Serious question, are linux users just as likely to share there system specs for corporate stats?
Its also the platform for privacy enthusiasts so i think not meaning the actual number is higher then measured.
Could go either way.
I ALWAYS share my stats for the steam surveys, because higher Linux market share = better Linux support
Maybe I'm wrong, and I admittedly didn't read the article, but can't Valve see if a person is using the Linux runtime or Windows exe without needing to request access to other information? Like it seems like a very basic thing that Valve probably collects by default because it would take effort not to.
Like when I access a website, it can instantly tell what web browser (and I believe OS, among other things) that I'm using. Unless I've gone in and altered my user agent. Why would using Steam be any different?
Consent has no relationship with technical ease.
I don't know that Steam doesn't record it anyway, but sharing OS is explicitly part of the data they show you that they will take if you agree to the Steam survey, which certainly implies they're not doing so if you don't consent.
The website situation is (arguably) different, as a User Agent is something your browser is giving the website on your behalf (in theory). From the website's perspective, you are voluntarily sharing that information and any issues with that are between you and your browser.
Surely there is no way to install steam on linux and download stuff off that installation without revealing that you are doing it on a linux machine. I mean you are either requesting a linux build of the game from their server or you are downloading some wine/proton components or configurations. Right?
The info from the Steam Hardware Survey is collected on an opt-in basis. I'm sure Valve has plenty of ways to get this information otherwise, but this specific data set requires acceptance of the terms of the survey.
Sort of a rant but...
I hate that Discord doesn't support Linux screen sharing audio by default. I hope more programs start to support feature parity for Linux.
At the same time I wish there was more I could do to push alternatives forward because it's quite clear that any profit driven company will succumb to enshitification and I think that Discord perfectly encapsulates that.
That being said there was no way I could convince my friends or anyone else sign up for Matrix instead of Discord.
A bunch of my gaming circle is making the leap to Matrix with the sponsored content that's coming to Discord and the new vidoeo channels in Element.
We have a few holdouts still, but I'm hoping they'll join us eventually.
Same
I'm doing my part!
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