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Linux surpasses the Mac among Steam gamers

(arstechnica.com)
433 points Sporktacular | 19 comments | 04 Aug 23 00:36 UTC | HN request time: 1.731s | source | bottom
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015a ◴[04 Aug 23 05:12 UTC] No.36995730[source]▶
> But before you declare this a triumphant moment for desktop Linux, it's important to note that some of these Linux users are not, in fact, using Steam on a desktop. The Linux version "SteamOS Holo" 64-bit is the most popular reported, at just over 42 percent of the Linux slice of pie. That indicates that a huge portion of these Linux users are actually playing on Valve's Steam Deck portable, which runs Linux.

There's such a deep seeded, systemic bias against linux that it actually can never win, to any degree or magnitude, because the moment it starts winning we just move the goal-posts for the flimsiest of reasons to ensure it can't quite claim that victory.

Linux is obviously and clearly the most popular operating system kernel on the planet. Oh, no, that's no good a measure, servers are messy, let's refine it to most popular consumer operating system kernel? Oh... it, could also reasonably claim that title? No no, no Android, that doesn't count. Nope, No Chrome OS either, you can't have that, that's, well, that is linux, but its not. Just nice, pure, desktop linux, yes, perfect, arch linux, kde desktop, that'll never trend up and thus is the perfect new-new definition of desktop linu--wait hold up, I'm getting word this is, not possible, its actually SteamOS? Nope, kill it, that's not desktop linux either, kill it.

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1. fvdessen ◴[04 Aug 23 08:37 UTC] No.36997165[source]▶
The reason why we tend to only consider 'real' desktop OS such as Windows or OSX is that those are the generalists platform where content is produced and work is being done. The others are special purpose devices
replies(3): >>36997311 #>>36997456 #>>36997866 #
2. metaphor ◴[04 Aug 23 08:57 UTC] No.36997311[source]▶
...never mind that the Steam Deck has an entirely capable desktop mode[1], and people are indeed using it[2].

[1] https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/671A-4453-E8D2-32...

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/12sgnw7/what_do_...

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3. offices ◴[04 Aug 23 09:19 UTC] No.36997456[source]▶
But then we don't include the Linux environment I develop code in. Or the multiple Linux computers I ssh into to develop code.
4. Etherlord87 ◴[04 Aug 23 10:03 UTC] No.36997769[source]▶
Can I launch Blender there and will the experience be comfortable?
replies(2): >>36997791 #>>36998119 #
5. metaphor ◴[04 Aug 23 10:06 UTC] No.36997791{3}[source]▶
Apparently[1].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2m-TpHtg2U

6. realusername ◴[04 Aug 23 10:16 UTC] No.36997866[source]▶
I could make the exact same argument for OSX that you make against linux. It's a lower share platform, mainly used for special purpose (and increasingly so at each version since it's becoming less and less generalist). The purpose of system is what you are using it for.
7. andybak ◴[04 Aug 23 10:52 UTC] No.36998119{3}[source]▶
Yes assuming you use an external keyboard, mouse and probably a display (unless your eyesight is a lot better than mine).

You could probably get away without the mouse if you're ok with touchpad usage. But YMMV.

replies(1): >>36998475 #
8. Etherlord87 ◴[04 Aug 23 11:30 UTC] No.36998475{4}[source]▶
Yes, but similarly you could connect a computer screen to a server. The idea behind separating desktop computers is, as mentioned above, that it is a particular platform a lot of us are interested in. I imagine neither me or you are typing these comments on a server or a Steam Deck.
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9. metaphor ◴[04 Aug 23 12:15 UTC] No.36998902{5}[source]▶
> I imagine neither me or you are typing these comments on a server or a Steam Deck.

Stop imagining. I'm quite literally mooching around in bed posting this from Firefox on a Steam Deck in desktop mode docked to my bedroom TV. This[1] isn't your father's Oldsmobile.

[1] https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck/#SaleSection_24468

replies(1): >>37001054 #
10. andybak ◴[04 Aug 23 12:42 UTC] No.36999166{5}[source]▶
I think you're replying to the wrong person. I was merely commenting on the viability of running Blender on a Steam Deck.
11. an-unknown ◴[04 Aug 23 12:50 UTC] No.36999256{5}[source]▶
Yes, but if you connect a computer screen to a server, you'll notice that servers usually don't have GPUs for anything beyond "show a 1280x1024 console screen". Unlike a server, the Steam Deck is literally marketed as a device that can be used as a "desktop computer", that's the entire purpose of the optional USB-C dock.
replies(1): >>37001114 #
12. darkwater ◴[04 Aug 23 13:14 UTC] No.36999563{5}[source]▶
Or connect external monitor, mouse and keyboard to a laptop... So, shouldn't laptops count as "desktop computer" either?
13. lolinder ◴[04 Aug 23 13:33 UTC] No.36999793{5}[source]▶
You can't use Blender on a desktop PC that has no monitor attached, nor would it be comfortable to do so on a 13 inch laptop. Is my desktop computer also not a desktop computer because it's not useful until hooked up?
14. valeg ◴[04 Aug 23 13:47 UTC] No.36999979[source]▶
Desktop Mode on the Steam Deck is like a DVD playback on PS2 for me; an excuse to buy a portable gaming console. Pretty good one. You can actually do grown up things on it.
replies(1): >>37001754 #
15. Etherlord87 ◴[04 Aug 23 15:08 UTC] No.37001054{6}[source]▶
OK but I wasn't speaking to you. It's not surprising to me, that out of maybe hundreds of people reading our conversation, there was one using Steamdeck in an unusual way. But I imagine andybak wasn't, the argument being, the chance of him doing so is very low, because that's not how most people use Steamdecks, or from another perspective, I imagine most people commenting on Hackernews do so from a laptop or a desktop, and a mobile phone on the third place.
16. Etherlord87 ◴[04 Aug 23 15:11 UTC] No.37001114{6}[source]▶
This is a fair argument, Steam deck really is (much) closer to desktops than other handhelds.
17. conor- ◴[04 Aug 23 15:56 UTC] No.37001754{3}[source]▶
The Steam Deck is basically a mobile workstation that costs a fraction of what comparable hardware in a laptop would cost you.
18. ghusto ◴[04 Aug 23 17:13 UTC] No.37002851[source]▶
Indeed, never mind that, because it's irrelevant. Nobody is using a Steam Deck as their daily machine. Daily Linux users are using their existing machines, and Windows and Mac users are using their PCs and Macs.

Sure, some might dip into desktop mode to do a bit of browsing, or set up emulators, but nobody is saying "hey, I'll just use this as my daily driver now".

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19. metaphor ◴[04 Aug 23 17:39 UTC] No.37003241{3}[source]▶
> ...but nobody is saying "hey, I'll just use this as my daily driver now".

Seriously, the hubris[1][2][3][4][5] of it all.

[1] https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/12sgnw7/what_do_...

[2] https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/12sgnw7/what_do_...

[3] https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/12sgnw7/what_do_...

[4] https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/12sgnw7/what_do_...

[5] https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/12sgnw7/what_do_...