Recently a bunch of people from other sites went to Valve's offices for some hands-on time with the Steam Deck and it seems the overall impression was pretty positive.
Like a lot of others, we're in the waiting line for whenever our unit ships early next year so we're currently going by whatever info Valve give out and by what other lucky people think after testing. Obviously Valve are going with the top few PC gaming sites / video content creators to make as big a splash as possible, they're certainly doing massively better on pushing it this time compared with the Steam Machines. With that in mind, we do have a few videos to show from others.
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From what's been shown, I'm pretty glad our unit has been reserved at the top-end for the anti-glare etched glass which very clearly makes quite a noticeable difference.
Plenty of comparisons between the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch for obvious reasons, with the Deck being a good bit bigger. From the comments it seems it doesn't actually feel as heavy as expected and is pretty comfortable, so at least on the design Valve has done well. Multiple people noted how much nicer the thumbsticks are compared with the Nintendo Switch too, which is a good sign because those are pretty bad.
Nice to see the KDE Plasma desktop mode working well too , with Linus Tech Tips showing how smoothly it popped up when plugging it into a monitor. That is, I think, going to be very fun to see more users and developers interact with a proper Linux desktop and since it seems to "just work" that's another mark in its favour.
Good to see so much positivity around it! Although, each person only got a somewhat limited amount of time, the real test will be regular gamers spending days with it. It's also worth noting that these are still early units in testing so considering none of the software is final yet - it's all a good sign on how much people enjoyed using them.
There's a few more you can find around and it seems when PC Gamer spoke to Valve, they confirmed that there will be some new API that developers will be able to hook into that will tell games if they're being run on the Steam Deck. That sounds really good, as at least then developers can ensure their game will look good on the smaller screen, and gives developers a chance to set some automatic graphics settings for the best experience.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: jrtI was very positively surprised by the LTT video. He didn't mention "installing Windows" or the current anticheat situation.
I think it's great that we are at a point where people can be hyped about a Desktop Linux device without a constant "but it would be better with windows".
LLT have been covering Linux few times already in their videos, they're just not Linux gaming channel as such. Far from it.
So I would suppose Linus is more interested in seeing what Steam Deck can do before trying to install Windows on it. Which might mean that when LLT gets their own unit, there might be more Linux content on the channel than usual.
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Quoting: Alm888It can (by default root directory is mounted as Z: drive). So a Linux-aware Windows virus can access ones "host" filesystem and, let's say, encrypt all the files it can grab.Yes! This should be stated and re-stated over and over again. The danger is not just theoretical. Wine is proven to be both virus and ransomware compatible:
WINE developers warn everybody: WINE is NOT a sandbox!
https://linuxscriptshub.com/wannacry2-0-ransomware-has-been-able-to-infect-linux-through-wine/
https://www.winehq.org/pipermail/wine-devel/2007-January/053719.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20090225163757/http://www.trustedsource.org/blog/186/Running-Windows-Malware-in-Linux
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Quoting: GuestQuoting: pbQuoting: g000hI was actually thinking - If Steam Deck becomes a mega-success, and Valve remains reasonable with respect to privacy and respecting their customers, then maybe they could diversify in the future and produce a SteamOS mobile phone. There are so few choices for phones nowadays that aren't glorified spying devices for their Big Tech masters. I would *jump* on a non-invasive, open-technology smartphone *so fast*.
Maybe something like this? https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/
I don't think Valve should go in that direction, it would distract them from better-suited niches.
Other than Valve also gathering a lot of data anyway, and Steam itself isn't open. So if Valve ever went in that direction, it wouldn't be the direction people think.
The problem with the Pine phone (and Librem 5 and similar) - They aren't big enough companies to make an impact. The mobile Linux running on those devices is currently at an almost unusable level. Also the Pine phone is pretty weak hardware compared to typical modern Android and Apple ones. (I know you don't need fantastic hardware to run Linux, but it is nice to have flagship-level display and cameras in the device, and higher specs also allow for a buttery-smooth experience.)
