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Comment by munchbunny | Hacker News Reader

I have a full blown Linux install on dual-boot, but for my purposes (gaming and some development on Windows, some development on Linux) it's honestly just easier to have WSL1/WSL2 around so that I can have both OSes around always, rather than having to reboot to switch.

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Why not use a Windows VM on GNU/Linux to have both OSes around usually, and one even when Windows is BSODing or Blue Screen of Forced Update-ing (yes I know you can procrastinate those for various amounts of time with various hidden settings or hacks, but seems easier to just use GNU, and personally even grow out of AAA gaming)?

Edit, responding to now-deleted reply:

> a good way to virtualize Windows that maintains decently high compatibility and performance with the games I want to play

Isn’t a normal VM with GPU passthrough that? I’m genuinely asking, because I’ve asked my original comment’s question several times before and never received answers except something about wanting to buy a computer with the OS installed from a brick-and-mortar retail store, which didn’t seem to apply to you given you’ve already installed GNU/Linux.

> I can lose out on a hobby I enjoy and pretend it's "growing up". Because as we all know games are for kids; adults who play them are manchildren.

I said personally because I personally have felt less addicted to games as I personally have grown older. Of course most people are different from me in many ways, but I don’t think everyone is in every one.

The simple answer is that typically the software that keeps one tied to Windows is the type that wants/needs to be on metal.

Hardware passthrough does exist and I only expect it to improve, but we're still a ways from reaching "just works" level.

> a good way to virtualize Windows that maintains decently high compatibility and performance with the games I want to play

I'd legit rather kill myself than use Windows as my primary OS, so I dual-boot, but I'm frankly interested in that too. Not for games though, but for real-time audio. Does anyone have any experience with running a DAW on a Windows VM? Is it worth the effort?

I just run them on different machines. My life is so much simpler without all those layers. Windows never messes with my Linux and vice versa.

Of course it helps that RDP and freeRDP both work very well. Whenever I need Windows I just fired up and I'm there instantly. If I want to play a game I go over to my gaming machine. Personally I never mix games and business.

Qubes can do the opposite, I think.

What is the gaming experience like on Qubes for modern games? What about older games? Or VR?

This is an earnest question for the record.

Sorry, I don’t actually use Qubes, just know by reputation that they have worked on WSL2-style VMs for Linux.

I assume IOMMU passthrough works pretty well, when available. Also, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well Steam’s proton works even with applications that aren’t officially supported.

For those purposes, I run Windows in a VM? In my case, the only reason I even need to run it at all, is that my employer has some software that requires it.

I dual boot as well but I only switch to Windows to game which isn't too often.

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