As much as nice it sounds, this is not entirely true. Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because its a handheld. I believe the Steam Deck should be handled as its own class of hardware, like a console is and do a PC showcase on its own.
For a small game that runs easily on the Deck and is mainly played with a gamepad, this is probably fine. But for lot of other games this cannot be said. I love my Steam Deck and my local PC, but they need to be treated separately for effective marketing.
Add a keyboard, mouse and monitor, which are already required for every other pc, and you can do everything on the steam deck that you can on any other pc. The steamdeck just has the additional functionality of working without those if you so choose.
Are you not aware of “Desktop mode”? Hold down the power button for a few seconds, click “switch to desktop mode,” and you’re literally using a fully functioning Linux PC.
Wait, its installed by default?
I assumed I had to install it, which would not be possible, because its immutable and there is no rsync flatpak (I think).
You can install system wide apps by turning off immutabe mode and configurating something. I might be talking out my ass though cause I have done this but I don’t remember if it persisted across updates.
You can for sure! It’s just I wouldn’t go around recommending that to just any person because they then might get a little crazy with the freedom, brick their Steam deck install, and then try to say that the Deck is a POS.
Bad word of mouth is always a lot more damaging than spreading the good word that it’s a solid system.
It plays PC games, runs a PC OS, has a PC DE (KDE Plasma), includes standard PC ports (with a dock that includes even more standard PC ports), has a standard PC uefi bios, uses a PC APU, and has a PC like trackpad along with a virtual keyboard. Also if a game works well with controllers itll work well with Steam Deck (even if it doesn’t it usually works well). Functionally speaking how is this different then a tablet PC with a controller? (In terms of if its a PC)
Its targeted by developers like a console is, its a specific hardware that developers can optimize for. And the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming. That’s the Console portion of it. Steam Deck is a PC hardware in handheld form factor and a Console treatment, which developers can target specifically for, unlike other handheld PCs with Windows.
Steam Deck is not just a PC, and its not just a handheld. Its a console that can be targeted.
Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because it’s a handheld.
This is where you lost most people. When they pointed out that it was incorrect you started adding more words and insisting that everyone else was wrong and you were just misunderstood.
What you’re saying about it being a target is true and is part of what makes it so valuable as a platform, but saying it’s a target does not counter the misconception in your original comment that it cannot also be a PC.
I don’t know if you guys misunderstand me on purpose. My argumentation was about the initial comment that the Steam Deck does not represent PC very well. You just took one sentence out of context, where the previous part and following part is integratel part of my reply. I did not just add more words to it, i Just had to explain it later because its not understood. The full quote is:
Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because its a handheld. I believe the Steam Deck should be handled as its own class of hardware, like a console is and do a PC showcase on its own.
It’s just a simple explanation that you guys on purpose misunderstand. The Steam Deck does not represent PC very well on its own, because its not just a PC. It’s more than its sum. It’s not a new discussion either, this is going on since the launch of the system.
From the replies, that’s what I’m getting, as people really try hard to misunderstand a very simple fact I explained multiple times. I tried too, but can’t do more. And even taking out quotes out of context, while the next sentence was part of it. That’s pretty on purpose.
the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming
Most of the “optimizations” are either generic Linux improvements that exist in many distros or are can be easily installed on any PC. Meanwhile the UI is literally just Steam gamepadui, any PC could access it, any PC can launch Steam on boot and set Steam to launch into Steam big picture mode. The only optimizations are just a set of good defaults and software that works well together.
Its a console that can be targeted
Yeah because its a popular piece of hardware running amazing software, thats something Windows handhelds dont have. What people dont understand about SteamOS is it isn’t that optimized, thats because Linux is so optimized as an OS that Valve doesn’t need to do much on top of it.
There is even an API in Steam that directly targets the Steam Deck. Steam Deck can be programmatically identified by its API, just like any other console. This is a key factor.
We are not speaking about any random hardware configuration or tablet, we are speaking about a device with software and hardware specifically designed, build, tested, targeted and marketed as a single unit. Exactly what a console is. However, I’m not disregarding its roots of PC. What I am saying is, that Steam Deck does not represent PC “very well”; its its own thing, even compared to other handheld PCs. If the Steam is marketed as a PC, then it won’t get the support from the developers.
Steam Deck is its own category, besides general PC. Games need to have different Spec Recommendations for PC and one specific optimized version for Steam Deck. Both are separated.
I get what you’re saying - some games aren’t fun on steam deck controls, or just run like a dog.
But, look at it differently - It’s a PC by virtue of the fact you only have to buy it once to use it in both. My 10 year old XPS laptop and my gaming desktop are very different classes of hardware as well, but they’ll both run Plants vs Zombies that I bought once.
I can’t say that about the stuff I bought on Switch and want to keep playing on Steam Deck.
As much as nice it sounds, this is not entirely true. Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because its a handheld. I believe the Steam Deck should be handled as its own class of hardware, like a console is and do a PC showcase on its own.
For a small game that runs easily on the Deck and is mainly played with a gamepad, this is probably fine. But for lot of other games this cannot be said. I love my Steam Deck and my local PC, but they need to be treated separately for effective marketing.
Add a keyboard, mouse and monitor, which are already required for every other pc, and you can do everything on the steam deck that you can on any other pc. The steamdeck just has the additional functionality of working without those if you so choose.
