Linux

i don't use steam

notices username

if u game, you're going to have a (possibly) hard time in Linux. a lot of games work on Linux, but some don't and you're gonna maybe want to switch back. IMO: just dual boot or install Linux on another device (desktop vs laptop?). sounds like you're ready for it. I've been using Linux for 2 decades but still use windows for gaming, though mostly due to the childhood trauma of trying to get wine to work.

In case you dont already know, use protondb to find if you games will work.

I did not read the content of your post - and the answer is YES!

Try to first switch the programs you are using to ones that are available on Linux, e.g. use Krita or GIMP instead of Photoshop, and LibreOffice or OnlyOffice instead of Microsoft Office. If that works for you then you know you can switch.

On lemmy u will always get a yes for that question lol.

Checkout distrosea.com, u can test different linux distros through your browser. This saves u alot of time in testing distros.

U will want to install steam either way. Their proton layer works great to run acquired booty. If u have questions on how, lemmy know.

Yes

That's like asking, "Hey, guys! Should I eat a hamburger?" -- you want to use linux because you find it useful, or because "everyone is doing it" and you want to feel included? If it's the former... then by all means, do it. The learning curve may be confusing at first (considering most windows users have a "duck syndrome" -- expecting linux to behave the same as windows), but it's totally worth it.

Yes. Keep the old box for games on Windows only and try out stuff on Linux.

Be sure the laptop hardware is fully compatible. It is not worth thetime to work around crappy hardware. If it isn't, buy a refurbished Thinkpad.

Use something else instead of Brave

Sure you can, but gtx 1650 is not cutting it if you wanna play modern "AAA" games even on low settings 1080p unless you sacrifice resolution, as for everything else you should be fine

Yes switch to garuda Linux now!!

Just try and see how it goes - it's not like you can't go back

Unfortunately, no.

Due to the year of the linux desktop, new user applications have been closed. The overwhelming positive response has just completely bypassed the available seats.

I’m sorry, but we’re full.

You should switch to Firefox with ublock origin.

Brave is a mess of a browser and a dumpster fire of an organization, even compared to the famously dysfuctional Mozilla.

You can look up your games on ProtonDB and see which will and won't work. Pirated games are no different from retail compatibility-wise but there might be one or two extra steps

If you are going to try Linux from a USB drive as suggested by others here try and get a USB3 drive. Most of the cheap USB drives are USB2 which is really too slow to be of use.

Grab a few usb sticks and put different images on them to try some different OS's. Get a feel for how easy they are to install / config / use.

Then put your favorite on your internal drive, and maybe keep a couple of specialized sticks for whatever: troubleshooting, browsing, streaming, gaming, office...

Hey OP, I did not read your post but the answer is "hell yes"

Yes.

It's like getting children. You only know afterwards how it really feels and even if it's a hassle sometimes you wouldn't ever change back.

yeah you should

you should definitely try it out and see if you like it; try various distros and desktops

the distros id recommend are fedora (simply good), opensuse tubleweed (versatile and unobtrusive), cachyos (designed for gaming), bazzite (fedora-based steamOS clone, designed for gaming), or mint (very easy), and the de id recommend is kde plasma

can keep windows on a separate drive to boot for the games that dont work (and in case u want to switch back)

but if ur pirating, those wont be kernel anticheat games, which are the main offenders

I would also recommend against using Brave, but it's available on Linux if you want to use it.

Pirated games work just fine with Heroic, Lutris or Bottles.I personally like Heroic and I've not had many issues with steamrip releases (they don't need to be installed).