I wouldn't mind a bit of tracking in the gaming side of the phone (i.e. the Steam client), as long as the rest of the phone was regular Linux (with no tracking).
As it stands, the rest of the mobile phone world is dominated with really invasive telemetry from Big Tech, and there is practically no effective way to gain privacy. Running LineageOS, SailfishOS, or similar is the best one can hope for *as it stands* - and both of those are very hacky solutions out of the remit of regular consumers.
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Quoting: SolitaryBut Steam Deck can be much more then just small PC,... there is already talks about resuming gameplay on a different device, or ability to quickly switch between multiple games when using Steam Deck, all of that might be easier done if the game can communicate with the device. I mean we can only speculate what that API could do, but I doubt it's only for getting specs, even though just that would also be good. This device can only get better if the games don't treat it as "any other PC" where it doesn't even try to meet halfway and take into account the desired handheld/console-like experience.So a game dev wants to ensure a polished and friction-free experience for their Steam Deck customers? That's swell. So which customers shouldn't get a polished and friction-free experience? All other customers using Wine? All other low-res customers? All other Steam customers?
If I'm using an Aya Neo, should I not get consideration just because I'm using Windows? If I'm running SteamOS on a low-res laptop, or a low-performance high-res laptop that's using integer scaling, and for sure I'm using a controller because gaming on a laptop sucks donkey balls, should I not get consideration because I can't hold the thing in my hands?
What about In-Home Streaming? Does that count as is on a deck because of the low-res screen and input method, or as isn't on a deck because of the massive power?
We've seen this dance before. Nvidia cards spoofed as AMD because game devs assume a particular manufacturer means certain functions will be available always. There being no Windows 9 because devs assumed that the string "Windows 9" could only ever refer to either Windows 95 or Windows 98. Faking the OpenGL version number because no number could ever be that long.
We need less of that jank, not a whole new generation. The more I think about it, the more terrible an idea it seems.
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Quoting: jrtI was very positively surprised by the LTT video. He didn't mention "installing Windows" or the current anticheat situation.
I think it's great that we are at a point where people can be hyped about a Desktop Linux device without a constant "but it would be better with windows".
Agree this is a real plus so far. I still kind of expect a tidal wave of YT videos on how to install windows, but if this trend continues and people stick to using Linux on the device then this really could be a watershed moment for Linux desktop adoption.
I can honestly see some vendors shipping laptops installed with SteamOS-3.0 and the KDE desktop enabled as default in future.
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Quoting: LoftyQuoting: jrtI was very positively surprised by the LTT video. He didn't mention "installing Windows" or the current anticheat situation.
I think it's great that we are at a point where people can be hyped about a Desktop Linux device without a constant "but it would be better with windows".
Agree this is a real plus so far. I still kind of expect a tidal wave of YT videos on how to install windows, but if this trend continues and people stick to using Linux on the device then this really could be a watershed moment for Linux desktop adoption.
I can honestly see some vendors shipping laptops installed with SteamOS-3.0 and the KDE desktop enabled as default in future.
I expect those videos to end with "Windows on this device kinda sucks." But if people install Windows on it and genuinely prefer it, good for them. That's exactly what I'd want for installing Linux on all my computers. If it turns out that Valve haven't made Linux gaming compelling enough for the masses, so their customers are going to go through the hassle of installing fresh Windows on a device that comes with a different OS, then they aren't safe from Microsoft and they need to Linux harder.
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Quoting: CatKillerI expect those videos to end with "Windows on this device kinda sucks."
why ? i mean watching this bit of the steamdeck hands on they state that the new UI is coming to windows shortly after. All things being equal the performance and compatibility should be higher on windows. I don't expect a mountain of people to do this honestly. But maybe when the novelty of using steamOS wears out perhaps.
https://youtu.be/jb6OWxORfY0?t=502
Quoting: CatKillerBut if people install Windows on it and genuinely prefer it, good for them. That's exactly what I'd want for installing Linux on all my computers. If it turns out that Valve haven't made Linux gaming compelling enough for the masses, so their customers are going to go through the hassle of installing fresh Windows on a device that comes with a different OS, then they aren't safe from Microsoft and they need to Linux harder.
