@echoplex21 Why the hell would anyone want a Windows PC gaming handheld - Steam Deck through Proton is the future. Sure, innovate on hardware but building something for windows systems is just paying license fees for shitty experiences. #brokenwindows #proton #steamdeck
EXCLUSIVE: Lenovo is working on a Windows PC gaming handheld called the 'Legion Go'
Submitted 1 year ago by echoplex21@lemmy.world to games@lemmy.world
Comments
null@mastodon.nl 1 year ago
Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Gamepass PC, VR, and quite a few anti-cheat systems (so online games) are still windows only.
I made the switch because those make up a very small percentage of my (PC) gaming but they are very much things that aren’t available with a linux based device.
520@kbin.social 1 year ago
Gamepass and anticheat I'll give you, though the latter is improving greatly, but using a handheld for a PC VR headset seems... impractical. Not to mention a cluster fuck of a liability
zahrank21@mastodon.social 1 year ago
@null @echoplex21 for me personally I got the ROG Ally because of GamePass which I already had with my Xbox. Being able to play a bunch of PC games native has been great especially if they sync saves. Also the sheer amount of free games I got with Epic Game Store was also nice. Sure the UI isn’t the best (we really need a big picture mode for the Xbox app) but being able to play all these games without additional purchases was a no brainer.
Maven@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Personally I just got a big SD card for my steam deck and now I can duel boot super easily between windows and SteamOS. Probably the best idea I’ve ever had.
echoplex21@lemmy.world 1 year ago
The Steam experience is actually pretty great on the Ally. They have the big picture mode which works really great.
Carighan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
The notion that “Steam Deck through Proton is the future” just showcases that you wouldn’t be in a position to judge how to configure such a device in the planning phases of a multi-million company project.
It’s a nice enthusiast attitude, sure. And don’t get me wrong, us enthusiasts are important. But it’s also entirely delusional to think that you can have true mass-market appeal of these handhelds without them running Windows on them.
wren@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
I have an Aya Neo, and honestly running Windows on it (after doing a reinstall without all the bloat), is pretty enjoyable. I get to run all my PC games no problem, emulators, and use it as a portable computer for other things (managing flipper zero files, that sort of thing)
Steam Deck os is pretty nifty too though, that’s for sure.
TORFdot0@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Why buy a console when you can play the same games but at worse graphics for 45 minutes on a windows PC handheld?
I actually had a clamshell GPDWin2 that I used to play out of park baseball on in bed and it was perfect for that but I can’t image wanting it for real games. Inhome streaming is not worse than that unless you’ve cheaped out on your Wi-Fi and don’t wire in your main Pc/console.
thepineapplejumped@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Completely different topic, but if you put a hashtag on a Lemmy post or comment does it appear on Mastodon?
Gonna test it out, #testingthefuckoutofthis
BaronVonBourbon@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I think that only works if the post comes from Mastodon
Zehzin@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Can you play Gamepass games without Windows?
echoplex21@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Only through cloud which leaves a lot to be desired.
520@kbin.social 1 year ago
The real question is "can you make playing gamepads games on Windows handhelds a not-shitty experience?"
raptir@lemm.ee 1 year ago
The steam deck controls are honestly too important for me to consider anything else. The fact that I can play mouse and keyboard games with no issues is huge.
LiveLM@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Every single one of the so called “Steam Deck Killers” drops the ball on the controls, it’s impressive.
SatyrSack@lemmy.one 1 year ago
Aya Neo Kun looks promising with its touchpads, but I am sure the Steam Deck still has it beat on price.
Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
The controls are just so good. I don’t think I could do without the inputs especially the touchpads
pastel_de_airfryer@lemmy.eco.br 1 year ago
For me, it’s being able to sleep and wake the device with games still running without worrying about a crash or running out of battery because Microsoft broke sleep on W11
Carighan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah that’s my thing, too. Touchpads are important in this regard I would say.
raptir@lemm.ee 1 year ago
To be honest it goes beyond that. The steam input customization is major. Like the fact that I can take a mouse and keyboard action RPG and assign the left stick to move around just like it had controller support.
mojo@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Why would you run Windows on this?
