Latest Verge article about their review of Asus ROG Ally X (and this is why gamers are preferring Steam Deck)

I was in a computer shop a couple of weeks ago and it seems the windows handheld makers are doing the same shit they have on their laptops - it was filled with pre-installed bloat, including some shit Norton antivirus 1 year subscription.
Something you never see reviews mention, which is crazy.
- Antivirus doubly doesn’t make much sense on handheld. Today’s malware is more stealthy and focused on stealing your data, but what sensitive data are you storing on a gaming-specific handheld?
  I guess there’s your Steam account, but the risk profile just isn’t the same, and it comes at the cost of performance which is already much more limited in this form factor.
  
  I'd argue that power is more the issue. All that processor time the antivirus spends scanning and rescanning is a chunk of battery gone.
  
  From a theft perspective, being able to hijack someones steam account is likely to be more lucrative than most. There's a window where they might be able to resell the account to someone who doesn't know how easily valve can verify true ownership and fix it.
  You've still got a lot of botnets and cryptocurrency miners flying around. Ransomware is the big one that targets people with important data that a gaming device is immune to.
  
  Anything with an IP address can be vulnerable to malware running miners, botnets, and all that good stuff for bad people to continually use your toys to do in the background. The convenient jumping off point into your home network and other inward-facing stuff there you might not want accessible from outside is also worth considering.
  
  There's still ransomware. Pay X bitcoin or say adyeu to your encrypted savegames.
  
  That's not how most malware works though. It's pretty rare that it's targeted rather than something just looking to take advantage of whatever security hole is present.
  Like, I highly doubt anyone is making Steam OS specific malware, but if there's some security hole in the kernel, a piece of malware targeting that isn't going to check if it's a handheld gaming device and stop.
- Isn't it interesting how operating systems have a culture? From my early days of working with windows, it was completely normal for every other program to want to run itself at startup, no matter how useless it was to do so. And people just accepted it. They thought that computers literally get slower over time or something. Oftentimes I'd glance at someone's system tray and see 15 icons or so.
  On Mac and Linux though, this behavior is far less acceptable. Today on Mac it is by far worse than ever but still probably better than it was, say, on windows 98. On Linux I could literally install 50 apps in a row without any asking me (or doing it without asking) to run on startup.
  It's just up to what users will put up with. So windows consistently getting shittier shouldn't really surprise us. People have put up with that from the beginning. Both in terms of the app ecosystem and the os itself.
  Like we went through at least a decade on windows where most free apps people used would literally attempt to, or force malware on your machine, in the form of toolbars or other useless shit running in the background. People were so complacent they wouldn't even uncheck those boxes when offered a choice in the installer. We really need better education in this world.
  
  Yeah on my Linux machine I've had like 2 apps want to run on startup, and both of them had little checkboxes in their tray menus to disable that behaviour. If anything the bigger struggle has been that every time I change machines or distros I have to manually get yakuake to start on login again.
- My Ally didn't have any bloat. Curious which ones do.

For those brave enough, this year I finally took the plunge and went with Linux on my desktop.
I went with Pop OS, and after a few days decided to try the cinnamon desktop env. since it's a little more familiar. Some things took about a week to get figured out, but now I don't ever want to go back.
- Gnome, even with Pop's perinstalled extensions, is not the most familiar DE for those coming from Windowd. KDE, MATE, Cinnamon, XFCE are much closer and at least a few of those you can make to look like Windows (if you for whatever reason want to)
  
  Familiar is bad imo, just switch to something different. It is different, embrace it. I use Fedora gnome btw
- I love cinnamon. I guess that makes me a classic guy. It’s nice without being too flashy.
  Linux desktop main for about a year, and I mostly use it for gaming. Thank you Valve and Wine developers!
  
  Yeah Cinnamon reminds me of the old Gnome 2 days, before it started trying to get all flashy and stuff.
  
  Sorry I’m not really familiar with this stuff. Could I run Unreal Tournament in Wine… via a Linux install? I’m stuck with intel MacBook hardware at the moment and really don’t want to go back to dual boot windows.
- I switched to Mint from windows 10 about three months ago (when I upgraded my video card). Everything is so much smoother and just works. Except Remote Desktop… can’t figure that one out.
  
