this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
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Steam Deck

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A place to discuss and support all things Steam Deck.

Replacement for r/steamdeck_linux.

As Lemmy doesn't have flairs yet, you can use these prefixes to indicate what type of post you have made, eg:
[Flair] My post title

The following is a list of suggested flairs:
[Discussion] - General discussion.
[Help] - A request for help or support.
[News] - News about the deck.
[PSA] - Sharing important information.
[Game] - News / info about a game on the deck.
[Update] - An update to a previous post.
[Meta] - Discussion about this community.

Some more Steam Deck specific flairs:
[Boot Screen] - Custom boot screens/videos.
[Selling] - If you are selling your deck.

These are not enforced, but they are encouraged.

Rules:

Link to our Matrix Space

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[–] thingsiplay 8 points 1 month ago (4 children)

As much as nice it sounds, this is not entirely true. Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because its a handheld. I believe the Steam Deck should be handled as its own class of hardware, like a console is and do a PC showcase on its own.

For a small game that runs easily on the Deck and is mainly played with a gamepad, this is probably fine. But for lot of other games this cannot be said. I love my Steam Deck and my local PC, but they need to be treated separately for effective marketing.

[–] emeralddawn45@discuss.tchncs.de 57 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Add a keyboard, mouse and monitor, which are already required for every other pc, and you can do everything on the steam deck that you can on any other pc. The steamdeck just has the additional functionality of working without those if you so choose.

[–] needanke@feddit.org 7 points 1 month ago (3 children)

and you can do everything on the steam deck that you can on any other pc

Ok, how do I use rsync on the deck then? (/s, but I'd still love to know)

[–] Jrockwar@feddit.uk 33 points 1 month ago (1 children)
  1. Turn on
  2. Open desktop mode (in power menu I think)
  3. Open terminal
  4. Type rsync
  5. Press enter
[–] needanke@feddit.org 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Wait, its installed by default? I assumed I had to install it, which would not be possible, because its immutable and there is no rsync flatpak (I think).

[–] Sas 5 points 1 month ago

You can just install a distro of your choice on it that might or might not be immutable if you want. In the end, yes, it is a PC

[–] termain@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] SeekPie@lemm.ee 8 points 1 month ago

SteamOS is immutable, so you can't install system-wide apps on there, only flatpaks, appimages etc.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Are you not aware of "Desktop mode"? Hold down the power button for a few seconds, click "switch to desktop mode," and you're literally using a fully functioning Linux PC.

[–] sanpo@sopuli.xyz 20 points 1 month ago

Just... do it? It's just a normal Linux underneath.

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 26 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It plays PC games, runs a PC OS, has a PC DE (KDE Plasma), includes standard PC ports (with a dock that includes even more standard PC ports), has a standard PC uefi bios, uses a PC APU, and has a PC like trackpad along with a virtual keyboard. Also if a game works well with controllers itll work well with Steam Deck (even if it doesn't it usually works well). Functionally speaking how is this different then a tablet PC with a controller? (In terms of if its a PC)

[–] thingsiplay 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Its targeted by developers like a console is, its a specific hardware that developers can optimize for. And the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming. That's the Console portion of it. Steam Deck is a PC hardware in handheld form factor and a Console treatment, which developers can target specifically for, unlike other handheld PCs with Windows.

Steam Deck is not just a PC, and its not just a handheld. Its a console that can be targeted.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Steam Deck is not just a PC, and its not just a handheld.

Yes. It's both... And it is fully functioning as either. It's really not difficult to understand.

[–] thingsiplay 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I also explained what i told. Its more than just both, its a target. Its really not difficult to understand.

[–] GammaGames 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because it’s a handheld.

This is where you lost most people. When they pointed out that it was incorrect you started adding more words and insisting that everyone else was wrong and you were just misunderstood.

What you’re saying about it being a target is true and is part of what makes it so valuable as a platform, but saying it’s a target does not counter the misconception in your original comment that it cannot also be a PC.

[–] thingsiplay 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I don't know if you guys misunderstand me on purpose. My argumentation was about the initial comment that the Steam Deck does not represent PC very well. You just took one sentence out of context, where the previous part and following part is integratel part of my reply. I did not just add more words to it, i Just had to explain it later because its not understood. The full quote is:

Because Steam Deck is not just a PC and cannot share the same enjoyment and benefits of a regular PC, because its a handheld. I believe the Steam Deck should be handled as its own class of hardware, like a console is and do a PC showcase on its own.

