My only concern would be the specs of the machine; Laptops can vary so much in terms of performance and level of support for the components within it. It would probably work easily using Steam+Proton. I play The Sims 3 using Steam+Proton on my Ubuntu Linux Desktop, the performance is pretty good! It only made my processor a warm 63C to 65C, I played on high specs with shadows turned down (shadows are always resource hog). I had a few packs enabled, but not enough to truly test my system.

The worst hurdle is always the initial Vulkan Driver processing. Depending on the quality and heat management of the laptop/PC that will be used, it might overheat during this process. Afterward, she should have a perfectly normal launch experience. One thing I noticed is that attempting to sign in will cause a fatal error and the game will need to be restarted; cloud saves are not enabled for The Sims 3. You’ll naturally have to back up her saves and transfer them to wherever they’ll be going post Mint installation.

The packages are stinky as they are so old, in addition to program versions on offer are frozen several versions behind program versions on modern distros. System76 even started to offer Ubuntu 24.04 on their prebuilds for this reason. It’s too old and while they managed to bring more recent drivers to Pop!_OS, it’s going to be phased out when COSMIC DE is ready for stable launch with an Ubuntu 24.04 base. Pop!_OS is not a good recommend going forward; System76 let it get too old before taking appropriate action, but to be fair to them, building a DE from scratch is hard work.

Pop!_OS is a bit too out of date in my opinion, the packages are super stale as it’s based on Ubuntu 22.04! It certainly worked fine when I used it for a few months while trying to decide what distro was next. I used it briefly and enjoyed a lot of how System76 handles the Pop!_OS DE. However, so much of the software is trapped many versions behind of what is current in the Linux space…I can’t be certain System76 was backporting fixes to these old ass program versions because I did have odd issues from time to time. Nothing system breaking, just annoying to deal with.

However, even System76 has finally started to offer Ubuntu 24.04 on their prebuilds, as they knew their repository is very stinky at this stage. That opens up access to modern versions of programs, access to bug fixes that make using a lot of software a smoother experience. I would recommend System76’s COSMIC DE with an Ubuntu base when it is in stable; as the System76 team are bringing a lot of those handy Pop!_OS features with a brand new coat of paint and fresher (not bleeding edge) packages.

In summary: Choose what you want, what you have the easiest time working with.

A bit more into my own opinion-

Personally, I use Ubuntu as my gaming and productivity distro. It’s super easy to install and does everything for you (you can customize aspects of installation if you want). I’ve had issues installing Arch-Based distros on my rig, even with UEFI off. Arch-Based distros need more technical knowledge; I’ve found myself unable to dig too deep in the guts of certain aspects. The installer is truly hands-on, and due to the UEFI issue, my manual partitioning failed. It was specifically the EndeavourOS installer, which had this particular issue. Completely deleted my ability to boot Ubuntu, leading to a frantic night of reinstalling Ubuntu. I’d only suggest anything Arch related if you’re comfortable with learn by doing or have advanced experience with the inner workings of software.

For me, Ubuntu is a good middle ground that gives the user room to play, but also a stable base to build on top of. Valve’s Proton Compatibility makes gaming on most distros fairly easy because a lot of the work is done for a user. I’ve run so many games on Ubuntu just fine using Proton. There are exceptions for older games, which have different methods to get them running on Linux.

You can also enable Flatpak on Ubuntu (using commands to install the proper dependencies to make Flatpaks work on your system). There are so many options aside from using Debs and Snaps on Ubuntu. Snaps have gotten much better over time, I find myself not having any noticeable issues now since Canonical has worked heavily on the installer.

The distro I end up recommending more, second to Ubuntu, is Linux Mint because of their onboarding new users experience. It’s just as easy as Ubuntu to use, a bit aesthetically challenged though as Mint really embraces that default older Windows look. However, that familiarity helps ease new users into a Linux Distro.

Honestly, now it’s a toss-up between getting a Legion Go or a Steam Deck…As I prefer the control scheme Lenovo is rocking. I never really liked the massive touchpads. However, that could easily be resolved by using the Steam Deck in Docked Mode on my 4K TV. Getting cozy on the couch with a good game or on the go is pretty appealing. It makes me happy that another manufacturer is hesitantly embracing Steam OS, as it if this does go well, we’ll see more devices with Steam OS.