  There are a few ways to go about it. You can try to use the microsoft RDP like system with XRDP. Or you can go over to VNC.
  But I agree, it is a little bit of a fiddle. Keep at it!
  
  If you want to remote into the linux box, I recommend sunshine+moonlight. They are designed for “gamuurz” but that just means they are efficient.
  
  Try ThinLinc and ThinLinc server - they work great for me.
  
  Did you try remmina?
- I am slightly ashamed to admit the reason I'm not going to consider pop os is the stupid way they write it: Pop!_OS.
  I'm already running 11 Linux VMs (and 3 bare metal Linux OS's) in my homelab so I think I've got plenty of Linux here anyway.
  
  I had similar thoughts when I first discovered Pop!_OS. Just the name alone gave me vibes of some Fisher-Price toy operating system like it was meant for children, all cringe happy-smiley.
  But I honestly suggest you get over your aversion to the name, and give it a try. It's actually one of the most pleasant desktop experiences I've had with Linux, and it's especially a treat on bare metal. Looks great, runs great and everything just works, including steam gaming.
- I did the same transition a couple of months ago (the Windows to Pop! OS one, not the desktop environment one) and even though I'm a gamer (something which has stopped me from moving to Linux on the main usage of my home desktop since the late 90s - were I've usually had it on dual boot but not used it that much) am very happy with it.
  I've actually been familiar with Linux since way back in the Slackware times, but only now have I started using as my main desktop.
  I do think it's getting to be the Year Of Linux On The Desktop for a lot more people than ever before thanks to the aligned forces of Windows "all your computerz belongz to us" 11, software as a system with general enshittification and just how much easier it is to game on Linux thanks mainly to Valve and the steady, unrelentless, stream of improvements being done by the Wine devs.
  
  100% agree. I was getting tired of the start menu notification to sign in to windows, and how the updates would reenable telemetry.
  I shouldn't have to constantly run a debloat script. I should be able to disable "create a windows account" notifications.
  The steam deck showed me that Linux can run games, the only thing left for me is a decently running adobe suite, but I can live with the occasional dual boot for that.
- Aaaaaarch aaaaaarch btw

I know logically that people can do whatever they want and it doesn't affect me in any way so I shouldn't care, but I do still get a visceral eye-twitching feeling whenever someone talks about installing Windows on a Steam Deck. It's like someone buying a sports car and using it to tow a caravan or something.
- It's like buying an electric sports car and immediately converting it to diesel.
- People fear what they don't know. Valve has made Linux gaming stupid easy and still people are more worried about FOMO of that small percentage of games that don't run on Linux. Maybe we'll see a shift if someone releases a banger game that's designed to be really really good on steam deck (so Linux exclusive, basically) and have it out in Linux for a few months before the windows version comes out
  
  Valve has made Linux gaming stupid easy and still people are more worried about FOMO of that small percentage of games that don't run on Linux.
  Unfortunately, most of the non-working games are also the ones people tend to have FOMO about. I feel like they're mostly online games with anti-cheats which, by their online nature, means that you will feel really missing out when all of your friends except you play the game, more so than single player games.
- Dude, same. I cannot understand it (for games. I'm sure people have valid reasons if they're using the Deck for some other purpose). It seems there is a cohort of otherwise relatively tech savvy people who are just terrified of all things "Linux."
  Maybe they heard horror stories from friends or family while growing up and aren't aware of just how close to complete compatibility Proton is. In fact, in some cases, it can somehow run games better than if one were to dual boot and install in Windows.
  Even Valve's own Steam Deck verification should be taken with a grain of salt, it seems as though they're being extra conservative with those. I've gotten several "unsupported " games working (very easily), for example , Dark Souls: Prepare to Die edition is listed on Steam as "unsupported," but it works great (with DSFix even) on my Deck.
  ProtonDB is a far better resource for anyone reading this who hadn't heard of it.
  But yeah, it's almost like this subconscious aversion to Linux. And they want to be in their comfort zone I guess.
- I mean there’s a time and a place.
  What if someone has gamepass or a ton of free games on EGS?
  
