Okay, so, let me start by admitting I’m not exactly a Linux guru. My computer journey? Think of it like going from those clunky IBM PC-DOS machines when I was a kid, straight to Windows 3.11. I’ve been through almost every Windows version—except Windows ME (for reasons). Oh, and I hopped on the Mac train back in 2009 with Mac OS X Leopard.
Anyway, Linux was never on my radar. Why bother when macOS and Windows handled everything I needed, right? But here I am, fiddling with a loaner from Lenovo, the Legion Go S. Figured I’d toss Linux on it just for kicks and see if it’s a decent setup for reviewing my next gadget: the Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop. Spoiler alert: I’m a Linux rookie, fumbling my way through it.
Right out the gate, the Legion Go S boots to SteamOS—makes sense, it’s a gaming gizmo. But wait, there’s KDE Plasma tucked away if you’re up for some non-gaming chores. Hold the power button, count to four, maybe five if you’re feeling patient, and voila, you’re in KDE Plasma territory. At first, the plan was just some light browsing, word docs, photo tweaks, and managing files with USB drives. The device has two USB-C ports, which sounds fine until—you guessed it—I hit some roadblocks. Read on for that drama.
Let me just note, wrangling KDE Plasma with this handheld isn’t terrible, but I’d rather have a mouse and keyboard any day. I dusted off my $20 Logitech wireless set from Target. It’s basic, but hey, it works. Except, surprise, it’s a USB-A deal, and—argh—Legion Go S loves its USB-C. Luckily, I’ve got adapters galore around the house, so crisis averted.
And then, it hit me: KDE Plasma feels like home! I mean, sorta. It’s like Windows’ long-lost cousin—dock here, settings there, app launcher in a sensible spot.
In the app department, I’d already joined my Wi-Fi network during the SteamOS setup. First stop: I needed a web browser. I know, Chrome’s the darling, but I’m sticking with Microsoft Edge. Why? My entire digital life is synced there—logins, passwords, and all that jazz.
Downloading Edge took eight whole minutes, which felt like an eternity. My internet’s decent with T-Mobile, like 600 Mbps decent, but the download speed was crawling. Finally, it landed, and bam, I had my stuff—bookmarks, extensions, etc.
But using the Legion Go S’s tiny display? Nope, not happening. I had to switch to my go-to portable monitor, the Espresso Displays 15 Pro. The first try didn’t cut it—needed a bit more power for the monitor to play nice. Plugging in a USB-C power adapter did the trick, and I got a glorious 4K KDE Desktop view. Sweet.
Onto the real test: writing the ROG Strix G16 review. I hopped into Microsoft Word online. Smooth sailing so far. Then came my thermal camera bit—FLIR C2 for heat measurements, connected with more adapters and swaps than I care to recount. I discovered that using the Legion Go S touchpad in KDE Plasma is a quick ticket back to SteamOS. Annoying yet manageable.
Finally, I wrangled my photos via Google Photos and grabbed GIMP for editing since my Mac’s Pixelmator wasn’t an option. This Linux escapade was mostly painless. I adjusted fast, connected gear without a hitch, and accessed all my usual services to get the job done.
So, using the Legion Go S with KDE Plasma? I won’t pretend it’s the ideal productivity powerhorse, but it’s sturdy enough for basic tasks and a surprising amount more with the right tweaks. Who’d have thought?
