Recently, I ran two different polls to find out how people with a Steam Deck used their device (or if they didn't much) and the results are out now.
The key thing about the Steam Deck, is that while it is a handheld it's also a full Linux PC with a desktop mode. Many docks are available for it from different brands now and even the official Docking Station from Valve is out and has been for about a month now.
So I was keen to find out how what percentage of people actually used it mainly docked, partly also because I use now the vast majority of my time with it docked. Turns out, not a whole lot of other people do.
From over 4,000 votes on our YouTube Channel:
While on our Twitter from over 1,000 votes paints a very similar picture.
What a shock, over 70% of people using a handheld use it as a handheld. I know, it's not breaking news but I found it interesting, because of how much I use it docked myself and how I've seen a lot of comments of others doing the same. Turns out though, it's a really small amount of people overall.
I suppose it didn't help that the docked experience wasn't great at release, and it still has plenty of issues now, like I noted in my article on the official Docking Station not always displaying on my TV.
Another bit I wanted to highlight, was a really interesting comment on the GOL YouTube Channel about this from user "MechanicalMonk", which I can't link to as the original poll was removed to add an extra missed option. Anyway, they mentioned that people buying the Switch would have done so anyway because it's Nintendo and many people use it exclusively docked as it just happens to be a handheld (although, there is the newer handheld-only Lite). On the other hand, people would have been far less likely to buy the Steam Deck if it wasn't a handheld and so it favours that. Just an interesting thought.
What do you think? How do you use it?
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I have a highend desktop for desktop gaming and pc usage. i use my steamdeck as a handheld for gaming and as a psuedo laptop for when im say in the living room and need to internet. granted im sure someone who only has the SD for a pc would be different
4 Likes, Who?
One metric I'd be curious about is how many people aren't using the SD controls themselves and instead opt for an external controller. I have hundreds of hours on my SD now and I'll bet I've spent less than 3 hrs total actually holding the thing. I would be perfectly happy if a tablet FF SD was released that relied entirely on external (or detachable) controls.
1 Likes, Who?
I have a high-end desktop, but didn't play anything on it since I got Steam Deck. For me it's much better to lie down on couch or bed with Steam Deck than sitting on chair when playing on PC. It is enough that I'm sitting in chair during work hours.
Last edited by Zlopez on 7 November 2022 at 4:26 pm UTC
Last edited by Zlopez on 7 November 2022 at 4:26 pm UTC
12 Likes, Who?
I anticipated that I would use the dock a lot more than I'm currently doing, but that could change over time.
What's currently lacking in docked mode is a controller that really matches what is built-in.
What's currently lacking in docked mode is a controller that really matches what is built-in.
3 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Nov 7, 2022
Handheld. All the time, unless for the occasional updates/plugin installation that requires the desktop mode. I already have a much more powerful PC if I need to sit to a desk and it's the main reason why I bought the Steam Deck: "Being freed from the shackles of my desk!"
Where have I heard that?
Where have I heard that?
2 Likes, Who?
And as for me, I was expecting to play more, but I think most of the time I use it at night at the bed watching videos and navigating on internet.
You need to much concentration after a working day to play a game.
You need to much concentration after a working day to play a game.
1 Likes, Who?
One metric I'd be curious about is how many people aren't using the SD controls themselves and instead opt for an external controller. I have hundreds of hours on my SD now and I'll bet I've spent less than 3 hrs total actually holding the thing. I would be perfectly happy if a tablet FF SD was released that relied entirely on external (or detachable) controls.
I'm the opposite of that, I don't even have any external controller to connect to it (maybe except wireless mouse, but never tried it). And without some kind of stand to put Steam Deck into I don't really see a way to play on it without holding it in hands. I can imagine putting it in docking station next to TV and use an external controller to play on it, but in this case you still need a docking station and big monitor.
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tillDo you mean since? Otherwise I'm confused.
Yes, I just switched those two words :-D
Last edited by Zlopez on 7 November 2022 at 4:27 pm UTC
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Beyond the Linux PC: I was positively shocked at how well it ran CSGO in docked mode. And with Soul Calibur VI, FSR showed what it is capable of. It looked better than on my PS4. The Steam Deck is quite a beast in gaming mode.
3 Likes, Who?
Viesta2015 Nov 7, 2022
I use the steam deck like a full on PC... in fact i plan on having a dual monitor setup for it so im going all out on the desktop mode. It is literally the strongest PC i have ever had in my hands and the fact that i can just go from desktop mode to handheld mode in an instant? makes it even more unique to me... all for 400$
3 Likes, Who?
I expected to use it more docked than I do (90% handheld, 10% docked). I told myself it could do the work of an HTPC as well as handheld gaming computer.
