Gamer115x

PCIe 3.0 x4.... So, in theory, you could use an M.2 to PCIe x4 converter, and insert an x4-compatible SATA Raid card...right? I'm not saying it's impossible, but if the option is there, it's a possibility.

I think it has something to do more with the people who push it like it's the new religion than Linux itself. When you phrase a question like you want something to happen, many people think there's a hint of entitlement. It's a very slippery game. Since this thread started with the topic that popular channels like LTT should go as far as to test Linux on most -- if not, all -- products that enter their warehouse, it literally isn't worth their time to do so. As such, since the OP of the thread has gone so far as to declare a nonverbal standing that they believe Linux is something that will draw traffic, it is a double-edged sword. It might get Linux more popularity, but it could also turn away primary viewers of the YT channel since Linux is either not their normal focus or they'd rather not get involved with something complicated/new; there's an explaination for every person, but the point is it likely won't happen because it isn't profitable. Then, I guess, go do it. You as an individual have more power over this kind of thing than LTT or any mainstream YT channel that isn't just a bunch of hobbyists and enthusiasts conglomerated together. "Popping" that bubble is the tricky part, though.

I know enough when to drop my hat and let the professionals be at their position high above everyone else. As I may have mentioned, oversimplification can lead to misinformation (though I may have quoted that differently), and I am still considered a basic user (though advanced enough to use the Terminal prompt efficiently, and build packages from source. Though most of that isn't too hard to begin with) so I am still learning the way infrastructure works. Being a hobbyist/enthusiast only gives you so much experience. I am still learning about servers, and I will add it to my personal knowledgebase regarding POSIX and RISC, though I am still planning on starting with Linux servers. Any recommendations regarding configurations and hardening? Legitimately asking. When I talk about *nix as a topic, I usually regard the overarching structure of Unix and BSD, since BSD is often considered a "faithful" reconstruction of Unix for the modern environments. I did not mean to discount or mislead making MacOS sound like a Linux distro, but often the correlation is made because of the underlying architecture (since being based on Unix or an offset of Unix). The mic drop was only there because most people (including those who are withstanding this onslaught of back-and-forth but choose not to get involved) never knew how close of an ancestry MacOS and Linux had, even if it comes down to Indians and Colonists, if I'm allowed the comparison. Regarding market share, it was meant in regards to an average consumer. While market share impacts the profit margin and probability to produce content regarding it, increasing awareness wouldn't hurt in some circumstances and depending on the topic and focus, could be profitable even with low market share. But I've never taken any classes in Economics, so, I'm basing this on theory. In the end, I'm still in favor of the same opinion; performing consistent Linux tests on every and any PC is not worth it, and anyone who wishes to do that independently can post their results on either a separate forum thread, or on an official listing such as Debian's Hardware list.

And, pray tell, how did you get there? It isn't as simple as holding the Delete key or the F12 key while it starts up, since Fast Boot options set within the UEFI often skip a lot of prelimination sequences used by old BI/OS chips, though it is still there for legacy compatibility and coding methodology usually pertaiing of, "let's make the old new again, but better." For an average user, such as myself when I first did this with an old decommissioned HP laptop, I was forced to hold down Shift while powering down to enter the UEFI, to which most users don't or won't do something that implies master-level knowledge. While most of the computer users on this earth are fairly competent in use with their computers, a fairly small percent are actively able to be classified as completely in familiartity with, at the very least, the equipment and software they use on a day-to-day basis. Most users of a laptop or especially a desktop use them to do simple tasks, maybe on occasion a complicated computation or something, even a game or two to crush some extra clock cycles. They are not expected to suddenly learn how to subvert their system to get into the UEFI/BIOS to install Linux. This is why I advocate VMs since most users can use that to familiarize themselves with Linux, then go online with some tech forums (Like this one!) to take the next step if they want, or go find their geeky friend (most people know one) to help them out. It's never "1 click". It's a few keycaps and a mouse battery later for many users. For people like you and me, it's just a few minutes and a cup of coffee later.