  Can't you play both of those from SteamOS?
- The only times it's OK are when it's planned for specific softwares. For example, I can't run Rocksmith 2014 on native Deck but it works fine in Windows. Similarly, software that's OS limited would be another use.
  But if your main thing is gaming, and you aren't dual booting... Yeah, I'm judging you. (And I mainly use Windows on PC. But why, why, why would you need to only run Windows on a Steam Deck without a specific purpose

They just can't help themselves, lol.
All that bloat is bad enough on a laptop, but its the absolute last thing a handheld needs, both for performance/battery and ergonomics.
- and to think there was plenty of no windows, no buy mentally when the Deck got announced. I cannot understand why would anyone go down the Windows route on a handheld, specially now that Linux has been so tried and tested
  
  I mean, Windows would be fine if the OEM stripped it down instead of bloating it even more. They can totally do with with group policies.
  I honestly don't know what they were thinking here.
  
  I own an OLED Deck, and while I absolutely love it, it isn't perfect from a compatibility standpoint. Getting other launchers to work can be a pain, and certain games that the hardware can easily handle have issues due to obnoxious shit like EA's launcher, e.g. the Dragon Age games. Additionally, mods can be fickle to get working on certain games. The majority of these problems can thankfully be overcome, but implementing the fixes can be tedious/annoying on a handheld.
  That all being said, I'm amazed how far gaming on Linux has come. Valve and people like Glorious Eggroll have done excellent work in making Linux gaming possible. I hope as more and more Deck users get accustomed to Linux and make the transition on desktop, that developers start making native Linux clients so all these wrappers aren't even needed in the first place.
  
  I specifically did so I can use any game service beyond Steam without hacking stuff. I know I can turn on my Ally and use Steam, Gamepass, roms, sail the high seas, virtually anything, out of the box.
- I think this is it. Extra margin they can slap on at the last second.
  Prosumers aren't going to care, because if the hardware is still OK, they can just re-install.
  But consumers end up buying gear that is hobbled with shiteware.
  
  It's really sad, as it kills the end product for no good reason. Just theoretical pennies.

User Experience matters. And Valve knows that very well.
- Unfortunately it doesn't always matter. It matters after the sale is made, so many hard thinking departments think they can skimp here. Apple and Steam know different and it's working for them. But they built trust for years.
  
  I had to set up a Mac for our sole marketing employee yesterday. I didn't want to go back to my windows computer. I was only asked for an icloud the entire time. Windows has become a shabby ad platform with an OS attached to it.
- Offline mode is still kind of an issue with some stuff, unfortunately.

- That's because it isn't. You may get a few more FPS out of it than the Steam Deck in some games but overall it's a much worse experience.
  
  User experience is more than raw performance numbers. In my personal opinion, the Steam Deck is still easier and more enjoyable to use.
- It's worth it. I've bought two of them. Use almost daily. For me it's the coolest piece of tech I own, and I do have a very powerful gaming PC..

Someday, Windows might be as good at gaming as Linux.
- I love how the tables have turned.
- All this because Windows 8 started to evolve into a walled garden with the Microsoft Store and that pissed off Valve.
  Here's to Windows ownership significantly dropping thanks to SteamOS.

Windows is cancer

YEAR OF THE LINUX ~~DESKTOP~~ HANDHELD

Hopefully articles like this get more companies contributing to steamos/proton

If you want Steam Deck experience on these handhelds, take a look at Bazzite. It already supports the Ally X. Runs like a dream on my Legion Go.
- This is a sensible recommendation. Even though I despise windows and Asus has support issues historically ( very lame ones even), the hardware itself is very good and any Linux distro can be easily flashed.
  I wouldn't dismiss the handheld based on a windows review really ( hint : windows will forever suck).

Just 45 minutes for windows updates? Must be a bitching internet connection.

