Tech Steamdeck owners.

[Versez]

Hello Sherdoggers, it has now been 3 years since the release of the steamdeck....what is your average experience until now with the console ?

Was it worth it ? Now that it has an OLED version, i am tempted by it.

 

[Slobodan]

Hello Sherdoggers, it has now been 3 years since the release of the steamdeck....what is your average experience until now with the console ?

Was it worth it ? Now that it has an OLED version, i am tempted by it.

Companies like ASUS have announced that they will be shipping handhelds with SteamOS so you have more options now

 

[jefferz]

Companies like ASUS have announced that they will be shipping handhelds with SteamOS so you have more options now

If you've waited this long to get a Steam Deck, you may as well wait a little bit longer and see what 3rd parties have to offer.

 

[GtehMVP]

If you're going to get a PC handheld, I really recommend something with Steam OS in it. My Deck is one of the best tech purchases I've ever made. Get an Oled if you buy a Steam Deck.

Lenovo is adding Steam OS into a new handheld called Legion Go S. It has marginally better performance than the Oled Deck where it counts, at 15 watts, if you're someone who will play it unplugged.

The ROG Ally X is supposed to get access to Steam OS as well. This even beefier, but less impressive at low wattage.

Ive played with the ROG Ally for a bit and didn't like using windows, but they've made a lot of updates since then, so who knows now. Valve constantly makes improvements to their OS. It's a true console experience with some caveats.

There's a software workaround for windows handhelds called bazzite that let's you install Steam OS. I havemt used it personally, but i hear its awesome. Apparently you can dual boot, so that could be a solution to the below Deck issues.

One of the negatives of Steam OS currently is being locked out of certain games due to anti cheat software. You also can't use Epic, gamepass of GOG natively. There are workarounds but I'd always rather it be supported natively.

There are pros and cons for windows and Steam OS handhelds, so be sure to do a lot of research. Ill gladly help if I can too. Lots of good peeps on this site have helped me endlessly, happy to pay it forward.

btw, I still have the LCD version and it still works near flawlessly. The oled model is superior in every way though, but the small upgrades don't justify the costs for me, but I want it it lol.

 

[jefferz]

If you're going to get a PC handheld, I really recommend something with Steam OS in it. My Deck is one of the best tech purchases I've ever made. Get an Oled if you buy a Steam Deck.

Lenovo is adding Steam OS into a new handheld called Legion Go S. It has marginally better performance than the Oled Deck where it counts, at 15 watts, if you're someone who will play it unplugged.

The ROG Ally X is supposed to get access to Steam OS as well. This even beefier, but less impressive at low wattage.

Ive played with the ROG Ally for a bit and didn't like using windows, but they've made a lot of updates since then, so who knows now. Valve constantly makes improvements to their OS. It's a true console experience with some caveats.

There's a software workaround for windows handhelds called bazzite that let's you install Steam OS. I havemt used it personally, but i hear its awesome. Apparently you can dual boot, so that could be a solution to the below Deck issues.

One of the negatives of Steam OS currently is being locked out of certain games due to anti cheat software. You also can't use Epic, gamepass of GOG natively. There are workarounds but I'd always rather it be supported natively.

There are pros and cons for windows and Steam OS handhelds, so be sure to do a lot of research. Ill gladly help if I can too. Lots of good peeps on this site have helped me endlessly, happy to pay it forward.

btw, I still have the LCD version and it still works near flawlessly. The oled model is superior in every way though, but the small upgrades don't justify the costs for me, but I want it it lol.

The OS is what seems to be holding a lot of these 3rd party handhelds back.
It's great to see Steam stepping up to the plate, but Microsoft needs to get their shit together, and make a handheld UI.

 

[rikwebb]

If you're going to get a PC handheld, I really recommend something with Steam OS in it. My Deck is one of the best tech purchases I've ever made. Get an Oled if you buy a Steam Deck.

Lenovo is adding Steam OS into a new handheld called Legion Go S. It has marginally better performance than the Oled Deck where it counts, at 15 watts, if you're someone who will play it unplugged.

The ROG Ally X is supposed to get access to Steam OS as well. This even beefier, but less impressive at low wattage.

Ive played with the ROG Ally for a bit and didn't like using windows, but they've made a lot of updates since then, so who knows now. Valve constantly makes improvements to their OS. It's a true console experience with some caveats.

There's a software workaround for windows handhelds called bazzite that let's you install Steam OS. I havemt used it personally, but i hear its awesome. Apparently you can dual boot, so that could be a solution to the below Deck issues.

One of the negatives of Steam OS currently is being locked out of certain games due to anti cheat software. You also can't use Epic, gamepass of GOG natively. There are workarounds but I'd always rather it be supported natively.

There are pros and cons for windows and Steam OS handhelds, so be sure to do a lot of research. Ill gladly help if I can too. Lots of good peeps on this site have helped me endlessly, happy to pay it forward.

btw, I still have the LCD version and it still works near flawlessly. The oled model is superior in every way though, but the small upgrades don't justify the costs for me, but I want it it lol.

Bazzite is a gaming focused Linux distro for Desktop and Handhelds but was designed originally as an alternative to SteamOS 3

 

[NoSmilez]

Which one has the best battery life?