As a fairly consistent *nix user myself since around 2013, I feel obliged to put my two cents on the table. For me, it wasn't about "trying something new," or, "I can finally become the level 100 wizard!" Or, whatever were the popular memes about computer nerds back in the early 2000's...It came down to price. When I had gotten my first Laptop (A Gateway NE series), it was Windows 7. And I had been accustomed to windows since my childhood, using it as far back as 98. But then I finally had the gift of building my own PC and saw relative prices on Windows licenses. I wasn't going to pay $80+ dollars for a Windows copy, and I never knew of key sites for OEM copies, so I went with something I had heard of once or twice before: Linux. To say the transition for a casual Windows user to just up and start using Ubuntu 14.10 would be like saying, "I put my lemon meringue pie in the oven too long, but it came out with pretty patterns in the burnt spots." I ended up reformatting it like four times in the course of a month because I had messed some configuration setting up (Once after because of a bug in old Unity Desktop Environment when I was messing around with a KVM switch I had 'fixed'). Granted, I was a pretty high-level user even when I started using Linux, so I wasn't afraid to get knee-deep into the binary. But as a first-time user, it was surprisingly easy to install. I have been using Linux on just about every device since then because Linux has become my go-to OS, and since it basically runs on anything and everything, I kinda like it. I've dabbled in Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Manjaro, OpenSUSE and Feren OS, and Manjaro has become my primary Linux Distribution since I like full control over my computer. Back in 2014, I had just learned how to operate the Terminal environment effectively, and I look back on that day and chuckle. This won't be every user's experience. I know that. But instead I want to clarify a few things I noted while reading this forum thread. Twilight, you seem to be running off-character. Your structural bias has left you open to scrutiny. For that, I must scrutinize you as well as those posing the arguments. That's where you're sort-of right. Sort-of. LTT (Linus Media Group) has a central focus for gamers because that is the market majority for people purchasing high-end equipment like graphics cards and CPUs that are either borderline enterprise equipment or designed for multi-user workloads. Linus has, and likely always will be, focused on the technology as a standpoint for every user. Every enthusiast. He and his employees often try to do or find crazy neat technology that often meets different criteria per video/topic. Notice only recently they've been focusing on more Server-based videos? Partially, it's because now they can afford to make these awesome servers, but it's also because that's the popular topic they want to cover. Notice how they use Linux for a number of these applications. Notice how they only started talking about Linux months after they first talked about the server configurations. Linux wasn't profitable as a topic at the time, so it was put on the backburner for the time being. Then Anthony came in the picture and everything changed. Also, every Distro has a same-but-different approach to high-demand applications, such as those from Steam (Proton), Blender, and GIMP/Kirita, for examples. Some have more efficient system packages, others, not so much. Fedora, in my experience, was the smoothest experience regarding desktop graphics as opposed to Debian and Debian-based distributions; but this is a single-user case, and there are too many variables to properly diagnose. seeing it demonstrated sure, but they didn't really go in depth with how easy this all is. they made the same error most experienced linux users make when speaking to noobs. they were too in depth. This is one of the few times I might actually agree with you Twilight, but the truth is that Linux is an in-depth platform. There are a few thousand ways to oversimplify certain mechanics, but youtube channels like Switched to Linux, for example, often outline these methods already. As a friend of mine once told me, "It's too easy to talk about something you enjoy with a passion. It's hard to talk about it in a way everyone will understand it." To oversimplify would insinuate either lack of information, or misinformation. This is why most Linux professionals, or even Windows and MacOS professionals will talk gibberish sometimes when to them it's a fairly standard knowledge. They say teaching is an art. I agree. Check-and-mark. Exceptions occur, but Privacy is a touch easier in Linux than Windows since the Telemetry is often agressive on Windows 10. You can have a million reasons why or how some things can be disabled or removed, but the truth is that to an average user, they're downright impossible and unfeasible to modify. This is how scammers are able to make bank on unaware consumers, because many of the tools that are often considered Administrative are overlooked by the common user, yet that same section would have every toggle-switch to your OS in a perfect world. Exception: Windows is not easy, nor is it hard. Windows Visa/7, running Aero, was easy as all heck to use. XP