Another Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally competitor enters the fray.
  • Molecular0079@lemmy.worldEnglish
    323·
    3 years ago

    I really wish more PC handheld devices would come out with SteamOS instead of Windows. It’d make them a lot more appealing to me over the Steam Deck. The Windows experience on handhelds is a bloated and kludgy mess.

      • Molecular0079@lemmy.worldEnglish
        131·
        3 years ago

        They haven’t released the installable ISO, but there’s no reason why hardware vendors and Valve couldn’t work together to build a Steam OS image for specific devices.

    • stevehobbes@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      3 years ago

      Allegedly MSFT took notice and is working on it…. But there are some good 3P apps that make it usable to launch games. Installing them is still a chore without a Bluetooth keyboard.

  • dogzor@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    3 years ago

    It’s cool to see the handheld PC market taking off, but MS needs to offer a purpose-built version of Windows for these devices. Without something more console-like that compete with DeckOS these devices are doomed to have a disjointed and janky experience.

    • cmhe@lemmy.worldEnglish
      92·
      3 years ago

      I actually hope that Microsoft doesn’t do that. Because I like that stuff like the SteamDeck improves the Linux-based Ecosystem.

      If everyone now builds and buys Windows Handheld devices, it probably goes the same route as mobile phones, where a standard Linux or custom ROMs are second class citizen (if you are even allowed and able to use those) and you have to disable or downgrade security mechanisms if you want to install your own operating system.

      I would really like if those hardware vendors would come together and improve the Linux gaming experience for their devices.

    • beefcat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      3 years ago

      You can configure Windows not to run the Explorer.exe shell and instead boot directly to Steam in Big Picture mode.

      Theoretically anyone could make and distribute an alternative shell designed for this use case, it doesn’t need to come from Microsoft.

    • MajorHavoc@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 years ago

      Agreed, but I imagine there’s hesitancy at MS to try again.

      MS tried their hand at purpose built mobile OS during the Palm Pilot era, then again during the Blackberry era.

      Windows hasn’t historically ported to small devices with great success.

      Edit: I think there’s also likely some awareness (and fear) that the unified mobile PC gaming platform race is nearing it’s end, and already has two strong contenders in Linux and Android.

  • echoplex21@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    91·
    3 years ago

    I love seeing more competition in the PC handheld market. I personally have an ROG Ally and it’s been working great (I don’t have an SD card though).

    I feel like at this point Microsoft needs to create a big picture mode setting for their Xbox app. I have GamePass so it’s been a struggle to navigate using handheld controls. Then I switch to Steam and it’s big picture mode is great to use and smooth. Shame Microsoft doesn’t have something similar on their own OS. Armory Crate isn’t bad but doesn’t hold a candle to Steam either.

    • Brawler Yukon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      3 years ago

      I love seeing more competition in the PC handheld market.

      Yes! It’s so great to see this one play out in the exact opposite way from Steam Machines and VR. In all these cases, Valve made noise about how they wanted to kickstart a category with their own thing and then sorta leave it in third-party OEMs’ hands (less so with Machines, I suppose, since that one they just went straight to the OEMs). Fun watching the Deck take off like it did and sorta launch the entire form factor into the mainsteam.

  • Hazdaz@lemmy.worldBannedEnglish
    62·
    3 years ago

    When the SteamDeck was first announced I was sure I was going to order one, but when I started reading about the dimensions I came the conclusion that I’d only use it at home, and if I’m home, I can jsut use my gaming PC. If I want to sit on the couch, I can just use Big Picture to my TV and use a controller. If I am on the go, portability is top priority and a pocketable retro handheld fits that use-case. I couldn’t imagine using a SD on a plane, what with how closely packed in the seats people are. I’d be elbowing the passengers next to me.

    So when do you guys use the SD? Long train/bus commute?

    • the_rhyme_minister@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 years ago

      I use it on my hour long train commute every morning and evening as well as in bed when I don’t want to sit at my desk.

      The size is actually a huge plus for me. It fits my enormous hands so much better than the Switch which has been really uncomfortable since I started playing ToTK last week.

    • IBNobody@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      3 years ago

      I understand where you’re coming from, but I have a different perspective.

      It’s not much bigger than a Switch with a grip. I used it on my last flight to play Vampire Survivors and didn’t have any space issues.

      I use my Deck and Switch in bed. I use them on the couch when someone else is watching TV. I use them on the toilet. I use them while at the gym. I use them in my car while I’m waiting for an appointment or something.

      Basically, I sit in front of a computer all day for work. I don’t want to sit in front of a computer all night to game.

      Yeah, they aren’t as portable as a Gameboy, but they’re good enough.

      • ShakeThatYam@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        3 years ago

        Yeah, I meant why their gaming line is called Legion. Is there some gaming related meaning to it. Just seems like a strange choice.

        • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          3 years ago

          Sounds super gamery to have a “Legion” of gamers.

          Are there any gamer brands that aren’t at least somewhat cringey soundy? Republic of Gamers is the biggest to come to mind. This is a laptop bought from best buy, not some nation state.

          • ShakeThatYam@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            3 years ago

            Yeah ROG and Ally are also kind of odd too. The console side of gaming seems to have much stronger branding.

  • punseye@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    3 years ago

    So many talking UIs are not intuitive on windows on these handhelds, but one can still install steam and use it in big picture mode to get a steam deck like UI.

    Also, there are launchers like playnite with many themes.

  • stink_pickle@lemmy.worldEnglish
    43·
    3 years ago

    market is small and already crowded, the idea of joining in now is the mark of an imbecile.

    • Molecular0079@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      3 years ago

      Interesting take. I actually think the PC handheld market is being opened up by the Steam Deck. I think companies are seeing its admittedly early success and want a piece of the pie. Time will tell how big the market grows.

    • beefcat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 years ago

      Calling them imbeciles is quite a stretch, but I agree that this is a crowded market that is likely to remain pretty niche. I predict some vendors will end up pulling out within a couple of years.

    • Carighan Maconar@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      3 years ago

      market is small and already crowded

      Fair.

      the mark of an imbecile

      Either there’s a language barrier, or this went off the rails pretty quickly. 😅

  • Jure Repinc@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    3 years ago

    No thanks. We don’t need more closed and bloated spyware, what we need is more open and privacy respecing OSes like GNU/Linux and devices using it like Steam Deck.