Side note as an ex-Windows user (from Windows 3.1 - W10) - Go with OSX and all the Windows-ification plugins you can find.
Apple out windows Windows.
If I didn't game so much, I'd go to all Linux and OSX devices.
gaming on linux has gotten MUCH, MUCH better over the past handful of years. I’ve been on linux exclusively for 6 years and in that time ive gone from using Lutris for everything and only installing the few verified titles through fairly complex wineconfigs other people made, to a brief check of protondb before installing whatever i want from Steam and having it work out of the box. basically the only things that don’t work anymore are competitive anticheat softwares, like Valorant’s.
Gaming in Linux is fine but it would be a crime to not mention, getting mods to work on Linux is still shit
That's a really big deal breaker. For me atleast.
Can you specify which games? I've modded plenty and it all still works as expected honestly
Mods that are installed by moving files (which covers most games) work fine most of the time; you'll probably need .dll overrides.
Mods that need certain libraries can be a hassle, or mixed bag (eg. RSMods for Rocksmith 2014 (CDLCs work fine though), RDR2 Mods based on ScriptHook.NET).
Mods that require a launcher are hard or impossible (pretty much anything on the Frostbite Engine. I think this is your best bet with it. Don't know if OpenIV currently works on Linux or if you need a VM with shared folders to use it).
Oh my god, any game that either relies on nexus or a mod launcher, take your pick, I mean sure, it’s doable, usually if you have a windows pc to install the actual mods on and copy the file directory over, but that’s a slim chance that it’ll work, if you’re having no problems missing you’re probably playing Skyrim
But the thing is, mod launchers have been working fine for me through wine. Though most games these days have integrated steam workshop support anyway.
If a game doesn't support Linux I refund it. Haven't had to refund in a good long while.
But Mac pretty much requires specific, ultra-expensive, not very repairable or upgradable devices.
Yeah but it's a trade off; if you want to tinker go Linux, if you want an OS that works really well with the hardware it was designed for go Mac. Not sure why anyone would use windows honestly.
Those that a) use whatever comes preinstalled on the computer (and Windows is on the affordable ones); b) need software that's not available on Linux. But yea, I would say that most people I know wouldn't even notice a switch to Linux. There are distros that "just work".
My MacBook Air and Mac Mini may not be internally upgradeable, but they didn't cost any more than comparable Windows machines.
Switching to Apple looks to be expensive. OP may not be able to use their existing machine and would have to spend a few thousand to buy a Mac. All that just to avoid an annoying pop-up?
If you're going to the trouble of learning a new OS, IMO you might as well just go straight for Linux. Gaming is a lot better on Linux than on OSX as well.
Linux has come a long way with gaming fortunately. I daily drive fedora and use Proton-GE/Wine-GE and can play most games with the exception of some problem ones (Assetto Corsa & Rust, I'm looking at you).
Only time I ever fool with W11 these days is when I use Studio One for music or play on of the (very few) problem games some friends want me to join them on.
I'd recommend checking out the Nobara distro for games.
Not surprising OSX is a better Windows in some ways. Switched to iPhone last summer for my daily driver and don't regret it. Best mobile experience I've had since my custom ROMs days on Android. Even started out setting up app folders to copy my Nova Launcher setup. That said, I'll be excited when more privacy respecting options come around to the mobile market for my next phone.
Side note as an ex-Windows user (from Windows 3.1 - W10) - Go with OSX and all the Windows-ification plugins you can find.
Apple out windows Windows.
If I didn't game so much, I'd go to all Linux and OSX devices.
gaming on linux has gotten MUCH, MUCH better over the past handful of years. I’ve been on linux exclusively for 6 years and in that time ive gone from using Lutris for everything and only installing the few verified titles through fairly complex wineconfigs other people made, to a brief check of protondb before installing whatever i want from Steam and having it work out of the box. basically the only things that don’t work anymore are competitive anticheat softwares, like Valorant’s.
Gaming in Linux is fine but it would be a crime to not mention, getting mods to work on Linux is still shit
That's a really big deal breaker. For me atleast.
Can you specify which games? I've modded plenty and it all still works as expected honestly
Mods that are installed by moving files (which covers most games) work fine most of the time; you'll probably need .dll overrides.
Mods that need certain libraries can be a hassle, or mixed bag (eg. RSMods for Rocksmith 2014 (CDLCs work fine though), RDR2 Mods based on ScriptHook.NET).
Mods that require a launcher are hard or impossible (pretty much anything on the Frostbite Engine. I think this is your best bet with it. Don't know if OpenIV currently works on Linux or if you need a VM with shared folders to use it).
Oh my god, any game that either relies on nexus or a mod launcher, take your pick, I mean sure, it’s doable, usually if you have a windows pc to install the actual mods on and copy the file directory over, but that’s a slim chance that it’ll work, if you’re having no problems missing you’re probably playing Skyrim
But the thing is, mod launchers have been working fine for me through wine. Though most games these days have integrated steam workshop support anyway.
If a game doesn't support Linux I refund it. Haven't had to refund in a good long while.
But Mac pretty much requires specific, ultra-expensive, not very repairable or upgradable devices.
Yeah but it's a trade off; if you want to tinker go Linux, if you want an OS that works really well with the hardware it was designed for go Mac. Not sure why anyone would use windows honestly.
Those that a) use whatever comes preinstalled on the computer (and Windows is on the affordable ones); b) need software that's not available on Linux. But yea, I would say that most people I know wouldn't even notice a switch to Linux. There are distros that "just work".
My MacBook Air and Mac Mini may not be internally upgradeable, but they didn't cost any more than comparable Windows machines.
Switching to Apple looks to be expensive. OP may not be able to use their existing machine and would have to spend a few thousand to buy a Mac. All that just to avoid an annoying pop-up?
If you're going to the trouble of learning a new OS, IMO you might as well just go straight for Linux. Gaming is a lot better on Linux than on OSX as well.
Linux has come a long way with gaming fortunately. I daily drive fedora and use Proton-GE/Wine-GE and can play most games with the exception of some problem ones (Assetto Corsa & Rust, I'm looking at you).
Only time I ever fool with W11 these days is when I use Studio One for music or play on of the (very few) problem games some friends want me to join them on. I'd recommend checking out the Nobara distro for games.
Not surprising OSX is a better Windows in some ways. Switched to iPhone last summer for my daily driver and don't regret it. Best mobile experience I've had since my custom ROMs days on Android. Even started out setting up app folders to copy my Nova Launcher setup. That said, I'll be excited when more privacy respecting options come around to the mobile market for my next phone.