So a few counter discussion points to that -

What 50 billion devices are you referring to? If you're counting android in there you shouldn't, you can't upgrade the kernel yourself and you're stuck with the vendor's decisions to update or not

What are you calling linux? The kernel only?
If the whole system, most distros require you to reboot with updates to core services/software, especially to the desktop environment.

Microsoft are idiots with this whole win10 to win11 debacle (what happened to win10 is the last version ever?), and they should simply disable the few features that require new chip features in a slightly cut down version (mostly security related, let the users choose, just like you can choose SE Linux or not).

Are you talking about this article, or other articles?

Because this article says that linux is faster on one bespoke and fully integrated handheld.

If other articles, care to share them?

I'm not sure which side of the discussion you're on from that reply, I was fairly balanced. I can try to restate again..

- linux gaming on amd is awesome with steam/proton

- linux gaming on nvidia is generally substandard but works well for some people

- Gaming is still generally more performant on windows

- The article title is misleading. A few specific games on a specific device ran faster on Linux than on windows. This isn't a large win for anyone except the people who optimised proton for this very specific chipset + processor + video combination.

- SteamOS will be great when it's fully out as a standalone thing and lead to more and more of the above scenarios as it's tuned for more and more devices, but right now it's only out for a handful of VERY specific devices

Which of those are grasping at which straws, from which viewpoint?

It's two guys whose other project was an iOS collaborative whiteboard app. I'd guess they are iOS developers in their day job.

On a specifically tuned for steamos device that cannot use the latest windows graphics drivers....

- If you have NVIDIA (which is a HUGE majority of the market) then games will run worse on linux, including linux native ones

- SteamOS isn't supported on desktops yet, even if you're 100% AMD, so this is limited to a small selection of handhelds

- If you have a 100% AMD desktop proton runs games VERY well, but most games are going to benchmark slower.

Once/If SteamOS is supported on desktops then this will be awesome news.

You can play MSFS in linux if you're using steam through proton.

Proton (basically a gaming based wine fork) has been amazing for 2+ years. Don't try and use default wine.

Most of these games don't have a native linux version, but are built to play nice with proton.

As a gamer who goes between xbox and pc every few years I think this will be great. I especially like that the "xbox frontend" will support steam games inline as well.

The only real thing missing is ability to log into your PC via controller somehow.

I'm guessing you are being sarcastic, but with the new ROG Ally xbox branded handheld you can, AND the dashboard shows steam games along side msft store games as one big grouping.

I would guess this will be 100% possible with the next xbox as it's a model that makes sense. A lot of microsoft games are on steam already as well.

I'd more say:

"Don't Be Evil" - Google 30 years ago

"Make Money" - Google now.

It's not evil for evil's sake, it's evil for money's sake. If they could make more money by not being evil they would.

Do you genuinely believe the hit to hardware sales will be more than a rounding error?

They sell 10M a year (as of 2023, can't find an exact number for 2024). Do you think they sell 100k that would not buy it due to no AOSP support? I would guess 10k would be a stretch.

Yes, for white people in the USA and some of europe.

Because they aren't trying to solve the problem of "replace every driver in every city in every circumstance".

This is like people saying no one should buy EVs because you can't go on a 2000km drive with only a 5 minute stop or two for fuel, or you can't tow the 3 tonne caravan you use once every 18 months.

https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fnews%2Fu...

How many humans have you seen do that? (likely a tonne)
It's easy to see a waymo on the road and notice it.

Also, one anecdote doesn't override large aggregate data, it forms one single data point.

I once saw a magpie that only swooped men. Does that mean I doubt that magpies swoop women?