It's hilarious to still see takes like this - Windows Central
"Don't buy a Steam Deck, if you want a gaming handheld buy an ROG Ally — here's why"
There's so many problems with that article it's just funny, and sad.
While yes, Windows 11 out of the box can do some things SteamOS can't - entirely fair.
It makes out like SteamOS can't do things a PC can. Like word processing, web browsing, installing other stores etc.
"I even plugged a wireless dongle into my Ally and used a keyboard and mouse to write up Word docs on the ASUS gaming device."
Actual quote from the article 🤦
@gamingonlinux I just read that post and... I agree with Windows Central.
I don't think the point is that "Linux" can't do that. For an average user, it's hard to leave the Steam interface and understand how to install anything but Steam games.
I do agree they exaggerate in some arguments, like "Since ROG Ally runs Windows 11, it can do anything a gaming laptop can". But in general, I agree with them.
The user must be a nerd like us to install anything but Steam games on a Steam Deck.
@gamingonlinux I agree with you. The desktop mode on a Steam Deck is great and easy to use. This is a failed point in the article.
But what I'm saying is: reading their entire post, the desktop mode is the smallest point. They are mostly saying that if you want to install games outside the Steam library, the Ally is better. And this is true.
I love my Steam Deck, but handling it with other launchers is always a pain.
@lime @gamingonlinux if the game is not on the Steam library, this is not true.
Any launcher would require Lutris or Bottles, then create a custom shortcut for the Steam Deck. And it does not always work.
Also, there's no Game Pass outside Windows.
@lime @gamingonlinux yeah. I agree the experience is great for GOG and Epic for most games. But even in this case, for a kid who wants to play Fortnite, isn't that simple.
And that's the usual take for me: I hate those custom launchers but they do work great on Windows for those who don't have experience.
We reached a point where, in my opinion, Linux is better for Steam games and of course Valve is the reason why we got it. But for anything else, it is a hit or miss. Like Fortnite, LoL, etc.
@tripop @gamingonlinux man... The Windows Central guys are Windows fanboys who don't know how to use the SteamOS desktop mode. But the Linux people are being fanboy here too.
Saying that Lutris or Bottles is better than installing the EA, Ubisoft, Riot, Game Pass, Battle.net, GOG launchers is... Unbelievable.
I'll drop the discussion.
@thenets @gamingonlinux Haven't used either the Steam Deck nor the ROG Ally, but my understanding of what you're saying is that it's hard to switch over to EA Desktop, or Ubisoft's launcher, or the EGS, on a Steam Deck?
Not in that you can't break out of the Steam sandbox, but that it's harder to get those things installed, running, and launching games on the Steam Deck?
@AT1ST @gamingonlinux yes. And this is for Linux in general, not only on Steam Deck.
Right now, if the game is available on the Steam library, usually the experience is awesome. But when this is not the case, Lutris may not install the right dependency, etc. And btw, Lutris is doing a fantastic job here.
There are scenarios that are hard or impossible to handle, like the CoD Warzone, Fortnite, Game Pass games, etc. For those, Windows is the way and this is the next frontier for Linux gaming.
@mivey @gamingonlinux yep. I agree with that and I talked about it in the following answer: https://fosstodon.org/@thenets/111459618796169052
I was talking about games only, using other launchers.
@[email protected] I agree with you. The desktop mode on a Steam Deck is great and easy to use. This is a failed point in the article. But what I'm saying is: reading their entire post, the desktop mode is the smallest point. They are mostly saying that if you want to install games outside the Steam library, the Ally is better. And this is true. I love my Steam Deck, but handling it with other launchers is always a pain.
@thenets @gamingonlinux I was looking, but didn't find any response that talked about that bit. Can get a bit hard to follow all threads when there's a lot of replies.
I do hope that the success of SteamDeck will eventually lead to reductions in friction for those other launchers. Either by having more games directly on Steam or maybe it could incentivise more platforms to have native Linux clients and Proton support for non-native titles.
@mivey @gamingonlinux oh, I don't know how the link works. I said "The desktop mode on a Steam Deck is great and easy to use. This is a failed point in the article."
And yeah, I hope so. We are seeing major improvements on Lutris and Heroic and this may continue.
If I have to bet, I believe the next big thing would be a layer for all launchers. This way, we would be able to "import an Ubisoft" game. This way we would be able to integrate the UI inside Steam UI, Lutris, KDE, Gnome, etc.
> "It makes out like SteamOS can't do things a PC can. Like word processing, web browsing, installing other stores etc."
Sites should be sued for content like that. Not that I love Valve so much, I expect them to go full EEE on Wine some day. But that is just misinformation
@gamingonlinux I am reading this laying in bed wearing a t-shirt with artwork on it that I designed on the deck, under a custom blanket with artwork I designed on the deck, with my head on a pillow with artwork I designed on the deck. Later today I'll be drinking from one of an assortment of coffee mugs with custom artwork I made on the deck.
I've rendered video on it, managed my online life, and done a lot of server maintenance. I've written and edited a book in part on it. I've been learning how to do 3D rendering on it.
All of the software is there, in a software center; I don't have to google it and find a download link and then be bombarded with ads, I just click install and it installs.
But alas. I suppose it's not good for anything productive or creative.
@gamingonlinux heh I did early development of a mobile game on the deck 😁 - not the best target for unreal engine editing but it was servicable!
I used it for a long time as a general desktop as well, USBC monitor with a hub on it basically just means it's a perfect little machine
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