and beyond were intuitive if cluttered. They screwed up in Windows 8 with Metro, which confused many consumers. They blended Aero with Metro in Windows 10 and I feel obligated to say they did a pretty "meh" job making it user-friendly. Granted, veteran Windows users can adapt (Hi Grandma!) but to those forced to make a radical change (i.e. XP to Windows 10, in an extreme case) will be taken aback, especially with the settings panel. Modernism does not mean radical change to fit whatever HTML-based stylizing is popular on the net. Linux, on the other hand, isn't too much better with the multible Desktop Environments, but there's a level of adapability, customization and choice that the end-user has to make it better to move around. Specific-use cases, like mine. When you're running on a low income but can't shill out for a Windows license, Linux becomes a very intriguing offer. Many older computers can also be given new life with lightweight Linux distros, reducing E-Waste. Aspiring developers might find more use in some of the advantages Linux has over Windows regarding certain tasks. The list is situational but pertinent. Admins can do this. Sysadmins are familiar with this. The general user will parse through how-to guides and either screw something up in the registry or balk at the complexity of it and sigh in defeat. You aren't even guaranteed that it was up-to-date information and that the computer won't just update itself anyhow. it wasn't as easy as it is now. regardless there is no downside. if you have spare storage space there is literally no downside. Yes and no. Yes, it is easier now, but it still is very difficult to someone just learning about the system and how their computer works. Easier should always be in italics when discussing storage or drive management. It's never easy, just complicated. Atop that, UEFI configurations with Windows 10 make it difficult to set up a second OS on the same computer. Stop right there ninja hands, 'cause there's nothing that will convince me otherwise. I dislike this analogy, yet I can't help but wince at the effectiveness. When I say something should be gotten used to it's through experience. The way you're inferring Twilight's statement tells me that the average user would see it as torturous and unequal ground, or that's how I read it. Sure, Linux is difficult for those who swap cold-turkey, but there aren't to many limitations beyond some familiar programs, which is why the earlier topic of Dual-booting, though complex, might be appealing to users with specific requirements. Linux isn't meant for everyone, and I accept that. Just don't have to twist the knife, is all. Arguable. I've only had hands-on interaction with MacOS for a cumulative total of 4 hours, and everything felt a little foreign, even after switching to Linux and using many different Desktop Environments. The idiom goes: "If you grow up with it, you learn it as gospel. If not, there's complication and brick-walls." This is one of the few points I can sadly resign a position of argument in. I've understood Google always had a focus on web development, and their office suite (all online!) helps solidify this foundation. Of course I'm not mentioning Youtube, Hangouts, the Search Engine, etc. because when I think of Google, those are the first things I think of. The world is focused on the Cloud, with their heads in the clouds. There is no arguing that. The only exception to any such Webapp argument would be ChromeOS, a product of Google. Arguably, the Pixel series too, but they're Android-based, not Linux. Meh, your opinion friend. While filesystems may be confusing, there are more than enough documentation sources online that can help you find what you need to find, in a short variety of ways to do it. I know what's coming, "But you shouldn't need to go look online for tutorials and how-to guides to find your stuff!" I'm assuming you've deleted System32 at least once in your life if you believe such things are possible. Nobody can remember everything about their computer, and often I have a text file on hand in my Documents folder for obscure directories, files, and programs that are often useful, that I don't use much. But, hey, your opinion. Nothing is obscure unless it has to be. As a Linux user, once-Windows user, I concur with this statement. Unless you're still running XP, stick with what you have and don't fret about it. Or, if you are curious, load up a Virtual Machine and run a distro in Live mode. It doesn't hurt anything, and most hardware now can support an action like this (default settings often are fine). everyone uses linux, if they know it or not. it runs basically the entire internet. even if it's not your primary OS it's worthwhile to know it. That's like saying everyone uses Apache and Nginx and therefore it's worthwhile for everyone to learn them -- a complete garbage argument. When you're browing the Internet, do you know what web-servers each site is using in the background? No? Yeah, because you're not using the web-servers, you're using whatever is built on top of them. You are disillusioned, the lot of you. I'm sorry, that was mean. Let me phrase this in an easy method: Linux runs a server. The Server in turn runs a web service -- such as Apache -- that your PC, the