A technology writer has successfully replaced Windows with the Linux distribution CachyOS on their gaming desktop, encountering few hurdles in the first week. The setup, optimized for modern hardware and gaming, allowed seamless hardware integration and basic app usage. While minor issues persist, the experience has been positive so far.
In a personal account published by The Verge, technology journalist Alex Cranz describes switching from Windows to CachyOS, an Arch-based Linux distribution, on their desktop computer. The installation occurred on a Sunday evening after initial plans in November, driven by frustrations with Microsoft's operating system. Cranz aimed to test Linux as a low-maintenance daily driver without extensive prior research.
The process began with downloading the CachyOS live image to a Ventoy USB drive and disabling Secure Boot in the BIOS. Cranz selected the Limine bootloader, installed on a separate physical drive from Windows to avoid update conflicts, and used the btrfs file system for partitions—a 2GB boot area and an initial 100GB root partition, later expanded to 1TB for gaming needs. KDE Plasma was chosen as the desktop environment from 13 options, with the computer named 'Maggie'.
Hardware compatibility proved largely straightforward. Nvidia GPU drivers installed automatically, and peripherals like the monitor, speakers, Logitech webcam, and printer functioned with minimal tweaks, such as a firewall adjustment for printing. However, an older Mad Catz Cyborg RAT 7 gaming mouse exhibited a quirk: its buttons worked only within games, not on the desktop, a known issue deferred for later fixes.
Software setup involved installing apps via CachyOS's welcome screen or the Arch User Repository (AUR), including Chromium, Discord, Slack, Audacity, and 1Password. Web-based access sufficed for Airtable, Spotify, and Apple Music, though no native Arc browser was available. For gaming, a one-click package added Proton, Steam, and Heroic launchers; Cranz tested The Outer Worlds from 2019, which ran smoothly with cloud save syncing.
Challenges included failed attempts to run Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, used by Cranz's children on iPads, despite Java Edition compatibility. Future plans involve exploring face authentication like Howdy, browser alternatives, cloud sync, and backups. Despite the early stage, Cranz reports no regrets, praising the quieter, less intrusive experience compared to Windows, though professional needs may require occasional returns to other OSes.
