ASUS have given their handheld an upgrade with the ROG Ally X now getting a full announcement, along with specifications and a price. Hopefully they actually fixed the SD Card issue this time…
While they're still bundling it with Windows 11, I doubt it will be long before the likes of ChimeraOS, Bazzite and others get updates to allow you to easily run Linux on it.
The updated ROG Ally X now ships with a larger 1TB M.2 full 2280 for storage, faster 7500Mhz LPDDR5X RAM bumped up to 24GB, an 80 Wh battery, an additional USB-C port, overhauled internals for better cooling and a revised case design for better ergonomics (it's much more round). They also re-positioned the thumbsticks and gave it new thumbsticks that should last longer, there's a new macro button on the back, a redesigned d-pad and lots of small improvements elsewhere.
Priced at $799 it will be available in July. See more on their store page.
It's also worth noting, that ASUS have been catching some fire lately for their terrible user support experience, which the excellent Gamers Nexus went over across two videos titled ASUS Scammed Us and the follow-up ASUS Says We're "Confused".
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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StalePopcorn Jun 2
As Liam noted later in the article (I suggest watching the referenced GN video), unless their approach to dealing with customers changes, I personally don't plan on buying from them any time soon. Looks nice tho.
9 Likes, Who?
Nice,so in Europe we'll see if for almost 1k. And with the awesome customer support they have, I'm sure they'll sell a lot!
Still no trackpads btw.
Still no trackpads btw.
4 Likes, Who?
on_en_a_gros Jun 2
Seeing the price increase between the Rog ally Z1 / Z1 extrem / x, I can't help myself to think that the philosophy of extremely high priced hardware to run poorly optimised game is pushing is way through portable gaming devices.
5 Likes, Who?
dziadulewicz Jun 2
No Linux support. No trackpads (how the heck you play accurate aiming oriented games with sticks?). 800 bucks. This is BS IMO ..
Spydows 11 is not loved by anyone and additionally consumes battery more than the device would with Linux.
Last edited by dziadulewicz on 2 June 2024 at 1:07 pm UTC
Spydows 11 is not loved by anyone and additionally consumes battery more than the device would with Linux.
Last edited by dziadulewicz on 2 June 2024 at 1:07 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
They must be desperate. After just a few months when the predecessor hit the market they are already announcing a successor. By the end of the year we should see at an "Ally 2"...
2 Likes, Who?
It still has that horrible round d-pad and those ugly RGB leds, hard pass.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: on_en_a_grosSeeing the price increase between the Rog ally Z1 / Z1 extrem / x, I can't help myself to think that the philosophy of extremely high priced hardware to run poorly optimised game is pushing is way through portable gaming devices.And don't forget a poorly-optimised OS, as well!
Seriously, though, this continues to echo the way that netbooks were killed off. Beware!
5 Likes, Who?
The biggest ding on this device is that it's not using a OLED screen and sticking to the same one as the previous model. Also, they opted to use USB4 instead of their proprietary connector for the eGPU, which is nice but should've used OCuLink instead.
Sure, the 24GB of RAM and larger battery sounds nice but since it's still stuck on Windows 11, I'll pass on this until they get dirt cheap so that I can put Bazzite, ChimeraOS or Nobara on it.
Last edited by ToddL on 2 June 2024 at 2:22 pm UTC
Sure, the 24GB of RAM and larger battery sounds nice but since it's still stuck on Windows 11, I'll pass on this until they get dirt cheap so that I can put Bazzite, ChimeraOS or Nobara on it.
Last edited by ToddL on 2 June 2024 at 2:22 pm UTC
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hardpenguin Jun 2
QuoteWhile they're still bundling it with Windows 11Ew
1 Likes, Who?
dziadulewicz Jun 2
Quoting: hardpenguinQuoteWhile they're still bundling it with Windows 11Ew
Exactly: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/05/microsofts-new-recall-ai-will-take-screenshots-of-everything-you-do-freaky/
"Microsoft's new Recall AI will take screenshots of everything you do and that sounds truly terrible. Spyware as a service, courtesy of Microsoft's push to stick AI into everything."
2 Likes, Who?
Looks like a pretty beefy device. I'd still have no idea what to do with it (to be fair, I've had a steam deck for a year and have barely used it, still can't figure out a use case for it for me).
I remember when Asus had great customer service and good devices, 20 years ago (crap im old!!!). I had 2 of their cell phones and while I loved the first one, I could tell the quality went down a lot on the second and it broke pretty quickly.
It's a shame, they were one of the companies ppl swore by for device quality and performance.
I remember when Asus had great customer service and good devices, 20 years ago (crap im old!!!). I had 2 of their cell phones and while I loved the first one, I could tell the quality went down a lot on the second and it broke pretty quickly.
It's a shame, they were one of the companies ppl swore by for device quality and performance.
1 Likes, Who?
Well, I have to admit this is a significant improvement, just from the battery alone. I mean, perhaps the biggest criticism before was, OK it has power and a higher definition screen but because of that it munches battery life like crazy. Bigger battery helps. It's expensive, but not bad considering all the hardware stuffed in it. I'd have to say I don't think this is a terrible offering.