one you are interacting with, connects to. Apache loads up the service details and the website HTML, and the HTML follows suit by grabbing any CSS code it needed to load with it. They are sent out of Port 80 to the recipient (Some servers have different forward ports), and then the recipient has that webpage on their browser. Explained? I hope so. It doesn't matter about market share, the fact is that the number is slowly growing, and may have a spike...soon or never. Regardless, there are reasons to switch to Linux, and I won't discount anyone wanting to stick to what they prefer, but at the very least you should understand MacOS is just a variant from *nix. Mic drop. And Twilight...Not everyone use Linux, nor do they interact with it; they use a service running on a Linux machine. While I do not disagree users should know more about their machine, they will likely be interfacing with Windows. That is just how Microsoft has played their marketing and distribution channels. It is getting easier. Flatpak and Snap, for example, are package managers that operate on containers; they don't need dependencies unless explicitly stated, since they come pre-packaged with whatever they need. On top of that, packages can easily be installed using the software center included with most distributions. There are also AppImages, which are prepackaged binaries that often run by themselves (See Kirita and BalenaEtcher, to name a few I use). It's slow growth, but these methods are making it easier to package and distribute programs and applications. Now the commands...In the Terminal...I recommend installing Oh-My-Zsh if you're going that route. We don't care about what you do not care about. It's only because I make this statement that a double-negative occurs in a derogatory statement. You can have your opinions. I/We can respect those opinions. Nobody should cater to one's needs unless of such circumstances that require such actions. This thread was made with the best of intentions, but instead you assume it's a, "I want this to happen and you're gonna do it now!" post. Granted, Linux could have been conveyed better as a topic for a video, but I'm agreeing with the majority here; Not many YouTubers -- Popular or not -- will go as far as to test everything that is Linux on every piece of hardware they encounter. This is just basic knowledge: "if it doesn't turn a profit that my time is to be spent doing all this work, is it worth my time?" That's where the people who have too much time on their hands post results on hardware forms, like this one on Debian, which contains instructions and some in-depth information on how to get Linux (in this case, Debian) running in the best way possible. Any questions?

If I may put a little more information forward regarding keyboard keys that may or may not exist... A while back, I had encountered an issue with a new laptop that was missing that "Context Menu" key, which I used fairly often as it was much quicker to use than using the touchpad to use the right-click menu. At the same time I think I had enough experience in Linux to properly edit my laptop's functions enough to create a new keybind similar to the function key. I would have been happy enough to just make something simple like Alt+Space, but then this was presented to me: I will remind any readers that this is a Linux-based fix. Windows users might be able to play around with either Autohotkey or LuaMacros (Formerly HidMacros), both talked about during LTT video "DIY 87-Key Macro Keyboard - Because he has way too many shortcuts!" With a mixture of xmodmap* and a program called xcape, you can rebind a function to a key, but only momentarily as a long press or holding down of the same key would make it so the key could function as normal. For example, Right Alt (or as it is also called, R_Alt). In my instance, I installed xcape and ran the code: xcape -t 500 -e "Alt_R=Menu" Every time I "tap" the Right Alt key, it will now, using xcape, open the Right-Click Context Menu wherever the cursor is. However, holding it for 500 milliseconds (as outlined by -t 500 ) or longer allows it to function as normally intended. So why did you put this next to a Windows-centric post about an IBM keyboard? Well, because it's a useful quirk for any Linux-goers out there who might see this and think, "Hmm, would I be able to do something similar with mine?" On top of that, adding a function that doesn't interfere with traditional typing too much may be more appealing to some people (can probably do something similar with Autohotkey or LuaMacros). There are many laptops, older ones mostly, but even newer laptops with spacing cuts that either relocate the Menu key to a far off place (I'm looking at you Dell Inspiron 6000...) or leave out one or several keys for space efficiency. Just something to add in was all. -------- Read the Reddit post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/i3wm/comments/ad6fdx/is_it_possible_to_create_a_menu_key/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x * The reason you need xmodmap is for the keybinds — the raw names of the keys in question. xmodmap -pke lists all keys and their functions through the current Keyboard Language. Read the Arch Wiki article for more information if you are interested.

