Video summary

It's Not Me Microsoft, it's you... Switching my whole family to Linux

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary (tech focus: Linux gaming migration + hardware/OS reviews)

The video chronicles the creator (“Jeff”) switching all PCs in his home from Windows to Linux, specifically using Bazzite (a Linux gaming-focused OS). His goal is to cover not only his own gaming experience, but also how smoothly it works for family members who aren’t Linux users or tech enthusiasts.

1) Family Linux switch: what worked (and why)

  • Original wife’s setup (Windows 10): Ryzen 5 2600, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe, GTX 1070 Ti.

Main pain points

  • Storage capacity drift: the 512GB drive was “starting to feel cramped.”
  • Windows 11 concerns: apprehension about update/telemetry/Copilot-related hassles.

Wife’s approach

  • Her idea was to replace the system rather than “just upgrade Windows.”

New small desktop

  • Jeff installed a Minisforum model: Minisforum G1 Pro (chosen after Jeff’s earlier review).

Software migration

  • Jeff installed Batocera on the new machine and migrated her files.
  • Further testing included:
    • Steam account sign-in
    • Installing Chrome
    • Logging into Google accounts

Gaming compatibility results

  • Games installed via Steam using Proton (Valve’s Windows compatibility layer).
  • Compatibility checks were cross-referenced with ProtonDB; results were described as “basically no issues.”
  • Steam auto-selects the “latest Proton.”
  • Manual Proton version changes were needed for only one game.

Verdict for her

  • “Pretty darn seamless” and stable—no “voodoo” required.

Key Linux compatibility components mentioned

  • Wine
  • DXVK
  • Proton (Valve)
  • GE-Proton (community Proton fork) for extra compatibility and fixes

2) Where compatibility still varies: non-gaming productivity

Although gaming went smoothly, the video emphasizes “your mileage may vary” outside gaming:

  • Creative/craft tools:
    • Some devices/software have Linux-native or workable alternatives.
    • However, certain maker tools (specifically Cricut/Hatch workflows) are implied to still require Windows.

Bottom line: if your workflow depends on Windows-only maker software, you may need to keep a Windows machine.

3) Main gaming PC on Bazzite (practical performance + power constraints)

Jeff’s primary “living room” PC is intentionally modest to manage heat/noise and household power usage:

  • Ryzen 5 5600G + RTX 5060 8GB
  • He previously used an RTX 3050 8GB despite reviews calling it wasteful, but he explains the real constraint was power draw.

Major constraint: shared electrical load

  • Everything shares a single 20A circuit with:
    • living room + air conditioning
    • multiple gaming PCs and other electronics
  • He notes circuits have “popped before.”

Performance philosophy

  • He doesn’t chase maximum settings.
  • Priorities are stable play and avoiding pixel-peeping.

Linux back-compat angle

  • Older games discussed via Lutris + GE-Proton, including older Windows/DOS-era titles.
  • He notes older Windows games may behave differently under modern Windows, while Linux layers can be more precisely targeted to older API generations.

4) Third station + form factor expansion: Minisforum G7 Pro review

The video also includes a “quick look” at a second Minisforum model intended as another “living room Linux PC.”

Hardware highlights (Minisforum G7 Pro)

  • CPU: Intel Core i9-14900H (mobile), up to ~157W, with BIOS switching:
    • Work mode (lower power/quiet)
    • Game mode (more power)
  • RAM: 32GB DDR5 (SODIMM), upgradeable
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe + a second M.2 slot
  • GPU: RTX 5070 Max-Q mobile
    • Explained as closer to RTX 5060-class via die details
    • Specs mentioned: 4,608 CUDA cores, 48 ROPs, 8GB GDDR7, 128-bit bus
    • Power limited around 115W
    • Idle power ~40W, gaming wall draw 150–200W depending on title

Linux/Bazzite experience on the G7 Pro

  • Minisforum lacks OS-level control utilities for:
    • power profiles
    • RGB/lighting adjustments
  • Jeff reports that in Bazzite, “everything worked out of the box”:
    • Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, audio, card reader, sleep
  • Overall takeaway: driver support for new hardware is mature.

Downsides (review critique)

  • Form factor / stability:
    • very thin but top-heavy
    • he knocked it over multiple times; tipping hazard suspected
  • External power brick:
    • massive 280W brick takes desk space and could worsen tip/drop risk
  • Port selection:
    • limited rear ports (noted: 1x HDMI + 1x DisplayPort, limited USB)
    • front ports not ideal for always-on keyboard/mouse
    • insufficient rear expansion for true “desktop” use
  • Linux utility gap from OEM:
    • lack of Linux apps/control increases friction for buyers

Recommendation

Jeff recommends skipping the G7 Pro in favor of the earlier G1 Pro, mainly due to:

  • better small-form-factor choices
  • more sensible upgrade path with a desktop GPU
  • avoiding the G7’s tipping risk, large power brick, and weaker I/O story

5) Long-term outcome: “2 Windows machines left”

After about a month:

  • Jeff describes the living room PCs as rock-solid stable on Bazzite
  • Only two Windows machines remain:
    • a Surface Go 2 for packing/shipping
    • Windows hardware required for specific creator software workflows (notably Cricut/Hatch)
  • A sister still plays online games requiring anti-cheat; they haven’t found a perfect Linux solution yet, but she hopes to transition later.

Broader analysis point (Windows 11 concerns)

Jeff frames the migration as part of a larger shift. Windows 11 issues mentioned include:

  • ads delivery
  • privacy concerns
  • Copilot integrations
  • forced updates / feature changes / reduced user control

He suggests user “mindshare” may be slipping and predicts more migration could follow.

Main speakers / sources

  • Jeff (Craft Computing) — main narrator and reviewer/installer
  • Valve — credited for Proton ecosystem work (Wine/DXVK/Proton and Steam compatibility efforts)
  • Glorious Eggroll — creator of GE-Proton
  • Minisforum — OEM for G1 Pro and G7 Pro
  • Steam — platform used for game installs via Proton integration
  • Lutris — used for non-Steam / older-game compatibility via GE-Proton

Original video