Discussion
The 512gig one is the only one worth considering, IMO. The entry level 64gig eMMC one is a total waste of the rest of the hardware in the system and if you spend on the 256gig SSD version you might as well stretch a bit further to get a usable amount of SSD space.
I still don't fancy this as a handheld gaming system because of the bulk but at the price, in a dock, it would be a good 'second PC' that could actually play some games too. I'm currently using a Surface Go with a dock as a secondary PC and it's decent enough for surfing, Geforce Now and ssh/VNC duties but useless for games except for really old ones (which is fine, my full desktop PC is currently in the same house and I game on that). The Steam Deck is a considerably better spec and would be a nice replacement. Although, TBH, if MS would drop a comparable APU into a new Surface Go I'd got for that over the Steam Deck any day.
I still don't fancy this as a handheld gaming system because of the bulk but at the price, in a dock, it would be a good 'second PC' that could actually play some games too. I'm currently using a Surface Go with a dock as a secondary PC and it's decent enough for surfing, Geforce Now and ssh/VNC duties but useless for games except for really old ones (which is fine, my full desktop PC is currently in the same house and I game on that). The Steam Deck is a considerably better spec and would be a nice replacement. Although, TBH, if MS would drop a comparable APU into a new Surface Go I'd got for that over the Steam Deck any day.
I think the idea is fantastic and it looks well executed. Steam have been working on the Windows emulation for sometime and it works well! (https://www.protondb.com/).
I’ve always hoped there would be a workable Linux based solution for gaming that means no MS Windows license, anti-virus etc, something that makes best use of the hardware, has no license and keeps the OS footprint down.
However….. Steam have a history of abandoning hardware however as they’ve said the OS is open to be modified at least there will be some other utility for the deck if they abandon it.
I’ve always hoped there would be a workable Linux based solution for gaming that means no MS Windows license, anti-virus etc, something that makes best use of the hardware, has no license and keeps the OS footprint down.
However….. Steam have a history of abandoning hardware however as they’ve said the OS is open to be modified at least there will be some other utility for the deck if they abandon it.
Edited by Scobblelotcher on Saturday 17th July 11:19
For £4 I've pre-ordered a 512. It's refundable and it looks a nice bit of kit. The 512 is the last one out towards the end of next year, so lots of time to think about it. Alienware never did come out with anything from their UFO concept last year (Switch format handheld with removable controllers), this might kick off the handheld PC format with other makers versions now.
Scobblelotcher said:
However….. Steam have a history of abandoning hardware however as they’ve said the OS is open to be modified at least there will be some other utility for the deck if they abandon it.
Not sure "abandoned" is entirely fair. I've had Steam Controllers and a Link for years and they still receive updates regularly and increased functionality as part of Steam input and the streaming software updates.So even if Steam Deck is another one-shot idea (although I hope it's not) you could still expect it to be officially supported for years.
Wayoftheflower said:
Not sure "abandoned" is entirely fair. I've had Steam Controllers and a Link for years and they still receive updates regularly and increased functionality as part of Steam input and the streaming software updates.
So even if Steam Deck is another one-shot idea (although I hope it's not) you could still expect it to be officially supported for years.
The Steam link technology lives on through Steamlink apps. And a good system it is too - I use it for a lot of my Steam library to play on my living room telly like a console.So even if Steam Deck is another one-shot idea (although I hope it's not) you could still expect it to be officially supported for years.
I've always been interested in a Steam controller, I should have snapped one up when they were dumping inventory to give it a go, looks like a good idea if you are trying to play PC games without joypad optimisation on a TV/controller from your couch. Though it has to be said, most of the big titles now have console versions too and thus have full joypad support built in to the PC game.
The eBay scrotes are at it, some at $2500 for a 512 https://kotaku.com/ebay-is-already-filled-with-ste...
ajprice said:
The eBay scrotes are at it, some at $2500 for a 512 https://kotaku.com/ebay-is-already-filled-with-ste...
But why wouldn’t you just pay the £4 deposit and wait?Despite some reservations, just put down a pre-order for the top end model. Page is now saying Q3 2022 which I'm sure was Q4 2021 the other day when I last looked ... Anyway, ,lots of time to change my mind if I want.
By Q3 2022 I fully expect a lot more powerful/low wattage APUs to be available so we'll see what happens. If I can get it by Q4 *this* year I think I will go for it and just keep it in a dock.
By Q3 2022 I fully expect a lot more powerful/low wattage APUs to be available so we'll see what happens. If I can get it by Q4 *this* year I think I will go for it and just keep it in a dock.
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