

2025 is (finally) my year for Linux. I’ve used Linux periodically fire 2 decades, but I’ve always used Windows as my main boot partition on my desktops/laptops.
I recently fucked up my Windows install, which is a whole other story, but point is I need to reformat and start fresh. I’m so sick of Microsoft’s shit, and I’ve been super impressed with Linux on my Steam Deck, so I’m going to be installing CachyOS soon.
My wife’s aging laptop is being killed by Windows bloat, too. Works great until Windows decides it needs to lock up 100% CPU, 100% memory, and 100% disk bandwidth to install a Microsoft Edge update. (True story.) She doesn’t even want/use Edge. This machine is used 100% for media streaming and web apps, so Linux is a perfect fit.
I have a friend in a similar situation. Both my friend and my wife I’m thinking an immutable distro will likely work best for them.
The big thing that’s been holding me back for years is that my desktop rig is my work computer, and I need OneDrive and the latest desktop version of Excel, but I’m so sick of wasting time with Microsoft’s bullshit that I’m just going to install debloated Windows 11 in a VM. I just need those two apps, so that’ll be plenty.
Sure, fair enough. But the OLED Steam Deck will also still be a great system in 10 years, especially for anyone who has a gaming desktop. With local game streaming, even with aging hardware the Deck will still be able to play the latest AAA games, and it will still be able to play hundreds of thousands of older games natively.
As a patient gamer, it’s a no brainer.