I'm a very long time linux user (I think first install was Mandrake around 1998) but haven't owned a linux PC in well over a decade (use MBPs for work, linux on the cloud and in docker). I also have an older iMac that my kids use, and I dual boot to Windows via bootcamp for the only game I play (Civ V).
With Civ 7 coming out next month the crew I play with want to give it a go, which makes me realize I'll need to upgrade my desktop (or buy a gaming laptop).
I've been looking at the System76 Thelio Mira line but they won't ship until end of Feb according to their website. Trying to find something prebuilt with Linux already on it (I don't care about distro/will likely change it anyway, but want to make sure everything is supported "out of the box"). Preferably under $2000 but I realize it might be difficult esp with an Nvidia card.
Other than playing Civ I'll probably use it for some OSS development and personal projects (including toy deep learning stuff, anything really needing much horsepower would also be in the cloud), as a media center for my house, etc.
Any suggestions for specific machines or vendors to check out? Anything to watch out for? (Because of crossplay I assume I'll have to run Steam in Proton)
You don’t need to worry about getting Linux on it, because anything in a consumer laptop or PC is going to be supported on Linux anyway, probably without much effort besides installing the proprietary GPU drivers. Those are usually not included because some people have old school opinions about that sort of thing.
Of course, you could always install a distro like Bazzite, that comes with the drivers preinstalled and ready for gaming. Nobara is also pretty good, but Bazzite is my favorite.
I'm running Bazzite on a laptop with an Nvidia GPU. Steam Big Picture mode still doesn't consistently work on Nvidia. It's not a big deal imo, and I can't think of anything else that's still broken on Nvidia, but AMD is right there and it's worth supporting them just because of less bullshit. Also RGB compatibility with openrgb can be hit or miss on consumer laptops (ugh, Acer).
Personally Bazzite for htpc, and PopOS for main desktop for the exact reason