This is an easy headache to remedy, though the methods are yours to choose. I watched the video too, and as far as I know Linus never mentioned specifically the usr directory, just the vague term, 'User,' and I'm assuming that you are talking about the part where he mentioned a user that had a Github repository where all he had to do was let that do its job and he'd be up and running on any computer. This is likely a custom set of scripts (probably using automation software such as Ansible) that either automatically installs the programs and pulls configuration files from the Github page, or pulls information from a remote server much like a traditional zip/tar download and then unpacks in a specific way to redistribute files and installation mediums accordingly. Any situation where there is data being redeployed in a foreign environment ('Foreign' being the word for a device where the files were not originally created/used) is often tricky, especially between Distros and Package Managers. One way to get around this with software are AppImage binaries, which almost always run akin to a standalone executable (Almost always, as some might still require specific software to already be compiled). Another way are through pre-packaged Containers, such as those provided by Flatpak and Snap. These can be automated using a variety of methods. As a note: Do not copy & paste your home directory backup to a new computer environment; there are a few exceptions out there, but the main reason are something called "dotfiles". To the uninitiated, dotfiles are the Linux version of a hidden file or folder. Often programs will create a user-configurable file in a dotfile folder such as /home/$USER/.config ($USER is a global env variable -- it always points to the active logged in user). What happens if a new installation sees these files, and tries to load them? Ninety percent of the time, it might work with some errors. It's the other percentage that can cause complications (I won't say "damage to the OS", but it could be) further down the line with things such as graphics settings and file paths. You are otherwise safe to copy and paste files and folders from visibly listed files and folders onto another installation if required. [That Moment when you suddenly realize you over-complicated the answer significantly and went full-lecture mode] Fuzz0r has a point, and I suggest you (or anyone else currently reading this thread) do not discount the strength and versatility of a Virtual Machine Environment. They are endlessly customizable and easier to delete and swap than a complete reinstall over and over. Additionally, the VMs can be remotely accessed using RDP/VNC natively using either the Virtualization software or through significant tweaking in the VM itself. In a situation you can run Virtualbox on a separate computer, for example, you can have a quick and easy way to test OSes (Distro Hop) without leaving the comfort of your own desktop workstation, and without playing around with backups of full configurations if you don't want to. ------ Addendum: Another option for testing Distros with fair tradeoffs Install the Distro you want on an external USB flash drive, and boot from that while keeping your current/prefferred configuration on your home desktop untouched. This way, you can still use the desktop as you would normally, but all of your files stay securely on your desktop Hard Drive (Or SSD, if you have it) and can still access it from the USB Boot Drive; on top of that, the USB external boot medium could act as an emergency backup/recovery device if something happens. Assuming sda is your computer (single hard-drive computer), sdb is the Linux Installation Medium, and sdc is the "Distro Hopper" flash drive, the install could play out in this manner: sda (Hard Drive) | sdb (Install) | sdc (Distro Hopper) sda0 - Desktop | sdb0 - Linux | sdc0 - Linux Install installation | Live | ( / ) . sda1 - swap | | sdc1 - Linux Swap (LINUX) | | (No more than 2GB*) * Since a Flash drive is much slower than a SATA interface, no matter the device, Swap will always crawl slower than basic I/O to and from a normal computer. Turn swap off after install by running sudo swappoff -a . Some Linux nerd can probably tell you to ignore the swap warning on the install, but it might be worth holding for emergencies. Don't ask me what though. _Note:__________________________________ |Swap sdb and sdc if using a cd/dvd tray, since | |the Linux Install will instead be sr0, cdrom0, etc. | |______________________________________ | You'll need at least 16GB of storage on your USB stick, though an External Hard Disk would work just as well. The downside to this method is that you are running your system on whatever the USB specs are, so if you're using a USB 2.0 port, you're going to notice significant slowdowns, but USB 3.0+ would be much faster if only you have a USB 3.0+ flash drive. Additionally, you're limited to whatever space the flash drive has. Note that an external SSD running through USB 3.0+ would negate these tradeoffs (mostly).

It is also worth mentioning that if it has a USB port that you can get a basic thumb drive to expand your storage. Some External Hard Drives are also compatible with Chromebooks, though I am unsure of how Chrome OS handles certain filesystems and partitions. USB Flash Storage is fairly cheap and plentiful, as are SD cards. Of course, this also depends on the ports on the Chromebook itself, though as far as I am aware, most models have either USB A or equivalent, and almost all of them have some kind of SD card reader.