Carighan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Maximum compatibility? Windows is the de-facto gaming OS, whether you personally like it or not.
It makes sense as a creator of such a device that if you have the knowledge in your team to do it, running Windows on it is a good proposition to buyers. It’s not like they couldn’t install Linux on it if they want to, but to off-the-shelf buyers Windows is much better sales pitch.
OtakuAltair@lemm.ee 1 year ago
The user experience is atrocious though.
There are a few games I can’t play on my steam deck but I’d much rather have its good, functional ui over those few games that I could just play on pc instead.
Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
The off the shelf user experience is so much worse though, it doesn’t feel like a finished user ready product if you’re having to navigate windows UI on a tiny screen with a thumbstick mouse.
Not to mention that running windows ruins the ability to play low power games at low power draws. A game like Stardew on the steam deck draws 5-7w, while the ROG Ally pulls about 15-17w to run it with the same settings. Disabling everything you can through task manager can reduce that power usage difference by maybe half, but there’s still a lot of unnecessary power draw just from it running windows.
dogzor@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It’s cool to see the handheld PC market taking off, but MS needs to offer a purpose-built version of Windows for these devices. Without something more console-like that compete with DeckOS these devices are doomed to have a disjointed and janky experience.
cmhe@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I actually hope that Microsoft doesn’t do that. Because I like that stuff like the SteamDeck improves the Linux-based Ecosystem.
If everyone now builds and buys Windows Handheld devices, it probably goes the same route as mobile phones, where a standard Linux or custom ROMs are second class citizen (if you are even allowed and able to use those) and you have to disable or downgrade security mechanisms if you want to install your own operating system.
I would really like if those hardware vendors would come together and improve the Linux gaming experience for their devices.
OtakuAltair@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Nah, it’s greatly improving game compatibility on Linux.
I love my steam deck. I’m okay with not being able to play some games on it yet if it means my gaming experience on pc keeps improving too because of it.
Game companies will also be incentivised to add native Linux support if the handheld pc market gets big enough and it’s clear the experience is better on a custom Linux os than something from ms
TwilightVulpine@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I worry that they might all just stick with Windows. ASUS also decided to go straight for Windows too.
beefcat@lemmy.world 1 year ago
You can configure Windows not to boot the Explorer.exe shell and launch Steam directly into Big Picture mode on boot.
Theoretically anyone could make and distribute an alternative shell designed for this use case, it doesn’t need to come from Microsoft.
MajorHavoc@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Agreed, but I imagine there’s hesitancy at MS to try again.
MS tried their hand at purpose built mobile OS during the Palm Pilot era, then again during the Blackberry era.
Windows hasn’t historically ported to small devices with great success.
pineapplelover@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Just stick with the Thinkpads, Lenovo. Or make a Linux handheld console
echoplex21@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I love seeing more competition in the PC handheld market. I personally have an ROG Ally and it’s been working great (I don’t have an SD card though).
I feel like at this point Microsoft needs to create a big picture mode setting for their Xbox app. I have GamePass so it’s been a struggle to navigate using handheld controls. Then I switch to Steam and it’s big picture mode is great to use and smooth. Shame Microsoft doesn’t have something similar on their own OS. Armory Crate isn’t bad but doesn’t hold a candle to Steam either.
brawleryukon@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I love seeing more competition in the PC handheld market.
Yes! It’s so great to see this one play out in the exact opposite way that Steam Machines and VR didn’t. In all these cases, Valve made noise about how they wanted to kickstart a category with their own thing and then sorta leave it in third-party OEMs’ hands (less so with Machines, I suppose, since that one they just went straight to the OEMs). Fun watching the Deck take off like it did and sorta launch the entire form factor into the mainsteam.
wren@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
I love seeing more competition in the PC handheld market
Yeah it’s pretty great to see, especially since in the beginning there were a lot of people saying handheld gaming PCs are very niche and the development won’t last long
Salami456@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
I have to say, after using SteamOS Windows on a handheld is a non-starter. Linux just performs so much better for gaming on the go.
