• For the private space lock you can set it to "only after device restarts" if you want to. This will mean you only need to unlock it once and it works as a work profile without the need to install a work profile app. (Or if you need your work profile for something like Microsoft intune for work like me)
• As for molly you can set notifications as websocket which doesn't required a unified push app like ntfy. This creates a websocket between signal servers and the molly app, similar to how ntfy creates a web socket between ntfy and an ntfy server. So if you are using ntfy for multiple apps in can save battery instead of running multiple websockets you only run on. But if you only use it for signal you may as well use mollys built in websocket notifications.

If an app has multiple apks like a play store version and a non play store version it won't update automatically.

To fix this you need to add a filter for the apk name like this:

Other than that make sure you have enable background updates turned on in the settings

• Setup private space with play services to use for apps that require it like banking.
• Use obtanium for updating apps automatically.
• One of the hardest things to replace is google maps. I use here we go maps and its probably the closest you can get however it isn't Foss.
• FairEmail and Thunderbird are probably the two best mail clients. I use Thunderbird be cause it looks a bit better. Note however without play services email notifications will be updated every hour. If you want instant email notifications install in private space with play services.
• If you use signal I would try the fork of the client called molly. It uses less battery for notifications.
• Using an email provider that also has CalDav/Carddav like posteo can give you a simple cloud backed up calendar and contacts for really cheap without the need to self host. Use the davx5 app to connect. Davx5 calendar integrates well with etar and fossify calander

Careful: https://piefed.social/c/selfhosted/p/1675395/bentopdf-urgent-security-notice-do-not-pull-or-update

Foldersync Pro is incredible

Haven't tried 2019 before sorry. If you can find an installer with it all bundled together you would have a better chance of it working. The online installer for 2016 doesn't work and I imagine the same would be the base with 2019.

This is what worked for me If you want to run it without a VM: I suggest getting a licence to crossover. Then you can download the office 2016 Iso here https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/technology-science/microsoft/8-office-2016-direct-download-links and buy a cheap licence online. Mount the Iso onto your computer then in crossover search office 2016 and then as the installer select the exe from the mounted Iso. This way you get native integration so when you open an excel file from Linux it will just open excel. Here is an older video explaining the method https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WB8uqE5_8s0&pp=ygUhT2ZmaWNlIDIwMTYgTGludXggc2V0dXAgY3Jvc3NvdmVy

The Bazzite KDE version is a great option, as long as you install apps from the built-in Bazaar store, it’s hard to mess anything up, and it already includes most of the software you’ll need so it usually works well out of the box.

If your friend has to troubleshoot issues on bazzite, it’s better not to install extra system packages on top of the core OS (“layering”), because that can sometimes cause problems and make things harder to fix.

You can also set up a tool called Winboat, which lets you run Windows inside Bazzite; it integrates nicely and isn’t too difficult to configure.

Bazzite is the first recommendation if the apps your friend needs are available on Flathub. If they need more complex software that only comes as Debian (.deb) packages, Linux Mint is probably a better choice because installing non‑Flatpak apps there is much easier, although the trade‑off is that installing a lot of extra packages can potentially break the system if you are not careful. If they mostly stick to the Mint software store, it should stay stable and they are unlikely to run into problems.

Have a look at posteo. Gives you IMAP so you can use any client. Its only €1 a month and is supposed to be good with privacy. Have had no complaints so far. https://posteo.de/en

Just hard to believe 6%. That's a huge number. Hopefully it's true🤞

AI agents and web scrapers surely

Not a solution but I found on steam is I couldn't get audio or mic to work. It would disconnect my audio devices when the app was open like pipewire was disconnecting. I then installed bazzite and it worked fine. This is from a PC not a steam deck though so steam os may be missing some drivers and such.