Can we possibly turn this place into forum for handheld gaming, and not just about the steam deck?

[Gatecrasher3000]

First off, I love the steam deck, and I will probably purchase the next iteration.
That being said, I feel handheld PCs are only going to become more popular over the next few years, and I don't want to pigeon hole this forum into being just about the steam deck.
I mean there is the AyaNeo Pro, the Ayn Odin and hell I think even my little Retroid Pocket 2+ is worth talking about. I know none of these systems are not as powerful as the steam deck, but they can still game.

Just my two cents, as I start to get more into handheld gaming systems. The Mobile Computing forum seems to focus more on laptops, so I thought we could focus more on handheld systems.
Thanks.

 

[pendragon1]

they are normally posted in the pc gaming and hardware section, handhelds are hardware...
https://hardforum.com/forums/pc-gaming-hardware.113/

 

[whateverer]

Don't worry. this forum will become just as abandoned as the physx forum has been for the last decade

The second-generation device wont do as well as the first one (not enough of a performance increase when you're talking typical x86 APU progressions, and enough of the "must have just because new" people will get too sick pf all the caveats of using one to blitz preorders like the first-gen)

And then there are the people only buying it to be a cheap HTPC - they are not likely to upgrade it for another decade!

Steam Deck will be doa within 5 years, mark my word; handheld x86 systems will go back to their tiny niche

 

[Axman]

And then there are the people only buying it to be a cheap HTPC - they are not likely to upgrade it for another decade!

Who's buying a Deck to use as an HTPC?

 

[whateverer]

Who's buying a Deck to use as an HTPC?

the same people who can run the numbers on this being twice the weight of a switch, while realizing that's an unprecedented-low price for an unlocked gaming PC (with 16GB DDR5)

Just because its technically portable doesn't mean many people wont use these as Alienware Alpha 99% of it life (this us your only alternative use case if you find it uncomfortable, as the screen is too small for use as a laptop)!

 

[ChosenUno]

the same people who can run the numbers on this being twice the weight of a switch, while realizing that's an unprecedented-low price for an unlocked gaming PC (with 16GB DDR5)

Just because its technically portable doesn't mean many people wont use these as Alienware Alpha 99% of it life (this us your only alternative use case if you find it uncomfortable, as the screen is too small for use as a laptop)!

$650 for Steam Deck's specs is a decent deal, I'd use that for a HTPC or a light gaming machine for kids no problem.

 

[whateverer]

$650 for Steam Deck's specs is a decent deal, I'd use that for a HTPC or a light gaming machine for kids no problem.

Agreed - but then ask yourself, would you buy the next model? MORE SPECIFICALLY, How many years before you actually upgrade?

The Alienware Alpha targets low-end gamers, who are willing to cut-corners - the owners overwhelmingly skipped the second model (they didn't think it was worth it for such an incremental upgrade)

The only way the PC upgrade cycle is repeated every few years is on the high-end - mid-range takes at least 5 years to double in performance (and Steam Deck would bc completely forgotten by then!)

 

[flegg]

I don't understand the HTPC theory at all. For kids you buy a $160 Samsung tablet with a $30 microSD card. For older people that aren't too young for just streaming everything I would have to imagine you already have an HTPC or equivalent solution. For anyone with any real expendable income you'd have to be really out of touch to buy something that doesn't have HDMI 2.1

 

[whateverer]

I don't understand the HTPC theory at all. For kids you buy a $160 Samsung tablet with a $30 microSD card. For older people that aren't too young for just streaming everything I would have to imagine you already have an HTPC or equivalent solution. For anyone with any real expendable income you'd have to be really out of touch to buy something that doesn't have HDMI 2.1

You have heard of this little device, haven't you?

https://www.amazon.com/UPTab-DisplayPort-Adapter-displays-4096x2160/dp/B01B6ZOMIS

This is the adapter Turing folks have been using to drive their CX displays without native HDMI 2.1

If people didn't want to buy HTPCs then why has the market for these devices grown yearly since Intel introduced the 5x5 NUC standard?

 

[Axman]

It really doesn't make sense to use a Deck for an HTPC. It doesn't have native storage or expansion, and it's not as powerful as similarly priced mini PCs in terms of CPU, and the GPU isn't as necessary. Also, the interface is an extra cost that won't get used.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's a very inelegant solution.

 

[ChosenUno]

Agreed - but then ask yourself, would you buy the next model? MORE SPECIFICALLY, How many years before you actually upgrade?

The Alienware Alpha targets low-end gamers, who are willing to cut-corners - the owners overwhelmingly skipped the second model (they didn't think it was worth it for such an incremental upgrade)

The only way the PC upgrade cycle is repeated every few years is on the high-end - mid-range takes at least 5 years to double in performance (and Steam Deck would bc completely forgotten by then!)

For me it'd probably be like a console cycle, 3-5 years minimum.

It really doesn't make sense to use a Deck for an HTPC. It doesn't have native storage or expansion, and it's not as powerful as similarly priced mini PCs in terms of CPU, and the GPU isn't as necessary. Also, the interface is an extra cost that won't get used.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's a very inelegant solution.

Storage can be dealt with by network storage or external storage, expansion can be done with a USB-C hub.

Yes, you pay more for the form factor, but you can do things with it in that form factor that a normal HTPC can't. Bring it on a flight to watch movies for instance.

GPU power is very important for my media consumption, a ton can be done with it. You got upscaling, filtering, denoising, frame interpolation, all requires a decent GPU. I reckon the steam deck can probably do 1080p-4k upscaling with 60FPS frame interpolation quite decently, or 4k 120fps frame interpolation.

You can also have a lapdock shell that transform it into a proper Windows laptop too.

 

[Axman]

You can also have a lapdock shell that transform it into a proper Windows laptop too.

Or you can just buy a computer that does all of this. For the same amount of money, without needing docks, or NAS, or anything.

No one is using these for HTPCs.

 

[Neapolitan6th]

I think this will be an interesting subforum once people can actually get their hands on the darn things.

I bit the bullet and bought a onexplayer mini while I wait for my >Q2 2022 steam deck reservation.

I second having a pc handhelds subforum. Its a niche that doesnt quite jive with laptops/htpc/general gaming. I feel like most discussions would get lost if left to larger subforums.

 

[whateverer]

I second having a pc handhelds subforum. Its a niche that doesnt quite jive with laptops/htpc/general gaming. I feel like most discussions would get lost if left to larger subforums.

I'm sorry man, to market is still tiny (and always will be) - this market is smaller than the number of folks who pointlessly ran SLI in it's dying days!

It's hard to make a successful design at an acceptable price (which is why onexplayer was the first successful competitor to XPD, after all these years of failures!)

I imagine that Valve's "I don't need to make money at this" culture will mean the Steam Deck will get updated a half the rate of it's competitors (or it will just be forgotten, like the Steam Controller) - either one of these futures will mean a quick death

I mean, when the VALVE INDEX IS THREE YEARS OLD and still doesn't have a replacement announced, you know how they can get (hence why the sequels to Steam Deck will be similarly late, and will result ibn the hardware becoming outdated - eventually discontinued )