Ok, how do I use rsync on the deck then? (/s, but I’d still love to know)
Are you not aware of “Desktop mode”? Hold down the power button for a few seconds, click “switch to desktop mode,” and you’re literally using a fully functioning Linux PC.
rsync <source> <destination>Wait, its installed by default? I assumed I had to install it, which would not be possible, because its immutable and there is no rsync flatpak (I think).
What do you mean immutable?
SteamOS is immutable, so you can’t install system-wide apps on there, only flatpaks, appimages etc.
You can install system wide apps by turning off immutabe mode and configurating something. I might be talking out my ass though cause I have done this but I don’t remember if it persisted across updates.
You don’t need to turn off anything, you can install whatever package you want, but they’ll be overwritten by some updates
(IIRC) the changes are reverted after each update so you’d have to re-install every app.
You can for sure! It’s just I wouldn’t go around recommending that to just any person because they then might get a little crazy with the freedom, brick their Steam deck install, and then try to say that the Deck is a POS.
Bad word of mouth is always a lot more damaging than spreading the good word that it’s a solid system.
Just… do it? It’s just a normal Linux underneath.
What are you talking about it’s just a laptop in gamepad form you can hook up PC peripherals and there will be zero difference.
I wrote a huge argumentative piece to that guy and then snapped out of it and deleted it all. It’s not worth it.
It plays PC games, runs a PC OS, has a PC DE (KDE Plasma), includes standard PC ports (with a dock that includes even more standard PC ports), has a standard PC uefi bios, uses a PC APU, and has a PC like trackpad along with a virtual keyboard. Also if a game works well with controllers itll work well with Steam Deck (even if it doesn’t it usually works well). Functionally speaking how is this different then a tablet PC with a controller? (In terms of if its a PC)
Its targeted by developers like a console is, its a specific hardware that developers can optimize for. And the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming. That’s the Console portion of it. Steam Deck is a PC hardware in handheld form factor and a Console treatment, which developers can target specifically for, unlike other handheld PCs with Windows.
Steam Deck is not just a PC, and its not just a handheld. Its a console that can be targeted.
Yes. It’s both… And it is fully functioning as either. It’s really not difficult to understand.
I also explained what i told. Its more than just both, its a target. Its really not difficult to understand.
This is where you lost most people. When they pointed out that it was incorrect you started adding more words and insisting that everyone else was wrong and you were just misunderstood.
What you’re saying about it being a target is true and is part of what makes it so valuable as a platform, but saying it’s a target does not counter the misconception in your original comment that it cannot also be a PC.
I don’t know if you guys misunderstand me on purpose. My argumentation was about the initial comment that the Steam Deck does not represent PC very well. You just took one sentence out of context, where the previous part and following part is integratel part of my reply. I did not just add more words to it, i Just had to explain it later because its not understood. The full quote is:
It’s just a simple explanation that you guys on purpose misunderstand. The Steam Deck does not represent PC very well on its own, because its not just a PC. It’s more than its sum. It’s not a new discussion either, this is going on since the launch of the system.
I tried 👍 if you’re going to start accusing people of misunderstanding you on purpose then I’m done here. Have a nice day!
From the replies, that’s what I’m getting, as people really try hard to misunderstand a very simple fact I explained multiple times. I tried too, but can’t do more. And even taking out quotes out of context, while the next sentence was part of it. That’s pretty on purpose.
Most of the “optimizations” are either generic Linux improvements that exist in many distros or are can be easily installed on any PC. Meanwhile the UI is literally just Steam gamepadui, any PC could access it, any PC can launch Steam on boot and set Steam to launch into Steam big picture mode. The only optimizations are just a set of good defaults and software that works well together.
Yeah because its a popular piece of hardware running amazing software, thats something Windows handhelds dont have. What people dont understand about SteamOS is it isn’t that optimized, thats because Linux is so optimized as an OS that Valve doesn’t need to do much on top of it.
There is even an API in Steam that directly targets the Steam Deck. Steam Deck can be programmatically identified by its API, just like any other console. This is a key factor.
We are not speaking about any random hardware configuration or tablet, we are speaking about a device with software and hardware specifically designed, build, tested, targeted and marketed as a single unit. Exactly what a console is. However, I’m not disregarding its roots of PC. What I am saying is, that Steam Deck does not represent PC “very well”; its its own thing, even compared to other handheld PCs. If the Steam is marketed as a PC, then it won’t get the support from the developers.
Steam Deck is its own category, besides general PC. Games need to have different Spec Recommendations for PC and one specific optimized version for Steam Deck. Both are separated.
Just connect it to a monitor and you have a regular pc, I have seen a lot of people use it as one with no issues.
I get what you’re saying - some games aren’t fun on steam deck controls, or just run like a dog.
But, look at it differently - It’s a PC by virtue of the fact you only have to buy it once to use it in both. My 10 year old XPS laptop and my gaming desktop are very different classes of hardware as well, but they’ll both run Plants vs Zombies that I bought once.
I can’t say that about the stuff I bought on Switch and want to keep playing on Steam Deck.
You can also easily connect a mouse and keyboard (and monitor or TV if you want) if the controller doesn’t work well for the game.
Because it’s literally a PC.