Finally migrated from Windows to Linux. For anyone wondering, what is the state of Linux as your primary OS for home PC\laptop in 2023.
I’ve finalised my Archlinux installation yesterday, I dropped of Linux more than 10 years ago and experience in 2023 in comparison is awesome and beyond even wildest dreams back then:
- For average user looking for more out of the box experience I would suggest something Arch based (people in comments suggest EndeavourOS, please do your research). Archlinux installation took me quite some time
- Almost everything works out of the box, by just installing corresponding package
- KDE Plasma environment is fast and beautiful
- Pipewire audio server (Jack\Pulseaudio replacement) works great
- Wayland window server is not there yet, especially if you have Nvidia with proprietary drivers and want to use VR. Waking up, session restoration and other scenarios have issues. Use X11.
- Wine is great!
- Music making - Bitwig Studio DAW has linux native version, yabridge allow you to use windows VSTs, which are easily installed via wine
- Gaming works out of the box with Steam for majority of titles, some games have native linux version. Performance is great. In worst case windows game might loose 5-15% in performance. Was not case for my titles
- Gaming outside steam is fine too. Use Wine, Lutris, Proton
- VR is a mixed bag. Not everything is there (Desktop view, sound control and mirroring, camera, motions smooth, lighthouses do not wake up os go to sleep. I use my phone to turn them on/off). But if its not the problem for you, quite some titles work. Tried: native HF Alyx, Lab, windows: Beat Saber and Boneworks. For me it’s a surprise, I did not count on it. Performance is great.
So overall my experience is great. Eventually I’m going to get rid of WIndows on other computers and laptops at howe. I can finally wave goodbye to Windows, with lots of ads and bloatware. Alway glad to help with answers regarding installation while my memory and history logs are fresh. ^^
Nice writeup. Seconding not using Manjaro. If you want something Arch based, try EndeavourOS instead.
I use Arch for my daily, and I would highly recommend against it for new users. 99% of the time it’s just fine. 1% of the time some edge case sneaks by and you update before a fix is pushed. In those cases, I’ve had installations be deeply broken, far beyond my expectations of normal users.
For actual recommendations, something Debian based for sure. Vanilla Debian, Mint, or Mint Debian edition. If you wanna live on the edge, Sid is rolling but in my experience was more stable than Arch.
New to Linux and chose arch? I know it’s got issues but isn’t Ubuntu still the stupid easy way to run Linux. Steam out of the box, no driver issues.
For me Arch was a way to go, because as I used it before - ~10 years ago. And it’s philosophy is appealing to me.
I’d prefer plain Arch over Arch-based since the latter will exclude you from receiving any support from Arch forums.
EndeavourOS has a large community, you’ll find plenty of help there while having an easier install and first time setup.
I fired up Steam last night and was surprised how many games in my library just work, including AAA titles. Amazing.
I bought a hybrid AMD/Nvidia laptop in 2021, installed Arch, the Nvidia dkms driver and flatpak steam and everything I wanted to play just worked. Getting gaming up and running is so much easier now thanks to valve’s work on proton.
Same experience on two more machines after.
