Begun, the handheld wars have. It seems like every company now wants a piece of the pie doesn't it? Even MSI appear to be jumping into the fold now with an announcement due at CES 2024.
We don't exactly have much to go on right now, other than the teaser they posted up on their Instagram page and on X noting "A whole new breed of MSI dragon is coming. Get a grip and stay tuned."
Here's some quick stills from their teaser video:
No doubt it will be another handheld running Windows though instead of Linux, but it's not like that has stopped people! Linux support for the ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go, plus various units from GPD and AYANEO have been improving pretty quickly with ChimeraOS being one of the best options.
It's always good to have options! Naturally I'll be sticking to the Steam Deck OLED since it's the most supported available with Linux out of the box.
Update: as a small addition, it seems this may be Intel powered given the reply on social media site X from the official Intel Gaming account with three thinking emoji. Obviously not a lot to go on, but why else would they reply like that?
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The defining question: will it have a suspend mode similar to the deck or not? None of these handhelds are worth a penny if not. I don't know the Ally has added it post release but it didn't ship with this feature, right?
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slaapliedje Jan 4
The defining question: will it have a suspend mode similar to the deck or not? None of these handhelds are worth a penny if not. I don't know the Ally has added it post release but it didn't ship with this feature, right?The ability to just click the power button, set the deck back on the dock at night, and then when ready to play again, pushing the button and basically being right back into the game again may actually get me to complete some games!
The OLED Steam Deck is seriously awesome. I'd play on the original one a bit here and there, but play far more on the OLED one! It's just so nice in the hands!
I actually refuse to get the Ally or Legion Go simply based on not wanting anymore copies of Windows in my house... if they sold a SteamOS version, I'd likely pick up a Legion Go at some point...
7 Likes, Who?
IMHO, I'd not even bother to finance a manufacturer/vendor not using Linux.
They'd notice it being sold, but not running ChimeraOS instantly afterwards - maybe a call to Steam or ChimeraOS (or both) to support options to make it more obvious/visible to the manufacturer?
Maybe via Steam hardware survey or a "statistics option" in the e.g. ChimeraOS setup, to report the usage of a proper OS, (or a kind call to action after the setup/first launch to make the manufacturer aware)?
They'd notice it being sold, but not running ChimeraOS instantly afterwards - maybe a call to Steam or ChimeraOS (or both) to support options to make it more obvious/visible to the manufacturer?
Maybe via Steam hardware survey or a "statistics option" in the e.g. ChimeraOS setup, to report the usage of a proper OS, (or a kind call to action after the setup/first launch to make the manufacturer aware)?
9 Likes, Who?
IMHO, I'd not even bother to finance a manufacturer/vendor not using Linux.
They'd notice it being sold, but not running ChimeraOS instantly afterwards - maybe a call to Steam or ChimeraOS (or both) to support options to make it more obvious/visible to the manufacturer?
Maybe via Steam hardware survey or a "statistics option" in the e.g. ChimeraOS setup, to report the usage of a proper OS, (or a kind call to action after the setup/first launch to make the manufacturer aware)?
Why would they care? They've got a big bag of money from Microsoft for making the thing and selling it at a price that competes with Valve, they've got your money for purchasing the thing, and you've voluntarily removed yourself from any ongoing support that they might be inclined to provide.
The only thing that would make any difference to the OS that they use is hordes of people not buying their Windows hardware and letting them know that they lost the sale to their Linux-providing competitors, and the lost revenue from that being bigger than the big bag of money they got from Microsoft.
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The defining question: will it have a suspend mode similar to the deck or not? None of these handhelds are worth a penny if not. I don't know the Ally has added it post release but it didn't ship with this feature, right?
Valve is a software company, and they've proven they're pretty good at creating features like this (and supporting free and open source software). All these competitors (Lenovo, Asus, MSI, etc.) are hardware companies, and they've always relied on Microsoft to handle the software.
The problem is, Microsoft is rather inept at innovation, especially in the handheld space. Remember Windows Phone, Zune, and Pocket PCs? Even if they do produce a new handheld interface, there's no reason to believe it won't be as bad as Metro was on Windows 8. I wouldn't be surprised if they did an Xbox handheld before they do that.
