system that gets most apps as Flatpaks sounds appealing, until the cracks start to show up.
Depends on the use case. SteamOS comes with Distrobox. All non-Flatpak needs of mine can be achieved through this.
Sure, but the original context was a new user wanting to try Linux on their gaming laptop.
Both Bazzite and SteamOS will result in headaches from their limitations.
Sure, but the original context was a new user wanting to try Linux on their gaming laptop.
And I was giving a heads up regarding Nvidia graphics and only Nvidia graphics. I know what I wrote.
Sure...?
It kind of does matter, from what I understand. nVidia's closed-source laptop chip drivers were apparently a huge headache for Linux gaming.
Yep, and they're still quite troublesome. But installing Nvidia drivers is not the only problematic aspect of an immutable distro, so it doesn't matter at all if Bazzite makes it easy as far as my point goes.
Most linux OS with locked down file systems allow you to install apps permanently if you need something that doesn't work with flatpak/distrobox/etc. It's usually called something like atomic updates, and it installs the software in a layered image, and will require a reboot to load.
It's not the ideal way to install software, but it's a lot easier than your options for installing packages on SteamOS.
I haven't personally used Bazzite, so I'm not 100% sure that it supports it, but I'm assuming it does. If anyone else wants to confirm it I would appreciate it. Edit: you can, here's the documentation page on it
Bazzite still has experimental support for NVidia GPUs, you should use Nobara HTPC Nvidia ISO
Bazzite still has experimental support for NVidia GPUs, you should use Nobara HTPC Nvidia ISO
None of the Nvidia issues are because of Bazzite. They are all because of NVidia's drivers and those are the same everywhere. Nothing Nobara or anyone else but Nvidia can do. See https://docs.bazzite.gg/Handheld_and_HTPC_edition/quirks/#nvidia-exclusive-issues
Windows works 🤷♂️
Not really on console-style hardware. That's why sales of these are so low.
If that's the intended use case of that notebook, Windows won't be any fun.
That said, I prefer not to touch Nividia with Linux myself after some trauma a couple of years ago.
I use Linux for my server, VMs and networking hardware but get burned every time I try to use it for my hobbies/gaming. There's always something that doesn't work unfortunately.
There’s always something that doesn’t work unfortunately.
Usually NVidia drivers which is why I gave the heads up regarding them. SteamOS on compatible hardware is ready to use as much as it gets, definitively better than using Windows on any device that's not using keyboard and mouse as primary input. Again: That’s why sales of these are so low.