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General discussionThoughts on the Steam Deck?(102 posts)(102 posts)
(102 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted October 19, 2023
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Shmacky-McNuts: 2 top brands use knockoff components, GPD and One Next. The screens are trash. The batteries bloat. The ports and chips for those ports are non standardized(and fail in many ways). Bad customer service to string you along to get you to give up trying. Plus crap designs. Remove able controllers....using bluetooth....while physically attached(insert facepalm reaction). No bios/cmos batteries. So when your battery bloats, you have to reset your bios every time.....
One next? Are you referrign to One X (Player/Notebook)? I've never owned a One X device, so I can't comment, but I don't see how this applies to GPD. Their x86 devices do not have detachable controllers. Screens are great, especially on Win Max 2 and Win 4, and so are the designs. I had an issue with the fingerprint reader on my Win max 2, so they just sent me a new reader for free. I installed it and it works fine.

If I had to guess you either own or read a review of some old OneGX1 device and based the whole rant on that. All these Chinese makers have come a long way since they started pioneering x86 handhelds. Valve only joined the party when the indies proved it to be a viable form factor. GPD has been making x86 handhelds since before the Switch even existed.
Post edited October 19, 2023 by SargonAelther
Posted October 19, 2023
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dtgreene: I would be interested in one of these gaming handhelds, but most are considerably more than what I'm looking for.

My preferences would be something like the following:
* Size: Small enough to fit in my purse.
* Controls: Gaming controls, but also a physical keyboard.
* Tech specs: Something like my "small" laptop would be quite suitable for my purposes. In particualr, I'd like it to be fanless, use solid state storage, and an x86 processor (likely something like a Celeron or Atom) would be preferred to run games compiled for x86. Needs good battery life; that's more important than performance for me.
* OS: Need to be able to run Linux. Many of the programs I use (I'm thinking the likes of gcc/clang, rustc, python3, node) are easiest to install and use in a Linux environment. A hard requirement is not being restricted to what the manufacturer would let me run. (Yes, sometimes I might want to try a bit of code while away from my computer.) Android *might* be acceptable, provided I can run termux, though not ideal, (For Windows I'd need WSL to be comfortable.)
* It needs to be cheap; that steam deck is too expensive for what I'd be looking for (and is also too big and has higher specs than what I'd want).

None of the handhelds mentioned here are what I'd be looking for; they're all too expensive, too big, and target higher performance than what I'm looking for.
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neumi5694: If you want the power of your laptop, you need to be willing to spend something similar.
The GPD Win 4 and the AyaNeo Slide both meet the rest of the requirement, where the Slide has a tiltable screen and more performance. But the price is not known yet.
The laptop in question cost less than $150 when I got it new. Hence, around that amount is what I'd prefer to spend.

(Trade-off, of course, is low specs; Celeron CPU, 4GB RAM, and came with only 64GB storage.)
Posted October 19, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucj6yqsOwwo
Posted October 19, 2023
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SargonAelther: The Steam deck is significantly cheaper. That's its main advantage. Valve prints money passively, so they can afford to sell cheap. Everyone else has to actually make profit on the hardware.
Yep, but on the flipside, maybe those more expensive units are more "store-agnostic" that Steam Deck which (probably) tries to push or at least nudge to use Steam for your games, preferring Steam games and being optimized specifically for them.

What I do like about Steam deck is that it uses Linux, even if that makes it a bit less compatible with lots of PC Windows games. Even greater if it was e.g. ARM CPU based, but then it would probably struggle with newer PC games as well...

I dunno, maybe I should buy some (preferably a store-agnostic) handheld at some point... but whenever I check their prices, I end up thinking "but I could buy (yet another) gaming laptop for that price...". So I guess I really should first have a real need for a capable handheld gaming device.

Too bad Nintendo Switch is apparently nowadays much harder or impossible to jailbreak (after some newer firmware updates), otherwise I'd strongly consider jailbreaking it to some kind of handheld emulator device. Maybe after that it wouldn't be able to run some or any Switch games anymore, but then we have only one game for it so far, Minecraft... Maybe I want to play the Switch Zelda games at some point, though.
Posted October 19, 2023
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coolrock64: I think it is pretty cool.
Ultra portable Gaming PC are a useful niche device and the best Idea Valve never had. Companies like GDP been making them for about 8 years now
Posted October 19, 2023
Short version: I'm not the target audience.

Long version: 7 inch diagonal screen at 1280 x 800 resolution has zero appeal for me. $400-650 US could get 84 to 136 more games based upon average purchase price of current library. The same amount could also get a good 32" hi-res (120-170hz) 1440 monitor or decent 4k version of same OR upgrade processor from ryzen 2600 to 5600 plus new 4 tb internal ssd and 8 tb external hd backup drive. On the other hand, a complete PC at that size for that price, with a linux-based operating system included, is certainly technically interesting.
Posted October 19, 2023
I only play games at home, at my desk - so I don't need a Steam Deck / or other portable gaming device.