In practice, it's too cumbersome. Plugging it in, switching to desktop mode to get 4k resolution (somehow, adding media playuers as non-steam apps and setting them to native resolution doesn't quite work), firing up freetube or kodi, remembering freetube doesn't take controller input... And I'm pretty sure HBO Max on linux maxes out at 720p or something like that.
As for games, none of my current obsessions (Prey, Descenders) would look good with default resolution blown up on large tv.
Last edited by brokkr on 7 November 2022 at 5:00 pm UTC
In practice, it's too cumbersome. Plugging it in, switching to desktop mode to get 4k resolution (somehow, adding media playuers as non-steam apps and setting them to native resolution doesn't quite work), firing up freetube or kodi, remembering freetube doesn't take controller input... And I'm pretty sure HBO Max on linux maxes out at 720p or something like that.
As for games, none of my current obsessions (Prey, Descenders) would look good with default resolution blown up on large tv.
Last edited by brokkr on 7 November 2022 at 5:00 pm UTC
0 Likes
If Valve sold hardware here, or if we could actually get any other of those handheld PCs, I'd get one to use it for handheld mainly. I run Ubuntu on my Switch to stream games to it from my Arch Linux PC, such a fantastic solution; handheld gaming that is. Very nice to have.
Last edited by ridge on 7 November 2022 at 5:02 pm UTC
Last edited by ridge on 7 November 2022 at 5:02 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Just a comment on the bottom comment in the article:
Having both a switch and a SteamDeck, I personally spend vastly more time on my switch still, because docked the joycons are way better for my shoulders, and it's too much of a pain to configure joycons for the steamdeck for each game.
But I love my steamdeck because I can literally hand my entire library of steam games to friends and family to play, especially as the vast majority do not have desktop computers that could run most PC games.
So my steamdeck gets tons of use, just not by me personally.
Having both a switch and a SteamDeck, I personally spend vastly more time on my switch still, because docked the joycons are way better for my shoulders, and it's too much of a pain to configure joycons for the steamdeck for each game.
But I love my steamdeck because I can literally hand my entire library of steam games to friends and family to play, especially as the vast majority do not have desktop computers that could run most PC games.
So my steamdeck gets tons of use, just not by me personally.
1 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Nov 7, 2022
I am casually in the market for a Deck, but I would use it pretty much exclusively as a handheld, too. The type of games I normally play typically doesn't play well on consoles, so whenever I have a "proper" PC available, I'd use that.
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Philadelphus Nov 7, 2022
I think I tried docking mine to one of my monitors once for the novelty, then haven't been interested since. I already have a beefy desktop (with the most comfortable, ergonomic chair in my house) that can do anything I could do on my Deck easier and with less hassle, so to me it's basically a way to play games when I'm away from my PC. (Honestly one of the biggest draws of the Deck for me was simply having access to some of my Steam library on long airplane flights, of which I take more than my desired number of zero practically every year.)
1 Likes, Who?
One metric I'd be curious about is how many people aren't using the SD controls themselves and instead opt for an external controller. I have hundreds of hours on my SD now and I'll bet I've spent less than 3 hrs total actually holding the thing. I would be perfectly happy if a tablet FF SD was released that relied entirely on external (or detachable) controls.
SteamController2 would certainly help me use it docked more often.
Controls are what makes me use it as a handheld most of the time.
1 Likes, Who?
Schattenspiegel Nov 7, 2022
I am actually considering one (apart from couch-gaming) as an energy efficient browsing and media machine in docked mode. Should be way cheaper than having a full blown desktop running for hours for these minor tasks.
1 Likes, Who?
I would use docked on my steam deck more frequently if Valve made a Steam Controller 2 that gives me parity with the steam deck's controls. (It would also be the best controller ever made in my opinion)
I do play it docked with a Steam Controller 1 though, the game mode interface is actually amazing for older games that run at low resolutions, especially point and click games because of the magnifying glass feature.
I do play it docked with a Steam Controller 1 though, the game mode interface is actually amazing for older games that run at low resolutions, especially point and click games because of the magnifying glass feature.
1 Likes, Who?
I use it in handheld all the time, but am planning on buying a dock to make desktop mode easier to use. Also desktop mode is absolute garbage for being a Linux distro, but at least it's not Manjaro.
Hopefully the KDE update in the next major SteamOS update will fix some things.
Dualboot, VMs and DistroBox also help a lot. No one can keep you from booting into your favorite distro when docked :)
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