Indeed, I got myself a mid-grade Netgear USB antenna. It works much better than on-board, but like you said it's an extra thing with a wire. Doesn't help with BT, but at least my mouse has an RF dongle for that.
It's just a bit of a bummer that the price is what it is and the BT/WiFi is one of the cheap components.
I got a client to buy me a System76 (Pangolin), never would have bought one otherwise. Everything is great about it, very powerful and as expected, except for the BT/WiFi module. It's kinda dogshit.
Besides that, IO is plentiful, it's a good size/weight, user upgradable/serviceable, has a hardware camera killswitch, and a built-in RJ45 to fix the WiFi issue. When I got mine, they were doing a special, and I also got a neat backpack with it for free!
If you get into Linux more, you will start using something like pacman (short for Package Manager), which is where you install libraries and apps natively. Then with Arch, there's also the AURs (community repository).
The way you do it on SteamOS is usually through Discover Store (aka flatpak). That's all fine and good, but there are nuances to how it sandboxes the apps that may not be desirable for everything you install and do. Secondly, when you update to a new SteamOS version, anything installed via pacman or AUR gets wiped. Only your home directory remains untouched (i.e., game installs and saves, Discover apps). Some tools just aren't offered on flatpak, and some times what is there is behind a version or two.
For the average user, no real advantage. For developers and tinkerers, it opens all the doors. If you just want to have the same Steam Deck experience, but make sure everything that phones home is gone, then CachyOS also has something for you.
And I haven't felt 'controlled' by Valve
That's not what I mean. What I mean is that Valve controls and makes all the decisions on how the OS is designed. Some of it open source, some is not at all (telemetry stuffs, for example). Again, depends on how you use it whether or not it's an issue for you.
Are their proton versions just proton GE? To what extent does it actually run better?
No, they are separately maintained Cachy Proton versions, based on GE. I haven't looked deep into it, but I gather they run better because they are tweaked to fit into how Cachy has things setup. And again, only marginally better. I just notice less stutters in some heftier games where I would see a bunch before, that kind of thing.
ETA: there was one game, don't remember which, that I couldn't get to run in Proton, GE or otherwise. It does run in Cachy's Proton, though
Sorta. I work from home, so while here it's docked on a desk.
When I travel, I'm usually in National Forests, so I don't really get on the computer much. If I do need to, though, I have one of those Logitech keyboard+trackpad that I use. Otherwise it's just a game/media machine when I'm traveling if I even pull it out.
Dear god, yes. One more USB C would solve a lot of problems.
They give you a lot more control over the system in terms of the filesystem, its structure and format, use of pacman without being wiped on update, etc. It's more of a true Arch Linux experience, plus it isn't controlled by Valve.
Cachy also has their own Proton versions that seem to run a couple of games marginally better so far. Still, you have all the options when it comes to how you want to install and run games or anything else.
ETA: I think BazziteOS also has a handheld version that is tailored for the Deck's hardware that gives a similar experience
Exactly, that's my point. New Linux people don't have to think about installing a new OS or even using a live USB, just flip to Desktop mode to demo it.
For new users that were otherwise scared of changing their daily driver, it does provide a nice little path for them.
Flip it into Desktop mode some times to get a feel for how different the DE is, play around with some command line stuff. Easy to factory reset, so mess it up if you want.
Then install something like CachyOS Handheld edition after a while to get a less restricted Linux experience, while maintaining game mode et all.
Hell, for the price, it's a great device to use as a dev machine if you do Cachy or similar. I use mine as my daily use "laptop" since my other laptop died, and was less powerful any way.
Place your bets, when will Starbucks / A Company that uses this method start implementing AI to design the buildings and run the printers? The last part of the article they talk about how this was more expensive than normal, but it "addressed a labor shortage." Motherfuckers will literally spend twice as much just to not pay a human a living wage.
It does fall under the category, and I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time a human ever has
Could also be a nose, elbow, foot...
Besides a little creativity, all you really need is a protruding body part and some sand
To add to that, and to make it easier for some, you can use Kiwix!