I have to say, after using SteamOS Windows on a handheld is a non-starter. Linux just performs so much better for gaming on the go.
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.
Nah, it’s greatly improving game compatibility on Linux.
I love my steam deck. I’m okay with not being able to play some games on it yet if it means my gaming experience on pc keeps improving too because of it.
Game companies will also be incentivised to add native Linux support if the handheld pc market gets big enough and it’s clear the experience is better on a custom Linux distro than something from ms
I worry that they might all just stick with Windows. ASUS also decided to go straight for Windows too.
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.
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.
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.
The steam deck controls are honestly too important for me to consider anything else. The fact that I can play mouse and keyboard games with no issues is huge.
Every single one of the so called “Steam Deck Killers” drops the ball on the controls, it’s impressive.
Aya Neo Kun looks promising with its touchpads, but I am sure the Steam Deck still has it beat on price.
The controls are just so good. I don’t think I could do without the inputs especially the touchpads
Yeah that’s my thing, too. Touchpads are important in this regard I would say.
To be honest it goes beyond that. The steam input customization is major. Like the fact that I can take a mouse and keyboard action RPG and assign the left stick to move around just like it had controller support.
For me, it’s being able to sleep and wake the device with games still running without worrying about a crash or running out of battery because Microsoft broke sleep on W11
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.
My main concern with companies like Lenovo or Asus building such devices on Windows is support. I have more trust in Valve to do this right.
It can’t be done cause Steam hasn’t released it yet unfortunately
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.
Presuming valve wants to do this of course.
Don’t see why they wouldn’t. Every SteamOS device sold is a huge win for them
Depends how they view their business evolving. Ask Apple if you can build a device that runs iOS. They have an App Store and make lots of money from it.
If they want to be in the hardware business, not just building proof of concept/proof of market devices, they very much may not want to share it with other manufacturing of competing devices.
Yeah that’s true, there’s also the maintenance burden to consider as well. It would be a pretty big departure for Valve though, Apple was always selling hardware but Valve wants to get their storefront in front of as many people as possible because that’s how they print money. They also want to get more folks gaming on Linux so I think the incentives right now line up pretty nicely for Valve to want other devices running their os.
We’ll have to wait and see. I personally would love to see more devices running SteamOS as well so I’m definitely biased!
This… will be a gigantic failure.
Why would you run Windows on this?
Maximum compatibility? Windows is the de-facto gaming OS, whether you personally like it or not.
It makes sense as a creator of such a device that if you have the knowledge in your team to do it, running Windows on it is a good proposition to buyers. It’s not like they couldn’t install Linux on it if they want to, but to off-the-shelf buyers Windows is much better sales pitch.
The user experience is atrocious though.
There are a few games I can’t play on my steam deck yet but I’d much rather have its great, functional ui over those few games that I could just play on pc instead.
Oh definitely. I would not say atrocious (seen far worse, like every time I have to interact with the weird stuff SAP or Oracle put out as software), but it’s not good for a semi-controller-semi-touchscreen device.
Definitely usable OTOH.
Personally I would still go for a Steam Deck right now if I had to pick one, but more competition is good, and right now I’m personally not looking for a portable gaming PC anyways as my Switch has enough games I still need to play.
The off the shelf user experience is so much worse though, it doesn’t feel like a finished user ready product if you’re having to navigate windows UI on a tiny screen with a thumbstick mouse.
Not to mention that running windows ruins the ability to play low power games at low power draws. A game like Stardew on the steam deck draws 5-7w, while the ROG Ally pulls about 15-17w to run it with the same settings. Disabling everything you can through task manager can reduce that power usage difference by maybe half, but there’s still a lot of unnecessary power draw just from it running windows.
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.
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.
@echoplex21 Why the hell would anyone want a Windows PC gaming handheld - Steam Deck through Proton is the future. Sure, innovate on hardware but building something for windows systems is just paying license fees for shitty experiences. #brokenwindows #proton #steamdeck
Can you play Gamepass games without Windows?
Only through cloud which leaves a lot to be desired.
Yeah if cloud was a real option just a phone would suffice.
Gamepass PC, VR, and quite a few anti-cheat systems (so online games) are still windows only.
I made the switch because those make up a very small percentage of my (PC) gaming but they are very much things that aren’t available with a linux based device.
VR requires Windows?
SteamVR has no issues with Linux. But in the PC space, there are basically three major ecosystems for VR that basically interface between the HMD and SteamVR
- Facebook: I have no idea but I would be pretty shocked if this was linux friendly
- Windows MR: Actively not Linux friendly, but there are hobbyist shims that work to varying degrees
- Vive: No issues
So VR has no issues with Linux (because of SteamVR) but almost every single HMD does.
The notion that “Steam Deck through Proton is the future” just showcases that you wouldn’t be in a position to judge how to configure such a device in the planning phases of a multi-million company project.
It’s a nice enthusiast attitude, sure. And don’t get me wrong, us enthusiasts are important. But it’s also entirely delusional to think that you can have true mass-market appeal of these handhelds without them running Windows on them.
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?
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.
I work from home and after the shift to remote work it didn’t take long for me to pretty much stop using my gaming pc because at the end of a work day I kinda want to be out of my computer room.
Most of the time I’m using it on the couch or lounging around the house. I have brought it on planes (flown like 14 times so far this year) and it’s not that bad but I guess that may vary from person to person.
It’s not for everyone but it fits my needs pretty perfectly.
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.
I put docks everywhere, in several rooms in my house, at my friends’ houses, at my parents’. It’s a lifesaver when I need to access work or do some programming, and I can play games when traveling as well, great for plane trips.
It’s been major for me with RVing. I guess I could have used a gaming laptop but given the limited “table” space in an RV the handheld formfactor is a major advantage. That plus the minimal power requirements - I don’t need to factor it in to our off-grid time at all, while a 200W gaming laptop would definitely be noticable.
I also just prefer it for home. Sitting on the couch, in bed, whatever. I find it comfortable to play on.
Just stick with the Thinkpads, Lenovo. Or make a Linux handheld console