Eventually Microsoft is going to be forced to adapt and make an operating system that doesnt use 20% of your system resources, right?
surely they wont continue to make the same bloated, sluggish OS every year since windows 7 right?
- I strongly believe they will do that. Then a week later, slowly introduce bloat again.
  
  ah yes, the internet explorer/chrome/firefox but then firefox got better but then worse again/chrome/is internet explorer good now?/opera/operagx/Microsoft edge is actually fast now/back to opera effect

Uncomfortably rare Windows L

I just wont consider other hardware until its fully supported by something as seamless and smooth as the steamOS experience.

After the Stephen catastrophe, I can never read the Verge without thinking how utterly inept they are.
- Care to give some context?
  
  This is a reupload https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2lmfF0k2UcU
  Edit: it's easy to say Stefan was the idiot here, but he's some 20 year old kid that's built only 4 PCs at this point. The editing, continuity errors, etc were all the Verge management. The fact that a tech news company has no one that knows how to build a PC is mind boggling. Then it was sponsored by Capital one....

Windows/Xbox needs a handheld specific OS for these devices.
But my guess is if it they ever do have one, it's first going to be on their own handheld.
After that other companies can pay a steep price to have it on their handhelds, I bet.
- other companies can pay a steep price to have it on their handhelds, I bet.
  Probably not, they still need market share. More likely it would be just locked down, filled with ads, and generally unusable.
  
  It's not going to be great, they can't refrain them selfs to put some kind of ads into it. But it's still windows, so easier to play those few games that can only be played or is easier on windows.
  But I've no experience with Windows handhelds, they'll need to pry my steam deck out of my cold dead hands
- They optimized Windows for touch/portable devices last year. The need for a handheld OS is no longer an issue for Microsoft's most popular virus.
  How do I know? I'm not just (an) owner of a Windows-running handheld, I'm a victim!
  I run Linux on my server and Windows on my Legion Go. If it were easier to tackle switching from an AMD iGPU to an AMD eGPU on Linux, I'd probably abandon Windows completely.
  
  Ah oke, didn't know that to be honest. So you don't boot up on desktop environment anymore? I saw some videos that showed it was a regular windows 11 installation and barely usable with the touchscreen.
  Is it something like steam now? That start at nice clean interface.

Ordered mine. Unfortunately Steam doesn't sell those officially here. Had to order through third party seller and pay more than what muricans pay while earning less. 😭
- at least you don't live in the states. i'd trade you if i could (and throw in a free steam deck)
  
  I don't think you'd want to swap
  India isn't something you'd be able to handle

I have the original Ally and a Windows laptop for one reason: I can't play Destiny on Linux. That's my main game. I don't want to get my account suspended for playing on Linux. So, I deal with Windows, even though it sucks.

I get that windows sucks, but having used both the screen on the ROG is just sooooo much better. Text looks much more crisp and I do have the option to run some other launchers and games I couldn't on the deck. Also the download speeds are way faster for some reason.
- This is why I want supported ports of SteamOS to the competitor devices
- Fun fact, there's an advanced dev option on the steam deck to not power limit the WiFi card and it downloads 5-10x faster if you disable the power savings in my experience
- Is the OLED deck competition?
  
  IMO no, only because I do really like the option to run more than just the steam launcher. Like the battle net or Epic launcher. Also when I play some games like Dinkum I like to turn infinite energy on to make the game more chill and I can't run WeMod on the deck.
- Are you comparing it to the LCD Steam Deck or the newer OLED screen one?
  
  The original one, to be fair

I mean I have the original ROG Ally and just threw Bazzite on it, I was able to pick it up for close to $300 used

I can sympathize but I hate using the controller setup, I'm definitely a mouse and keyboard person. For better or worse I'm stuck with Windows unless Steam comes out with a desktop or something.
- What do you mean? You can always use a distro like Steam OS (or any other Linux distro) on any x86 PC and still use a mouse and keyboard. Or use a Steam Deck and plug in a mouse and keyboard.
  
  A steam deck with a mouse and keyboard is kind of horrible, I have tried that. And maybe things have changed, how well does Steam OS do as a primary OS? I might look into it again.
- Steam's Proton (the tool that makes windows games work on linux) works on pretty much all mainstream distros, you can just install a desktop linux distro and intrall steam on it
- It works for some games more than others. I never liked playing shooters with console controllers. Conversely, games like Vampire Survivors are prefect for that type of controller.