Well, you can try a Live CD for first contact. Or even a virtual machine, with a complete install of the operating system and desktop environment, without touching your actual system.

This shouldn’t be a thing of luck, if you are prepared.

Linux = Libre

MacOS = Jail

Comic Sans

Well, no need to websearch. Just go to the website and look for any official links, such as the wiki. As for the optimized packages, I found this on their website:

CachyOS does compile packages with the x86-64-v3, x86-64-v4 and Zen4 instruction set and LTO to provide a higher performance. Core packages also get PGO or BOLT optimization.

So the listed CPUs in the requirements list should take advantage of this I guess. And my assumption is, that these CPUs are required to run the packages at all. Maybe that’s where the “newer machines” is meant with.

Who says CachyOS is mostly for newer machines?? I don’t know why anyone would make such a claim. At least on their website, no such claim can be found. The official system requirements are listed at https://wiki.cachyos.org/installation/installation_prepare/ , you can switch between minimum and recommended set.

I was on Manjaro before too and can recommend the switch to EndeavourOS too.

How is it bloated if you decide what to put on? Gentoo isn’t a traditional distribution, its what you make it to. Still you have to answer for yourself why you even want to switch to Gentoo. And if all the extra work for compilation is worth it. Do you even want to compile everything and customize the compilation process? If not, maybe Gentoo is not for you. That’s the thing. Only you can answer that.

Why do you want switch to Gentoo in the first place? I think its a good idea if you want to customize and build lot of applications yourself. Besides heavy hitters like browsers or the Kernel. So only you can answer if this is a good idea for you.

Linux is not a lifestyle

I have to disagree about this point.

I’d love to some of the Bazzite users migrate to Bluefin or Aurora.

Why?

I don’t trust this company, as they hate Linux. Wouldn’t use their engine if I target Linux, as we don’t know how they will support it in the future. I am not against open sourcing it, that’s not my issue. In fact I applaud it. But can’t trust them. Anyone supporting this project will help making their games better, who do not give a shit about Linux support.

Is there any technical reason to use s&box engine over any other Open Source engine? I ask that from a gamer perspective and don’t know all the differences.

BTW there is also the package (Bash script) downgrade to do this job. It is in official EndevourOS repositories, but also in the AUR. And if you want do it manually, head over to https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Downgrading_packages .

Instead installing older version that is either unsecure, or can cause dependency problems, I rather install Flatpak: https://flathub.org/en/apps/one.ablaze.floorp

TL;DR: Basically gaming compatibility and additional complications, on top of all what is new due to Linux.

I have a brother trying to convince him to use Linux over Windows (or at least dual boot). I could make him use Manjaro (back then when I was using Manjaro myself) on a laptop. That was his first experience and he is a gamer who likes multiplayer games. So the experience was a bit mixed. Later I borrowed him my Steam Deck for 2 weeks and it was a torture to myself, as it was the launch period of the hardware. And then I convinced him to buy Steam Deck instead a laptop.

He still loves the Steam Deck and uses it here and there, especially on vacation. But as lot of primary multiplayer games he play do not work on Linux and because of complications with some non Steam games and lot of applications he had, such as Discord, he went back to Windows on his new PC. Some complications arised because of the Steam Deck and its limitations, but that did not change the fact how games he plays are not working.

But he admits that SteamOS is the better operating system. And he understands why it is what it is, but as said, that does not change the fact he cannot play some of his favorite games on Linux. But that is not all. You have to understand that newcomers who experience LInux for the first time, and switched reluctant without research, don’t know what Wayland is, don’t know differences between desktop environments and has to deal with compatibility layers on top of all other new Linux stuff for them.

Why your sister felt she has less control is just a feeling, because she know less, therefore can control less. It makes sense from her perspective, so I would not say its entirely wrong.

Honestly, I am grateful that the FSF is a bit more strict in this definition. While I do not care too much about this, I think it is good that we have some ideal to follow and look forward. And its good, because anyone who wants to go that route, have a community and direction.

Agree to fully switch to a 100% free os? No. I need the nvidia driver.

Well, there is an Open Source Nvidia driver nowadays (not talking about Nouveau, but the new Nova). I don’t know how good it is and my old Nvidia 1070 card is not supported by Nova. So cannot do any comparisons sadly. I think in the future Open Source Nvidia drivers could be in a similar spot as AMD.

Calling a “regular” Linux desktop operating system being Black boxed or closed source is a bit too far in my opinion. I do not agree 100%, but I understand the concerns and points brought up in this discussion.

I would just use an old phone, either yours or maybe from your family. A dedicated alarm clock that stays at home and is always charged. It has only one job: alarming. No need to make yourself dependent on a random online website. This can be done offline.

If no password is needed to do authentication, then any script and any user is able to do whatever they want on your system. Basically every script and application has root access by default. That is something you do not want to have. Even more important in multiuser environments.

Looks like one of the better tutorial / documentation series in a blog I have seen a while for Bash. Most are short and shallow. I think this is NOT an Ai slop. I won’t read it, because I know most of the basic stuff and some advanced stuff too. But from quick look I could recommend this. Well done.