Hazdaz@lemmy.world 1 year ago
When the SteamDeck was first announced I was sure I was going to order one, but when I started reading about the dimensions I came the conclusion that I’d only use it at home, and if I’m home, I can jsut use my gaming PC. If I want to sit on the couch, I can just use Big Picture to my TV and use a controller. If I am on the go, portability is top priority and a pocketable retro handheld fits that use-case. I couldn’t imagine using a SD on a plane, what with how closely packed in the seats people are. I’d be elbowing the passengers next to me.
So when do you guys use the SD? Long train/bus commute?
the_rhyme_minister@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I use it on my hour long train commute every morning and evening as well as in bed when I don’t want to sit at my desk.
The size is actually a huge plus for me. It fits my enormous hands so much better than the Switch which has been really uncomfortable since I started playing ToTK last week.
zaphodb2002@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
I put docks everywhere, in several rooms in my house, at my friends’ houses, at my parents’. It’s a lifesaver when I need to access work or do some programming, and I can play games when traveling as well, great for plane trips.
IBNobody@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I understand where you’re coming from, but I have a different perspective.
It’s not much bigger than a Switch with a grip. I used it on my last flight to play Vampire Survivors and didn’t have any space issues.
I use my Deck and Switch in bed. I use them on the couch when someone else is watching TV. I use them on the toilet. I use them while at the gym. I use them in my car while I’m waiting for an appointment or something.
Basically, I sit in front of a computer all day for work. I don’t want to sit in front of a computer all night to game.
Yeah, they aren’t as portable as a Gameboy, but they’re good enough.
raptir@lemm.ee 1 year ago
It’s been major for me with RVing. I guess I could have used a gaming laptop but given the limited “table” space in an RV the handheld formfactor is a major advantage. That plus the minimal power requirements - I don’t need to factor it in to our off-grid time at all, while a 200W gaming laptop would definitely be noticable.
I also just prefer it for home. Sitting on the couch, in bed, whatever. I find it comfortable to play on.
stink_pickle@lemmy.world 1 year ago
market is small and already crowded, the idea of joining in now is the mark of an imbecile.
Molecular0079@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Interesting take. I actually think the PC handheld market is being opened up by the Steam Deck. I think companies are seeing its admittedly early success and want a piece of the pie. Time will tell how big the market grows.
FinalRemix@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Well, it’s Lenovo… whadayou expect?
beefcat@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Calling them imbeciles is quite a stretch, but I agree that this is a crowded market that is likely to remain pretty niche. I predict some vendors will end up pulling out within a couple of years.
Carighan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
market is small and already crowded
Fair.
the mark of an imbecile
Either there’s a language barrier, or this went off the rails pretty quickly. 😅
ShakeThatYam@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Is there a story behind the name Legion? Seems like a strange choice for gaming hardware.
Guildo@feddit.de 1 year ago
www.lenovo.com/de/de/legion/ - sorry for german link, but I am lazy. Their gaming-laptops are known as legion.
ShakeThatYam@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah, I meant why their gaming line is called Legion. Is there some gaming related meaning to it. Just seems like a strange choice.
squirrelwithnut@lemmy.world 1 year ago
This… will be a gigantic failure.
punseye@lemmy.world 1 year ago
So many talking UIs are not intuitive on windows on these handhelds, but one can still install steam and use it in big picture mode to get a steam deck like UI.
Also, there are launchers like playnite with many themes.
Braydox_ofAstroya@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Always good to have more. But currently happy with the gpd win 4 for a couple years until the next big leap
Molecular0079@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I really wish more PC handheld devices would come out with SteamOS instead of Windows. It’d make them a lot more appealing to me over the Steam Deck. The Windows experience on handhelds is a bloated and kludgy mess.
nitefox@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It can’t be done cause Steam hasn’t released it yet unfortunately
Molecular0079@lemmy.world 1 year ago
They haven’t released the installable ISO, but there’s no reason why hardware vendors and Valve couldn’t work together to build a Steam OS image for specific devices.
Rakn@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
My main concern with companies like Lenovo or Asus building such devices on Windows is support. I have more trust in Valve to do this right.
stevehobbes@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Allegedly MSFT took notice and is working on it…. But there are some good 3P apps that make it usable to launch games. Installing them is still a chore without a Bluetooth keyboard.