No other thoughts come to mind.
Posted October 19, 2023
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dtgreene: The laptop in question cost less than $150 when I got it new. Hence, around that amount is what I'd prefer to spend.

(Trade-off, of course, is low specs; Celeron CPU, 4GB RAM, and came with only 64GB storage.)
Ah, that's the reason, it's an antique :)
No handheld was ever produced with PC hardware of that generation. They all have more modern hardware, and that costs of course. And none exist with keyboards that are even close to that price range.
Posted October 19, 2023
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SargonAelther: The Steam deck is significantly cheaper. That's its main advantage. Valve prints money passively, so they can afford to sell cheap. Everyone else has to actually make profit on the hardware.
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timppu: Yep, but on the flipside, maybe those more expensive units are more "store-agnostic" that Steam Deck which (probably) tries to push or at least nudge to use Steam for your games, preferring Steam games and being optimized specifically for them.
Every handheld other than the Steam Deck runs Windows by default, so they are all store-agnostic. Before the Steam Deck, GOG was actually the best platform for handheld PCs, because the Steam Client would always randomly sign out of its offline mode. You also needed to restart the whole client to enter and exit offline mode for some stupid reason. After the Steam Deck came out, Valve made Steam a lot more reliable for all handhelds though. Still though, installing games from any store is super easy on any windows handheld. Compatibility is better too.

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timppu: What I do like about Steam deck is that it uses Linux, even if that makes it a bit less compatible with lots of PC Windows games. Even greater if it was e.g. ARM CPU based, but then it would probably struggle with newer PC games as well...
I've had too many Linux-related issues that I'm too tired of listing over and over on various forums. Let's just say that Linux in general requires way more tinkering that Windows, especially if you wish to venture outside of Steam and lack of a physical keyboard doesn't do it any favours.

Windows handhelds at least have better compatibility, great touch support, and in the case of GPD, a physical keyboard for every x86 device too (Yes even the psp-wannabe GPD Win4 slides up to reveal a physical keyboard).
Posted October 19, 2023
Whilst I'm not going to buy it, I totally see the appeal. Comfort gaming is definitely something I'm starting to appreciate. Coming home from an office job to spend more time sitting by the computer in the same position has its drawbacks.

I also fully appreciate what Valve is doing (directly and indirectly) for Linux gaming. We all reap the benefits.

If I were to buy a handheld, it would be this Linux one. Great performance, battery life, controls, smooth interface, from what I've heard. Though the display is apparently not great. But why would you want a bloated, expensive Windows os on a handheld, when you can get an optimised OS geared for this form-factor gaming...
Posted October 19, 2023
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dtgreene: * Small enough to fit in my purse.
* Gaming controls, but also a physical keyboard.
* Needs good battery life; that's more important than performance for me.
* It needs to be cheap
It would be extremely hard to create a good compromise. Even "only" 3 of the above point would be hard enough.
The old GPD Win with Atom CPU may eventually be a good candidate if found for reasonable prices, maybe even refurbished.
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Shmacky-McNuts: I am curious about something in particular, to anyone that has a Steamdeck.

I cannot find any information past 1 year ago, regarding the physical controls working with games when SteamOS is removed and replaced with other Linux flavors.

I read about the linux kernel being updated to v6.1+. May or may not allow for the built in controller to function. Really curious if anyone could tell me or test out a few os like, Ubuntu, Kubuntu or other debian flavors. Trying out Batocera would be of interest as well.

For context, I like x86 machines, but all the competiors I have tried are garbage.(rant/warning begins)
2 top brands use knockoff components, GPD and One Next. The screens are trash. The batteries bloat. The ports and chips for those ports are non standardized(and fail in many ways). Bad customer service to string you along to get you to give up trying. Plus crap designs. Remove able controllers....using bluetooth....while physically attached(insert facepalm reaction). No bios/cmos batteries. So when your battery bloats, you have to reset your bios every time.....

FYI they give youtubers the true high quality samples, then change online store specs for mass market versions. To get high marks from youtuber reviews, while selling trash after it hits the masses.
Batocera has a dedicated version for the Steam Deck, so I assume it works flawlessly.

Regarding the controls, I've run Linux Mint from a SD card but didn't have any "controller friendly" games installed. I will try a couple of distros later and post the results.
Post edited October 19, 2023 by Dark_art_
Posted October 19, 2023
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LesTyebe: Long version: 7 inch diagonal screen at 1280 x 800 resolution has zero appeal for me.
I'm reminded of trying out the Metroid Prime game on the DS, and the screen was so tiny couldn't see anything and my hands cramped up so terribly and only doing that like 4 minutes.

