this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2023
-80 points (16.7% liked)
Linux
48031 readers
794 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Steam deck has entered the chat.
Steam deck is proof that it is possible to sell linux based devices, but so is chromeos and android. Steam deck is more of a Switch alternative. I doubt most are using it’s desktop mode.
Some major manufactures sell Linux laptops/desktops running linux, but you usually have to buy those directly from their website and you won’t find them at local retailers and mostly targeting those who already run linux and want a linux compatible device out of the box.
Linux is definitely a suitable os for most these days as the most widely used use cases are web based. Even Edge is on Linux now and MS’s biggest non-windows product is Office and Office365 which has web based options. The ads on windows are getting to the point that I could see an opportunity for a company though.
I think the steam deck is becoming the first computing device for a lot of young people that had iPads, and it's going to be a desktop computer for a lot of aspiring and broke college students. It's definitely a gateway device.
It can definitely be used as an inexpensive computing device. I wonder what percentage of people use a docked devices in general which is really the only practical way that works with a deck on a regular basis. Screen is really too small for serious usage as a general computing device without docking. Linux will get some users from steam deck, but I wouldn’t expect a large percent and those are the more confident computer users.