It's just a simple explanation that you guys on purpose misunderstand. The Steam Deck does not represent PC very well on its own, because its not just a PC. It's more than its sum. It's not a new discussion either, this is going on since the launch of the system.

[–] GammaGames 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I tried 👍 if you’re going to start accusing people of misunderstanding you on purpose then I’m done here. Have a nice day!

[–] thingsiplay 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

From the replies, that's what I'm getting, as people really try hard to misunderstand a very simple fact I explained multiple times. I tried too, but can't do more. And even taking out quotes out of context, while the next sentence was part of it. That's pretty on purpose.

[–] xthexder@l.sw0.com 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You're basically arguing that a square isn't a very good representation of a rectangle because it's more than a rectangle. But the fact is, a square is a type of rectangle, just like a Steam Deck is a type of PC.

[–] thingsiplay 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] thingsiplay 1 points 1 month ago

Yeah too stupid to understand basic sentences. Can't do more than that, the understanding is on your part.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Yikes dude.

Learning when to say "you know what, I was wrong," or even just, "my bad, I misspoke when I said what I originally said. What I actually meant was: " is a very important life skill as an adult. I hope you realize that one day.

[–] thingsiplay 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'm not wrong, I explained why I consider the Steam Deck its own thing. Please read my replies before you spread such nonsense. (Edit: Steam Deck is not just a PC, its a handheld and its a target for developers. That makes it special and is not a good representation for PC. Hopefully your small brain got that.)

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming

Most of the "optimizations" are either generic Linux improvements that exist in many distros or are can be easily installed on any PC. Meanwhile the UI is literally just Steam gamepadui, any PC could access it, any PC can launch Steam on boot and set Steam to launch into Steam big picture mode. The only optimizations are just a set of good defaults and software that works well together.

Its a console that can be targeted

Yeah because its a popular piece of hardware running amazing software, thats something Windows handhelds dont have. What people dont understand about SteamOS is it isn't that optimized, thats because Linux is so optimized as an OS that Valve doesn't need to do much on top of it.

[–] thingsiplay 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There is even an API in Steam that directly targets the Steam Deck. Steam Deck can be programmatically identified by its API, just like any other console. This is a key factor.

We are not speaking about any random hardware configuration or tablet, we are speaking about a device with software and hardware specifically designed, build, tested, targeted and marketed as a single unit. Exactly what a console is. However, I'm not disregarding its roots of PC. What I am saying is, that Steam Deck does not represent PC "very well"; its its own thing, even compared to other handheld PCs. If the Steam is marketed as a PC, then it won't get the support from the developers.

Steam Deck is its own category, besides general PC. Games need to have different Spec Recommendations for PC and one specific optimized version for Steam Deck. Both are separated.

[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Games need to have different Spec Recommendations for PC and one specific optimized version for Steam Deck. Both are separated.

You're just wrong here, they don't need special versions at all, you're normally just given windows .exe files and told to use proton to make the games work, even

This is good, actually, as it lets you change your settings in-game just like on normal PCs, so if you want more battery life you can turn them down, or if you're plugged in you can turn them up

Your idea there is just bad and wrong, sorry

[–] thingsiplay 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

No, and I explained multiple times why. You just keep ignoring what I wrote and take things out of context without having an understanding of the statement. It's not "my idea", but I'm done with stupidity.

[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

No, and I explained multiple times why

Ok but you're just factually wrong, a special version of games is not needed for the steam deck, it uses the PC version of the game

[–] thingsiplay 1 points 1 month ago

Where did I say a special version of games is needed??? I'm well aware of what and how the Steam Deck, its operating system and underlying technologies work. I didn't say it NEEDS a special version.

[–] crony@lemmy.cronyakatsuki.xyz 22 points 1 month ago

Just connect it to a monitor and you have a regular pc, I have seen a lot of people use it as one with no issues.

[–] hoanbridgetroll@midwest.social 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I get what you’re saying - some games aren’t fun on steam deck controls, or just run like a dog.

But, look at it differently - It’s a PC by virtue of the fact you only have to buy it once to use it in both. My 10 year old XPS laptop and my gaming desktop are very different classes of hardware as well, but they’ll both run Plants vs Zombies that I bought once.

I can’t say that about the stuff I bought on Switch and want to keep playing on Steam Deck.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago

You can also easily connect a mouse and keyboard (and monitor or TV if you want) if the controller doesn't work well for the game.

Because it's literally a PC.