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Steam Deck: First Anniversary

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Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#121

Post by gibspaulding »

bobmaxup wrote: post #84
prmoustache wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

still, having n things cobbled together in a backpack are always less convenient than a flattiah device like a laptop. Not sure why the op never went with the usb drive solution. My work environment lives in a linux fedora installed on an nvme drive in a usb enclosure. It is secured with velcro tape to my different laptops and allow me to boot my pro environment on any of my computers by booting to usb and is left un…

It must be relatively slow to run your work environment like that, no? Modern NVMes grab like 7GB/s+ -- The best my external gets over Thunderbolt 3 is like 1.5GB/s -- not to mention the enormous latency difference.

That's certainly falling well behind theoretical speeds for thunderbolt at least. I wonder if yours is falling back to usb3 or something. I'm not speaking from experience, but that sounds off.

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#122

Post by blep-arsh »

kriro wrote: post #109

I've had my eye on this for a bit. I'm incapable if deciding which version I want to buy (64GB/256GB/512GB). I'd be happy to hear from anyone who purchased either of these and what their thoughts are. Anyone regretting the 64GB and wishing they got a bigger one for example?

64 felt a bit too restrictive, so I've bought a 256GB one but ordered a replacement 512GB Samsung NVMe card later (1TB is also available for about $100 but I'm not sure about Deck compatibility and thermals). I'm glad that's an option. It's a peculiar form factor, though, so it took some figuring out.

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#123

Post by Steltek »

pkrefta wrote: post #17

I'm in love with mine. • Hardware is good enough and that's perfectly fine • It's repairable and can be easily opened • Software is open which is increasingly rare there days • Ability to play on TV, on couch (with headphones) and on monitor with keyboard/mouse is awesome • Being able to play old games is great (I finally finished Assasin's Creed 2) • It's still a PC where I can switch to Linux Desktop and tinker wit…

I need Thunderbolt! I don't hook up my Deck because my desk is built around a TB3 dock. That and USB-C at 4k 60hz isn't a given. Not that I'd run games at that resolution but it's sure nice for desktop mode.

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#124

Post by cassianoleal »

adesanmi wrote: post #37
herpdyderp wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to play games on: a Windows desktop, a Mac laptop, a PS2, a Wii U, a Switch, a GameCube. Now I play all the same games and more on just the Steam Deck. If that isn't ultimate idk what is. Every single other gaming device in my house is toast now.

It has one of the worst screens of any handheld gaming device I own. I prefer my Switch OLED, but will be very excited for a future version of the Steam Deck with a screen that isn’t utter garbage. I understand some people don’t mind, but I just can’t immerse myself into the games I play with that bad of a screen.

I know it's only a band-aid but have you tried vibrantDeck [0]?

It won't make your screen look like OLED but it definitely helps bring out the colours.

I do hope someone comes up with an OLED replacement screen for it, hopefully with thinner bezels (like the Switch did between the original and the OLED) but I find the OEM one pretty adequate.

[0] https://github.com/libvibrant/vibrantDeck

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#125

Post by cassianoleal »

bobmaxup wrote: post #108

Having used one a lot, I can say that the ergonomics of the Steam Deck aren't there. I could lay in my bed and play switch games for hours without issue, but with the deck, I need to introduce some resting device to not lose feeling in my hands. Also, its awkward for me compared to any other contoller in terms of trigger reach. Other than that, I still enjoy using it quite a bit.

> I could lay in my bed and play switch games for hours without issue, but with the deck, I need to introduce some resting device to not lose feeling in my hands.

Interesting. I never found the Switch good for that. I don't find the Deck good for that either. I'm not really complaining though, it's just a generally uncomfortable position for almost anything except sleeping. :D

> Also, its awkward for me compared to any other contoller in terms of trigger reach.

I find the triggers pretty good. I need to twist my hands a little to press the bumpers though. Otherwise I find the ergonomics quite good!

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#126

Post by coconut_crab »

I really love my Steam Deck, until it suddenly died a few days ago. Couldn't even get to BIOS menu and just a black screen with CPU fan and haptic on, tried everything from reseating battery, putting in battery storage mode, replacing the NVME or even running fsck on another linux machine, nothing works. It seems to be a common issue with the Deck :( Now I have to find a way to RMA it, which will take months as they don't sell it where I live.

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#127

Post by thefz »

elmerfud wrote: post #11

I have to say I'm very happy with it for the price I paid. Could it be better, sure, I wish the screen was better but I'm still very happy with it. I actually bought it on a lark because I'm 49 and I never really hand held gamed. Never got in to it beyond the beep-boop led games of the 70s/80s with boring family road trips. I watched many hand held platforms come and go and never could get in to using them. Always pr…

> For the first few months I didn't do much with it. Kind of shrugged and continued to use my laptop...

Same for me, I did never realize before that I wanted to play Grindstone while laying on the couch just being in the company of my SO, semi-watching the same TV show as she is, instead of being in another room.

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#128

Post by nonethewiser »

a13o wrote: post #36

The next generation of gaming platforms is really going to be heated. We basically have two philosophies in the field now. The Switch and the Steam Deck sacrifice high end hardware for portability and versatility. The PS5 and XSX are about as portable as a LAN party, but can theoretically push 4k@120hz for the cost of a graphics card. Is there room for everyone next gen? Each of Valve, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo h…

I think there is enough room for each. The switch basically exists because there is no reason not to have a portable form factor if your console is going to be so underpowered (compared to Xbox, PlayStation).

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#129

Post by thedangler »

hyperpl wrote: post #117

Would anyone recommend this for purely retro emulation via retroarch? I currently have an Anbernic RG353M which is nice but I'd prefer to have a fully customizable device that is developer friendly. Can anyone speak to the ergonomics of the dpad and buttons for unforgiving games like some fighting games and platformers? I also suspect the size and weight might prove prohibitive for portability compared to a much smal…

I've seen a bunch of retro gaming with EmulationStation and there a tone of tutorials on how to set it up, best practices. This is what pushed me over the top to consider buying one. Then Ps5's finally came back in stock... I'll be getting a steam deck in the future to try Emulation Station.

Re: Steam Deck: First Anniversary

#130

Post by ElectricalUnion »

charcircuit wrote: post #88
branon wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For most of these I don't disagree, but I take issue with a few: Windows is a distraction and lots of us have spent years decoupling PC gaming from Microsoft. That said I do think first-class Windows support would be a boon for the Deck. Not sure how decent the user experience is on Windows right now. Exclusives are a foreign concept on PC. We do not need exclusives on Steam Deck, that is a console marketshare corral…

>We do not need exclusives on Steam Deck, that is a console marketshare corralling strategy. This is a loser mentality for when your platform is unwilling to fund exclusives. Exclusives are a proven strategy for driving market share for any platform. Having Steam Deck exclusive games would cause more people to go out and buy one. Some people will be content with just using their PC or Steam Link and never have a reas…

> Exclusiveness are the way you bring value to the people who choose to use Steam via the Steam Deck.

The hassle-free portable experience is the Steam Deck killer app and value. You don't need "exclusives", you just need to be plain better as a product.

It's less of a pain to use that most linux friendly laptops.

It's less of a pain to use that constatly messing around with equivalent Windows-powered or Android-powered tablet-slab devices.

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