Oh man, where do I even begin with this? Diving into Linux with a handheld gaming PC wasn’t exactly on my bucket list, but here we are. First up, a confession: I’ve been a Windows and Mac kid. My journey started with IBM PC-DOS, slid through every version of Windows (yeah, I skipped ME), and landed on Mac OS X Leopard back in ’09. I just never had the itch to tinker with Linux. But then, out of nowhere, Lenovo hands me this Legion Go S, and I’m like…why not?
So, I decide—let’s give Linux a go and see if it can hang with me while I write up my Asus ROG Strix G16 laptop review. Spoiler: I’m a total Linux rookie, stumbling and bumbling my way through. Here’s what went down.
Alright, right out of the box, the Legion boots into SteamOS. Fun times for gamers, but I needed the KDE Plasma desktop for writing. Hold the power button for a few seconds, and you can switch to KDE. Fun fact: tapping that power button brought me to this digital wonderland that’s both foreign and familiar.
Funny thing, I intended to only do some web browsing and basic photo editing. But, aha, the USB-C ports threw a curveball. I’ve got two options, so juggling is in my future. In a moment of madness, I attempted to use the built-in touchpad—it was a no-go, like trying to start a campfire with wet wood. It froze and rebooted, jeez.
Anyway, I rolled with it. Got my hands on a wireless keyboard and mouse that I snagged for 20 bucks at Target ages ago. Little hiccup there—my mouse and keyboard setup needed a USB-C adapter. But, hey, I’m a tech hoarder, adapters aplenty! Boom, sorted. KDE feels a bit like Windows’ cousin that nobody talks about, and for some weird reason, it’s reassuring.
Now, browsing? I go with Edge, even though Chrome’s the usual fave. I get remarks on this but, whatever, Edge is my jam. Installed it at the speed of molasses. So, apparently, my internet dipped into sloth mode—1.4 Mbps. Seriously? Felt way longer than those 8 minutes.
Moving on. To see anything on-screen without squinting like a pirate, I connected to my Espresso Displays portable monitor. Sweet freedom! The Legion’s screen has attitude, though, refusing to keep still. Needed an extra juice boost to keep it running, but eventually nailed a 4K display.
Enter FLIR C2, my heat-measuring buddy. Had to unplug, replug, swap, and, voila, got it to cooperate. Unfamiliar setup jitters—conquered! Except that touchpad issue—I’ll deal with that later. Baby steps, right?
Pulling pics off my iPhone was surprisingly… smooth? Google Photos did its thing. No dramas there. GIMP took over the editing duties, laying it all out, although I missed Pixelmator Pro just a bit. Wrap-up time: is the Legion Go S a productivity beast? Nope. But can it handle a writer’s chaotic demands? For the most part, yeah, if you’re in the mood to tango with tech.
And there it is—my jumbled Linux adventure. It’s got quirks and charm, and while I wouldn’t swear off my usual setups, this was a ride. Not perfect, but functional. Here’s to more head-scratching tech escapades!