Sure. At that point im not sure what more valve could do anyway for those kinds of people. Some people are just never going to compromise on absolute performance and compatibility by running Linux.
I remember a thread on a windows centered forum a year or so back when proton was really taking off, some news articles were dropping and the conversation got onto how far Linux had come, people were impressed for sure but even then the consensus was that if there was even a less than 5% drop in performance no matter how much freer, secure and private Linux was they would not switch. Not to mention the lack of other game stores (although im sure that's something that can be improved if this thing takes off)
I do like the idea that the deck(linux) gets the UI first at least but there has to be some reason to use the deck other than technical inability or laziness over installing windows+steam.
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Quoting: The_AquabatI think that about 30% of people are die hard Windows users, likewise as Apple fanboys... they simply can't concieve there life without Windows. Millions will still install Windows on the Steam Deck, and there's nothing you can do about it.
But if, let's say, 50% of steam deck userbase remain on Linux, then it's mayor victory for Linux.
Linux will gain many users who don't know that they are using Linux, just like Andriod. Will those people even try desktop mode ? and if they do will that encourage them to drop windows and install it on their desktop PC ? I don't know. The best outcome for me personally is a focus on getting anti-cheat working and improvements to drivers. Will this even get devs interested in Linux when proton is available or will it just get them interested in the Steamdeck API for game UI adaptations and settings.
It's a Linux thing but at the same time, it's also not quite as much of a Linux thing to people outside of this community.
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Quoting: Loftywhy ?
People have been trying to replicate the rough performance of the Steam Deck on existing hardware. When they've done so, they've found that using Linux gives better performance than using Windows. The review of the Onexplayer suggested that the Windows interface just wasn't that great without a keyboard and mouse. Windows updates are apparently brutal.
QuoteAt that point im not sure what more valve could do anyway for those kinds of people.
Until they do whatever it is, they're essentially a Microsoft subsidiary.
Pre-installed Linux gaming is the product here, and the hardware is just the delivery vehicle. If Microsoft pulled the plug on them, for whatever reason, Valve need to find a way to keep their customers; that's their driving motivation.
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Quoting: LoftyQuoting: CatKillerI expect those videos to end with "Windows on this device kinda sucks."
why ? i mean watching this bit of the steamdeck hands on they state that the new UI is coming to windows shortly after. All things being equal the performance and compatibility should be higher on windows. I don't expect a mountain of people to do this honestly. But maybe when the novelty of using steamOS wears out perhaps.
https://youtu.be/jb6OWxORfY0?t=502
Quoting: CatKillerBut if people install Windows on it and genuinely prefer it, good for them. That's exactly what I'd want for installing Linux on all my computers. If it turns out that Valve haven't made Linux gaming compelling enough for the masses, so their customers are going to go through the hassle of installing fresh Windows on a device that comes with a different OS, then they aren't safe from Microsoft and they need to Linux harder.
Sure. At that point im not sure what more valve could do anyway for those kinds of people. Some people are just never going to compromise on absolute performance and compatibility by running Linux.
I remember a thread on a windows centered forum a year or so back when proton was really taking off, some news articles were dropping and the conversation got onto how far Linux had come, people were impressed for sure but even then the consensus was that if there was even a less than 5% drop in performance no matter how much freer, secure and private Linux was they would not switch. Not to mention the lack of other game stores (although im sure that's something that can be improved if this thing takes off)
I do like the idea that the deck(linux) gets the UI first at least but there has to be some reason to use the deck other than technical inability or laziness over installing windows+steam.
For performance side, can help that Valve know specific hardware? So Everything (kernel, wine,...) can be built for ZEN2? It's not great benefit to performance, but in some games is wine equal and rerly better then Windows even now.
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