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433 points Sporktacular | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.227s | source
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015a ◴[] 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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fvdessen ◴[] 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 #
metaphor ◴[] 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_...

replies(3): >>36997769 #>>36999979 #>>37002851 #
valeg ◴[] 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 #
1. conor- ◴[] No.37001754[source]
The Steam Deck is basically a mobile workstation that costs a fraction of what comparable hardware in a laptop would cost you.