Tech Steamdeck owners.

[Wrath of Foamy]

I'd like to, as I have a Steam catalogue that I haven't used in years, but I also want Game Pass to work on it.

Seems like a wicked device though.

I'd like a Windows based portable as well, but they're quite expensive.

 

[CubicleGangster]

Okay, that's fair, but the Steam Deck wasn't designed with the intent for users to install third party launchers. The Ally was. You're taking it out of its intended user experience to do this stuff. And I don't think most users would find the steps listed here for adding an SD card to the Steam Deck a daunting task:

How to install and format an SD card on Steam Deck​

I never said installing/formatting a SD card on the steam deck was a daunting task. Just not a plug in and go option like it would be on the rog ally or switch.

 

[Madmick]

I never said installing/formatting a SD card on the steam deck was a daunting task. Just not a plug in and go option like it would be on the rog ally or switch.

I don't know, man, a forced 1-click format is hardly something I'd deem a hassle, especially since it will potentially head off more demanding hassles. After all, what if someone is using an old SD card that was formatted to FAT? Windows may not take issue, it automatically installs the drivers, but suddenly if you want to install a game that is <4GB you're screwed. Then you have to format it yourself, anyway, and that is going to be slightly more involved through the Disk Manager. I'm also curious if Windows would tell the less tech savvy user what was going wrong and why the game wouldn't install in a way they'd understand in the first place. It's not always great about that stuff.

 

[CubicleGangster]

I don't know, man, a forced 1-click format is hardly something I'd deem a hassle, especially since it will potentially head off more demanding hassles. After all, what if someone is using a old SD card that was formatted to FAT? Windows make not take issue, it automatically installs the drivers, but suddenly if you want to install a game that is <4GB you're screwed. Then you have to format it yourself, anyway, and that is going to be slightly more involved through the Disk Manager. I'm also curious if Windows would tell the less tech savvy user what was going wrong and why the game wouldn't install in a way they'd understand in the first place. It's not always great about that stuff.

I am mainly speaking from hands on experience with these devices. . As someone who has used both these products the steam deck required a lot more work and tech savvy to do stuff with it. And the steamos is not gonna be better than windows at alerting you of these issues either. With the rog and switch I just popped an SD card in and was good to go. Setting up emulators also took a LOT more work on steam deck vs rog. The rog just felt like yet another PC gaming device while the steam deck felt like learning a whole new OS/UI.

 

[GtehMVP]

I am mainly speaking from hands on experience with these devices. . As someone who has used both these products the steam deck required a lot more work and tech savvy to do stuff with it. And the steamos is not gonna be better than windows at alerting you of these issues either. With the rog and switch I just popped an SD card in and was good to go. Setting up emulators also took a LOT more work on steam deck vs rog. The rog just felt like yet another PC gaming device while the steam deck felt like learning a whole new OS/UI.

If we're just talking booting up the system for the first time, registering your Steam account, and buying/installing/playing games initially and on, I don't see how the Steam Deck requires users to be more tech savvy than a typical console player. I also don't see how windows based handhelds are easier, especially out of the box. What makes you say that?

I spent enough time with the ROG Ally and a brief spat with the X. I helped set up both for a friend, and handled a few issues that popped up, as he is the least tech savvy person I know, and sadly for him I'm the most knowledgeable lol. Neither are difficult to set up, and I think they did a great job trying to noob proof the Ally, but there is some typical windows BS to deal with at first and the usual/occasional PC nonsense that can require some tweaking. He never needed my help with his Steam Deck though.

Maybe Emulation wise I can see it, if you're familiar with doing it on PC. However, the Steam Deck has been been tailored made for it with Emudec for a while. I believe it's usable on windows now through Steam, but it started on the Deck and it's pretty easy to set up multiple emulators at once, though it does require going into desktop mode and messing with Linux. I struggled a bit at first as well, but I had no experience with Linux prior.

 

[CubicleGangster]

If we're just talking booting up the system for the first time, registering your Steam account, and buying/installing/playing games initially and on, I don't see how the Steam Deck requires users to be more tech savvy than a typical console player. I also don't see how windows based handhelds are easier, especially out of the box. What makes you say that?

From my own impressions with using the devices.

I spent enough time with the ROG Ally and a brief spat with the X. I helped set up both for a friend, and handled a few issues that popped up, as he is the least tech savvy person I know, and sadly for him I'm the most knowledgeable lol. Neither are difficult to set up, and I think they did a great job trying to noob proof the Ally, but there is some typical windows BS to deal with at first and the usual/occasional PC nonsense that can require some tweaking. He never needed my help with his Steam Deck though.

Maybe Emulation wise I can see it, if you're familiar with doing it on PC. However, the Steam Deck has been been tailored made for it with Emudec for a while. I believe it's usable on windows now through Steam, but it started on the Deck and it's pretty easy to set up multiple emulators at once, though it does require going into desktop mode and messing with Linux. I struggled a bit at first as well, but I had no experience with Linux prior.

I would not call the process of installing EmuDeck "tailor made"
My bud @Woldog can attest to that

 

[GtehMVP]

From my own impressions with using the devices.

I would not call the process of installing EmuDeck "tailor made"
My bud @Woldog can attest to that

Fair enough

Emudeck was made for the Steam Deck first though, so of course it's tailor made for it lol

I haven't touched it since the Nintendo crackdowns, but if it's anything like it was prior, it's the best/easiest way I've ever seen to install multiple emulators at once.

I've only ever installed emulators one by one on my pc's over the years, including my jailbroken handhelds, like PSP and Vita. Is there an equivalent that let's you install tons of emulators like Emudeck?

 

[Madmick]

Fair enough

Emudeck was made for the Steam Deck first though, so of course it's tailor made for it lol

I haven't touched it since the Nintendo crackdowns, but if it's anything like it was prior, it's the best/easiest way I've ever seen to install multiple emulators at once.

I've only ever installed emulators one by one on my pc's over the years, including my jailbroken handhelds, like PSP and Vita. Is there an equivalent that let's you install tons of emulators like Emudeck?

Retroarch.

 

[Woldog]

From my own impressions with using the devices.

I would not call the process of installing EmuDeck "tailor made"
My bud @Woldog can attest to that

God don't remind me.... I was just trying to play pokemon.