8 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Jan 4
At first glance I thought that second picture was of a row of eight Ethernet ports, and thought "Well, that's a new direction to go for a handheld." 🤣
Valve did say with the Deck that they were trying to spark a new wave of handheld PCs, and they sure seem to have succeeded!
Valve did say with the Deck that they were trying to spark a new wave of handheld PCs, and they sure seem to have succeeded!
8 Likes, Who?
Valve did say with the Deck that they were trying to spark a new wave of handheld PCs, and they sure seem to have succeeded!
Every one of those handheld customers is buying their games on Steam, and for every new model the whole industry is saying, "yeah, Windows isn't as good as Linux."
11 Likes, Who?
At first glance I thought that second picture was of a row of eight Ethernet ports, and thought "Well, that's a new direction to go for a handheld." 🤣Wait, it isn't? (Goes and looks again) Ohhh, yeah. Ahem. I knew that.
5 Likes, Who?
Valve has got a second source of money for every sold Steam Deck that nobody else has got, so I guess nobody can compete on their prices using SteamOS. So they have to try something else.
1 Likes, Who?
And no one gives a shit, unless said handheld can run Steam on it. And not windows too.
4 Likes, Who?
TruckStopSantaClaus Jan 4
Wondering when (if ever) one of these things will come with they're own Linux OS, Windows just seems like a bad fit for handhelds. Would love to see a new handheld come with something tailor made for it running inside.
3 Likes, Who?
I wonder if one of these gaming hardware companies are ever going to stick trackpads on their competing devices.
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I've seen a bunch of these devices but I must say that I still prefer my SD Oled.
1 Likes, Who?
Luke_Nukem Jan 5
Wondering when (if ever) one of these things will come with they're own Linux OS, Windows just seems like a bad fit for handhelds. Would love to see a new handheld come with something tailor made for it running inside.
Valve are open to helping OEM's support SteamOS, but I suspect that the OEMs want it to be more of a one-way street with Valve doing all the work.
Windows is a flatout fucking terrible OS for handhelds - try getting through all the numerous reboots, privacy garbage, other setup screens etc.
2 Likes, Who?
gradyvuckovic Jan 5
First hint they provide is a dark image showing the RGB colourful lighting rings around what is no doubt the joysticks and already immediately I have absolutely zero interest in the device.
I'm sooooo completely over the overkill of RGB lighting in everything 'GAMERRRR!' related in the world of tech right now. Next PC I buy is going to be a black metal box and I'm going to shop around to find all the components I can get with the fewest number of lights possible, and any lights remaining after that, I'm going to black em out with permanent marker.
I'm sooooo completely over the overkill of RGB lighting in everything 'GAMERRRR!' related in the world of tech right now. Next PC I buy is going to be a black metal box and I'm going to shop around to find all the components I can get with the fewest number of lights possible, and any lights remaining after that, I'm going to black em out with permanent marker.
10 Likes, Who?
First hint they provide is a dark image showing the RGB colourful lighting rings around what is no doubt the joysticks and already immediately I have absolutely zero interest in the device.
I'm sooooo completely over the overkill of RGB lighting in everything 'GAMERRRR!' related in the world of tech right now. Next PC I buy is going to be a black metal box and I'm going to shop around to find all the components I can get with the fewest number of lights possible, and any lights remaining after that, I'm going to black em out with permanent marker.
haha! I'm in the exact same boat my friend. Last pc I built in 2020 was with a bequiet matte black case. It's just a black metal rectangle with some vents in it, and that's it. I love this case. It was kind of sad though, a LOT of the other components I had to manually go turn off the garbage RGB I didn't even know they had. Both the ram I bought and the mobo had defaulted on blinky nonsense that was so irritating. I had to go into the bios and disable it.
4 Likes, Who?
Sorry MSI, not for me! This'll almost certainly just be another generic Windows box with a poor user experience, and the parallels to how money was thrown at killing Linux netbooks are obvious and growing.
7 Likes, Who?
StoneColdSpider Jan 5
Im not in the market for a handheld but it will be interesting to see how it turns out...... Wonder what lessons they learnt from ASUS if any........
And even if you hate it..... Competition should mean better Steam Decks in the future........
And even if you hate it..... Competition should mean better Steam Decks in the future........
1 Likes, Who?
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