Sure thing, here we go:
—
Okay, here’s my deal: I’m not the Linux guru you might think I am. I grew up poking around on IBM PC-DOS as a kid. Then I dabbled with Windows 3.11, and, well, pretty much every Windows version from then on. Skipped Windows ME though, for obvious reasons. And since 2009, I’ve been chums with Macs, starting with Leopard. Strange bedfellows, right?
I resisted Linux like a stubborn mule. Macs and Windows kept me covered, both personally and professionally. But then, this handheld gaming PC — a Legion Go S — from Lenovo landed in my lap. I thought, why not give Linux a whirl while I’ve got this gadget? Plus, I had an Asus ROG Strix G16 review to write, so it was the perfect excuse to pretend I knew what I was doing with Linux.
Anyway — wait, hold on. I should say upfront, I’m a total Linux rookie. Like, tripping-over-my-own-feet newbie.
### Getting the Hang of KDE Plasma on the Legion Go S
So, back to the story. The default setting on the Legion Go S is SteamOS since it’s a gaming thing. But for more adult tasks like word processing (ha!), you can switch to KDE Plasma. It’s easy if you can handle holding the power button for a bit, then — voila! — you’re in desktop mode.
I aimed to do normal people stuff: surf the web, some light photo edits. Oh, and I had to get creative with just two USB-C ports — but more on that chaos later.
You can fiddle with KDE Plasma using its touchscreen, though a keyboard and mouse make it less like wrestling an alligator. Seriously, text-heavy tasks are a pain with just the touchscreen, so I dug out my budget Logitech keyboard and mouse. They’re crusty but trusty and were bought on impulse from Target for like 20 bucks.
First hiccup? The receiver is USB-A, and my new buddy, the Legion Go S, is all about USB-C. Lucky break, I had a converter on hand. Crisis averted.
Plugged everything in and breathed a sigh of relief as it all clicked into place. KDE Plasma felt weirdly like home. A different home, mind you — but comfy with its familiar dock and settings all laid out. Felt like I was cheating on Windows, and honestly? Loved it.
### Getting Down to Business: Apps and All That Jazz
With Wi-Fi sorted during the SteamOS setup, I was onto my first quest: snaring a decent browser. Yup, I’m an Edge fan. Unpopular opinion? Maybe. Everything syncs across my beloved Microsoft accounts — simpler this way.
But installing Edge was like watching paint dry. Slow, aaaand slower. T-Mobile usually gives me speedy download time, but not today. Honestly, it felt like it took forever, but finally, I got it all set up. Logged into Edge using Microsoft Authenticator. Sweet relief.
For a while I squinted at the built-in display. It was like squeezing a novel onto a postcard. A flat base meant it stood upright, but boy, did it topple easy! My eyes, having seen better days, demanded I plug into something bigger. Enter the Espresso Displays 15 Pro – it was love at first sight.
With the Legion Go S, power’s crucial. Couldn’t run my monitor just from the handheld. A USB-C charger turned the tide, though. The monitor sprang back to life and did double duty, charging my Legion Go S. Victory dance!
One bump in the road did throw me — the touchpad had a meltdown that even a reboot didn’t fix. A classic “why me” moment. But I swapped in a monitor and navigated the eight-inch display like a pro. Switched a few things around, and poof, productivity returned!
By this point, I’m juggling tasks like a circus act, using my iPhone for photos and hopping onto Google Photos. Handy, right? GIMP replaced my usual Pixelmator, and it’s, well, fine. GIMP’s like using a serviceable old wrench — does the job, not flashy.
### Wrapping Up This Wacky Adventure
Honestly, diving into Linux wasn’t even on my radar. But hey, turns out it’s not bad. The ROG Strix G16 review got done, and KDE Plasma was pretty swell (minus that touchpad fiasco). Everything plugged in and played nice, enabling me to do what needed doing.
KDE on its own is a bit of a task-master, like walking uphill both ways in the snow. But I managed. Two USB-C ports and me, we became besties. And hey, a good dock would’ve made life easier, but it was all about resourcefulness. So yeah, not quite productivity perfection, but it’ll get the job done. Long story short: when life throws you Linux, make lemonade. Or something.
