By picking a standard menu option I can go to a traditional desktop and use Libre Office and Firefox.

Can I so that with a Switch?

I can plug in a USB dock, with a monitor, mouse and keyboard and edit images with GIMP.

Can I do that with a PS5?

If I like the Steam Deck UI, I can install a package on my desktop and pick it on login, thus gaining basically all of this functionality. I in fact do have the SteamOS 3 UI installed on a gaming PC, and it works really well.

Can I install the PS5 UI and the ability to play PlayStation games on a BSD box?

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Our_Benefactors a day ago | parent [-]

> Can I do that with a Switch?

You can install Ubuntu on a Nintendo switch by using a paperclip so yes.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SwitchHacks/comments/8f0ugz/hardwar...

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const_cast 19 hours ago | parent | next [-]

But that's not the same operating system. I would need to install a different operating system. So the Switch does not have a Linux Operating System - you can just install one.

If that's the metric, then Linux desktop use must be close to 100%. Almost every platform can install some Linux distro.

But SteamOS IS a Linux distro.

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happymellon a day ago | parent | prev [-]

> by using a paperclip

So, no?

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Our_Benefactors a day ago | parent [-]

Yes, you can. With a paper clip.

Some installations of linux require a USB drive.

This one requires a paper clip.

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happymellon a day ago | parent [-]

> > By picking a standard menu option I can go to a traditional desktop and use Libre Office and Firefox.

> > Can I so that with a Switch?

> Yes. With a paperclip

A paperclip isn't a standard menu item. It's a hack to switch the operating systems. Once you've hacked it you can't play Switch games until you revert back. That's nothing like what the deck is offering.

> Some installations of linux require a USB drive.

We aren't talking about hacking, we are talking about whether the deck comes with desktop Linux, which it does. What you are talking about is nothing like what the Deck is offering.

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Our_Benefactors a day ago | parent [-]

> you can't play Switch games until you revert back

You literally just have to reboot into the normal switch OS, it’s not different than dual booting.

	▲	happymellon a day ago \| parent [-]
		The Deck doesn't need to "dual boot". Hit the power button and instead on sleep or shutdown pick desktop and it switches interfaces. When in the desktop mode it still has Steam and you can still play Steam games. You're really reaching with the Switch is a desktop OS.