ROFL That’s hilarious, I’m only grumpy on the days that fatigue can’t be beat by sleep. Otherwise, I’m pretty happy as my joy doesn’t come from the belief in something that might not exist.

True, my fury is justified, but I want to put this fury to work; Somehow, get pieces in motion to stage a moment that will cause change. There are people who are trying to prepare and weather this storm we’ve got going. It’s a matter of being strong enough to assist and resist becoming another casualty in a long line of many who were destroyed by the callous choices of those obscenely rich.

I feel a helpless fury that has nowhere to go and nothing to be but pointless; I cast my vote for Kamala, hoping others would see that she would be the one to reduce harm, but not move us forward yet. It would take time to build support for a candidate who would in fact usher in positive change, Kamala is just a bandage on a leaking pipe. These upcoming four years are going to be hell, as a chronically ill person…I don’t know if I will even be able to endure this orange asshole’s reign of incoherent madness. He’s got a proper rogue’s gallery of filth leading the charge to destroy this nation. I’d prefer if they were a powder keg that ended up destroying themselves in the process. If I somehow make it through and find there’s another election…I’ll hopefully be able to vote to reduce harm, and it actually works. 😮‍💨

I got excited until I found out this was a multiplayer title. This is a great team making a game that I couldn’t possibly care about, makes me sad to say their effort is dead to me.

100% this, realistically Windows has a better OOTB experience. Ubuntu is now second place in my opinion as they did a lot of work making the installer work seamlessly with most hardware. I don’t have issues with Ubuntu unless I do something stupid, which is less frequent given my knowledge base is a lot better and I can do the basics reasonably well.

The poor dear has learned the consequences of voting against her interests far too late. I laughed, but at the same time I’m worried about those who voted in their interests and got fucked over.

In a way, I do feel a little bad for the kids, but he clearly didn’t care about his family enough to notice all the scary shit Trump said and think, “Huh, better vote for Kamala instead.” This fuckwit has doomed so many people because of a poorly considered choice…

ROFL Ah, the schadenfreude is going to give me life. This is what these silly fucks asked for. I just hate that the rest of the country might not survive another Cult of Personality presidential term.

Huh, they love to confirm how weird they actually are! So bold of him to assume people wouldn’t side eye or call him a fucking freak for this ‘the call is coming from within the house’ shit.

ROFL Owen is a thick-skulled fool. I am glad that Destiny owned this dude and called him out on his bullshit. I’ll have to watch the whole video.

I should, it wasn’t the most immediate thought in my head; Republicans openly court the wealthy for donations, while most Dems (there are a few outspoken individuals that try) fail to curtail the power wealthy people have in US politics. Wealth Class is certainly a good addition to my list of criteria, as those who are less wealthy and are outright poor often have no voice in the political space. Unless they really create a proper spectacle which can’t be ignored.

THIS, 1,000%! Third Party doesn’t have a huge presence in the USA, only because people don’t do the work to get it there. It requires a lot of work that should be done just after the new sitting president is elected. Building a recognizable platform with proper support takes a lot of effort. It would be worth it, though, to truly support the people in ways which a two party system cannot. Holding the President and other people in power accountable with sensible words and meaningful action would get a party to gradually become a household name.

After I vote for Kamala, this is what I will be looking into. Finding a third party (one with aims to support everyone, no matter gender, sexuality, etc).

It’s cute that these MAGA fools think that peace is something that Trump could bring into existence, as his life has been purely chaos and disruption. Kamala is the sane one; the orange one is so terrifying! ROFL

This is a fact that I wish more humans embraced. We are all different, we can’t help but be born as we are physically or who we’re attracted to. We can only choose to make better choices for the world and those around us!

While it’s true that the Palestinians don’t support members of the LGBTQ community as a whole; Letting them be killed by Israel without speaking up or advocating for a ceasefire is a bad thing in my opinion! As a gay man, I don’t support Israel’s choice to successfully carry out a genocide for the sake of slaking their hatred. It’s inhumane and would only prompt other dubious, morally bankrupt individuals to violate the social contract by organizing a genocide of their own. Israel needs to face the consequences of their actions, not only for the sake of those in the Gaza Strip who are suffering in inhumane conditions; also for those who would be made a target for a genocide as well and are barely protected by the social contract.