Yeah not the target audience.

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LesTyebe: $400-650 US could get 84 to 136 more games ...

On the other hand, a complete PC at that size for that price, with a linux-based operating system included, is certainly technically interesting.
From my experience, the cost of building your PC is half the price of what the completed product is. So a $500 machine is a $1000 equiv machine if you get all the pieces yourself and take 2 hours to build it and set it up.
Posted October 21, 2023
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dtgreene: * Small enough to fit in my purse.
* Gaming controls, but also a physical keyboard.
* Needs good battery life; that's more important than performance for me.
* It needs to be cheap
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Dark_art_: It would be extremely hard to create a good compromise. Even "only" 3 of the above point would be hard enough.
The old GPD Win with Atom CPU may eventually be a good candidate if found for reasonable prices, maybe even refurbished.
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Shmacky-McNuts: I am curious about something in particular, to anyone that has a Steamdeck.

I cannot find any information past 1 year ago, regarding the physical controls working with games when SteamOS is removed and replaced with other Linux flavors.

I read about the linux kernel being updated to v6.1+. May or may not allow for the built in controller to function. Really curious if anyone could tell me or test out a few os like, Ubuntu, Kubuntu or other debian flavors. Trying out Batocera would be of interest as well.

For context, I like x86 machines, but all the competiors I have tried are garbage.(rant/warning begins)
2 top brands use knockoff components, GPD and One Next. The screens are trash. The batteries bloat. The ports and chips for those ports are non standardized(and fail in many ways). Bad customer service to string you along to get you to give up trying. Plus crap designs. Remove able controllers....using bluetooth....while physically attached(insert facepalm reaction). No bios/cmos batteries. So when your battery bloats, you have to reset your bios every time.....

FYI they give youtubers the true high quality samples, then change online store specs for mass market versions. To get high marks from youtuber reviews, while selling trash after it hits the masses.
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Dark_art_: Batocera has a dedicated version for the Steam Deck, so I assume it works flawlessly.

Regarding the controls, I've run Linux Mint from a SD card but didn't have any "controller friendly" games installed. I will try a couple of distros later and post the results.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Posted October 21, 2023
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Shmacky-McNuts: 2 top brands use knockoff components, GPD and One Next. The screens are trash. The batteries bloat. The ports and chips for those ports are non standardized(and fail in many ways). Bad customer service to string you along to get you to give up trying. Plus crap designs. Remove able controllers....using bluetooth....while physically attached(insert facepalm reaction). No bios/cmos batteries. So when your battery bloats, you have to reset your bios every time.....
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SargonAelther: One next? Are you referrign to One X (Player/Notebook)? I've never owned a One X device, so I can't comment, but I don't see how this applies to GPD. Their x86 devices do not have detachable controllers. Screens are great, especially on Win Max 2 and Win 4, and so are the designs. I had an issue with the fingerprint reader on my Win max 2, so they just sent me a new reader for free. I installed it and it works fine.

If I had to guess you either own or read a review of some old OneGX1 device and based the whole rant on that. All these Chinese makers have come a long way since they started pioneering x86 handhelds. Valve only joined the party when the indies proved it to be a viable form factor. GPD has been making x86 handhelds since before the Switch even existed.
Actually, I have several of each companies products and each is defective in different ways. When testing boards and other parts. They fail due to non standard corner cutting reasons. I did not require a review, when multiple 1netbook and gpd products do not function as they should if they were built properly, without hacks. Its similar to the raspberry pi 4 units. To lower cost, they cut corners and did not use standards in chips, in that the usb c port would function as it should. Consumers were rather angry.

Should also be noted, if you require the device to function using a wall outlet over the battery(disconnected battery). These devices tend to fail under load, due to non standard power management controller chips/boards. Steam decks included.
Posted October 21, 2023
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Shmacky-McNuts: Actually, I have several of each companies products and each is defective in different ways. When testing boards and other parts. They fail due to non standard corner cutting reasons. I did not require a review, when multiple 1netbook and gpd products do not function as they should if they were built properly, without hacks. Its similar to the raspberry pi 4 units. To lower cost, they cut corners and did not use standards in chips, in that the usb c port would function as it should. Consumers were rather angry.

Should also be noted, if you require the device to function using a wall outlet over the battery(disconnected battery). These devices tend to fail under load, due to non standard power management controller chips/boards. Steam decks included.
You keep trashing these companies, but I own 5 GPD devices, with a 6th one on order and I've never had any issues with them, other than the one faulty fingerprint reader, which was replaced without any problems.

All devices from any brand can be faulty.
Post edited October 21, 2023 by SargonAelther
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionThoughts on the Steam Deck?(102 posts)(102 posts)
(102 posts)