Because it's up at the higher end, I don't think sales will be that strong--it doesn't matter if I think the price is worth it for the snazzy hardware if I just can't afford to spend that kind of money to play games. But from being an expensive thing that gave a crap experience, it's headed for being an expensive thing that gives an expensive experience--something viable as a more luxury item. I don't think the previous Ally was a machine that really had a niche; this one maybe does, or at most it would take a bit of tweaking controls and it would.
Still would be better with Linux on it instead of Windows 11. Heck, it would be better with some other Windows version instead of Windows 11, but with all Windows versions you'd still have that "this doesn't work well on this kind of device" problem.
Because it's up at the higher end, I don't think sales will be that strong--it doesn't matter if I think the price is worth it for the snazzy hardware if I just can't afford to spend that kind of money to play games. But from being an expensive thing that gave a crap experience, it's headed for being an expensive thing that gives an expensive experience--something viable as a more luxury item. I don't think the previous Ally was a machine that really had a niche; this one maybe does, or at most it would take a bit of tweaking controls and it would.
Still would be better with Linux on it instead of Windows 11. Heck, it would be better with some other Windows version instead of Windows 11, but with all Windows versions you'd still have that "this doesn't work well on this kind of device" problem.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Purple Library GuyStill would be better with Linux on it instead of Windows 11. Heck, it would be better with some other Windows version instead of Windows 11, but with all Windows versions you'd still have that "this doesn't work well on this kind of device" problem.And that quite quickly leads the masses to the mistaken belief of "These portable PCs actually aren't any good.", leading to manufacturers no longer making them because the demand gets destroyed.
As I've said far too many times (including in this very thread ), it's exactly like what happened with how the netbook product-category was killed off*.*I mention it so often because I still lament it - I've still got use-cases that the hypothetical modern netbook would be ideal for, and "Buy a Chromebook and jump through hoops to get Linux installed on it!" doesn't cut it for me.
Last edited by Pengling on 2 June 2024 at 7:18 pm UTC
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As an owner of the first ROG Ally, it looks like they addressed the ergonomic issues I had. Round corners will be much more appreciated, I'd have to test out the new positioning of the analog sticks.
I'm wondering if there isn't a new SoC available in the meantime, or at least shrinking the manufacturing process by 1 nm like it happened with the Steam Deck SoC.
I have to admit I'm tempted to get one. For the current ROG Ally I even got an external GPU (the 2022 6850M XT model) for it with their proprietary connector, and it runs VR really well (back then VR on Linux was in a really bad state, lots of games I enjoyed playing not working, but that has changed now!). Yet I'm hesitating, as I want to finally try one of the other "handheld" Linux distros first (e.g. chimera os or brazzite). Too bad that firmware upgrades will need Windows to apply still, so dual booting will be a necessity still -.-
And they should be thankful to Valve, without the Steam Deck, nobody would be interested in the ROG Ally (or other PC gaming handhelds), so they could at least officially support Linux on the ROG Ally, am I right? :D
I'm wondering if there isn't a new SoC available in the meantime, or at least shrinking the manufacturing process by 1 nm like it happened with the Steam Deck SoC.
I have to admit I'm tempted to get one. For the current ROG Ally I even got an external GPU (the 2022 6850M XT model) for it with their proprietary connector, and it runs VR really well (back then VR on Linux was in a really bad state, lots of games I enjoyed playing not working, but that has changed now!). Yet I'm hesitating, as I want to finally try one of the other "handheld" Linux distros first (e.g. chimera os or brazzite). Too bad that firmware upgrades will need Windows to apply still, so dual booting will be a necessity still -.-
And they should be thankful to Valve, without the Steam Deck, nobody would be interested in the ROG Ally (or other PC gaming handhelds), so they could at least officially support Linux on the ROG Ally, am I right? :D
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: denyasis(to be fair, I've had a steam deck for a year and have barely used it, still can't figure out a use case for it for me)
(psst... You play games on it...)
6 Likes, Who?
Luke_Nukem Jun 2
Suppose I better finish the patch for all the feature support on the Ally and submit upstream. It's a damned good device when you run Linux on it.
(I'm the guy who works on the majority or ASUS ROG support for Linux).
(I'm the guy who works on the majority or ASUS ROG support for Linux).
4 Likes, Who?
CyborgZeta Jun 2
Still no trackpads.
0 Likes
Quoting: CatKillerQuoting: denyasis(to be fair, I've had a steam deck for a year and have barely used it, still can't figure out a use case for it for me)
(psst... You play games on it...)
a "stream deck" for the games the linuxmint pc cant play,
other than docked i have only used it once when it arrived and once during a power outage,
but the prices here in soviet Helgium last time i checked went around €800 which is about a ROG (the previous one) i think (thats just belgium for ya) and atm they seem to be "unavailable" but on amazon you can still get some for around 800 to 1000 ... might be different in germany or holland after all Europe is not a country (lol i liked that vid)
The Asus toy seems to be something for ppl who live in disneyland tho, shi---tuff simply isnt affordable anymore tho it looks like small electronics are cheaper than food today. Maybe a sign of how the planet is evolving towards silicon based lifeforms . I like the deck b/c its open and a total linux pc portable with enoug zzaz to run a game like elden ring at super-playable framerates and i can probably play it for 15 weeks on the solar bats if the russians invade and the power goes out lol ... anyway, that asus thing seems to be a pass and more like a toy for kids who still live in disneyland where pink unicorns sound off the day with mary poppins in the sky with diamonds .
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