 

[CubicleGangster]

one of the better purchases I made in the past few years. i pre-ordered mine on release and it has basically seen daily use since then. if you already have a good sized steam back log I would definitely purchase one or a 3rd party device that has SteamOS.

 

[KaNesDeath]

but Microsoft needs to get their shit together, and make a handheld UI.

Wasnt that the point of Windows 8?

 

[GtehMVP]

Bazzite is a gaming focused Linux distro for Desktop and Handhelds but was designed originally as an alternative to SteamOS 3

Cool. I've heard so many great things about it, I just thought it was some software that installs official Steam OS, much like Heroic Launcher lets us use Epic and GOG on the Deck.

Have you used it?

 

[rikwebb]

Cool. I've heard so many great things about it, I just thought it was some software that installs official Steam OS, much like Heroic Launcher lets us use Epic and GOG on the Deck.

Have you used it?

No but heard a lot about it recently from other people

 

[scorpiorising]

I loved mine. It got stolen a few months back tho unfortunately

 

[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.

 

[HHJ]

I've got a Rog Ally that I purchased over the summer. I love this fuckin thing, despite it's flaws. Def the steam deck is better for casual, less tech savvy gamers.

 

[CubicleGangster]

I've got a Rog Ally that I purchased over the summer. I love this fuckin thing, despite it's flaws. Def the steam deck is better for casual, less tech savvy gamers.

Steam deck is Linux based and requires being more tech savvy

 

[HHJ]

Steam deck is Linux based and requires being more tech savvy

Isn't it pretty much just a gaming console?

Rog ally is basically like a portable PC that is also powerful enough to play games. I thought the steam deck was like a switch that plays steam games

 

[Madmick]

Steam deck is Linux based and requires being more tech savvy

Hmm, I doubt that.

Steam Deck might be Linux, but everything about its Linux distro is about creating a "Big Box" user-friendly, console-like experience for handheld gamers. It's not designed like ArchLinux, Ubuntu, or Mint with a Windows-like interface where the user is expected to manage all his own plugins & drivers outside the mainstream core package. The idea is the user doesn't need to do anything outside the curated core package.

*Edit* After all, let's not forget that the Playstation's OS is actually Linux-based.

 

[GtehMVP]

Hmm, I doubt that.

Steam Deck might be Linux, but everything about its Linux distro is about creating a "Big Box" user-friendly, console-like experience for handheld gamers. It's not designed like ArchLinux, Ubuntu, or Mint with a Windows-like interface where the user is expected to manage all his own plugins & drivers outside the mainstream core package. The idea is the user doesn't need to do anything outside the curated core package.

Agreed. They really made a plug and play-like console experience. It's super user friendly.

You can go into desktop mode and use it as a PC running whatever version of Linux it is (I know little about it). I mainly go into it to watch Youtube or Netflix on the chrome browser, also messing with emulation and the occasional mod.

 

[CubicleGangster]

Hmm, I doubt that.

Steam Deck might be Linux, but everything about its Linux distro is about creating a "Big Box" user-friendly, console-like experience for handheld gamers. It's not designed like ArchLinux, Ubuntu, or Mint with a Windows-like interface where the user is expected to manage all his own plugins & drivers outside the mainstream core package. The idea is the user doesn't need to do anything outside the curated core package.

*Edit* After all, let's not forget that the Playstation's OS is actually Linux-based.

Well I don't doubt it as I have hands on experience with both. Rog handles 3rd party launchers and upgrades far better than the SD which requires a lot more effort to get those things functional.

Isn't it pretty much just a gaming console?

Rog ally is basically like a portable PC that is also powerful enough to play games. I thought the steam deck was like a switch that plays steam games

Not at all. Its portable PC just like the ROG Ally but its linux based instead of windows. It is not like the switch, even something as simple as installing a microSD takes extra steps compared to the switch and rog.

 

[Madmick]

Well I don't doubt it as I have hands on experience with both. Rog handles 3rd party launchers and upgrades far better than the SD which requires a lot more effort to get those things functional.

Not at all. Its portable PC just like the ROG Ally but its linux based instead of windows. It is not like the switch, even something as simple as installing a microSD takes extra steps compared to the switch and rog.

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​

Plug the microSD card into the slot on the bottom of the Deck — it’s on the bottom below the lower right corner of the screen. The card goes in face up. You might have to use a fingernail to get it to click into place.


In Settings > System, scroll down to System Format to format your microSD card.
Hit the Steam button, go to Settings > System and then scroll down to System Settings.
Under Format SD Card, hit Format. Formatting will erase the card and you’ll get a warning saying as much. After a few minutes, your card will be good to go.


(Optional) To set microSD card as the default storage, go to Settings again and scroll down to Storage. At the top, you’ll see your Internal Drive and the new MicroSD Card. If this is the first time you’ve used an SD card, you’ll have to move over to highlight the Internal Storage and hit X to Make Default and set the default storage. Then you can move over to MicroSD Card and Make Default on that one.


Regardless of whether or not you’ve set it as default, the next time you Install a game, you’ll get the option of saving it to the Internal Drive or the MicroSD Card.