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I have to say I'm very happy with it for the price I paid. Could it be better, sure, I wish the screen was better but I'm still very happy with it. I actually

I have to say I'm very happy with it for the price I paid. Could it be better, sure, I wish the screen was better but I'm still very happy with it. I actually bought it on a lark because I'm 49 and I never really hand held gamed. Never got in to it beyond the beep-boop led games of the 70s/80s with boring family road trips. I watched many hand held platforms come and go and never could get in to using them. Always preferred the laptop, probably because with having a game thing I always needed my laptop. When I would travel I carry a work laptop and a personal laptop and... Then lugging around another device, no thanks... Then that changed with the steam deck, my daughter mentioned it and I was like hell I have money to waste so I bought it. For the first few months I didn't do much with it. Kind of shrugged and continued to use my laptop... but one day I kicked it in to desktop mode to load some mods for a game. It dawned on me, I don't need a personal laptop anymore. Now when I travel I carry my work laptop, my portable keyboard and monitor (which I always did anyway) and the steam deck with a dock. This perfect,less weight over all smaller form factor etc... Using the deck with the external monitor and keyboard let's me do everything I needed my personal laptop for, plus portable gaming. It goes everywhere with me now. Could it be better, absolutely, but for the price I'm very happy with it. That's really how I evaluate things price for value. This is way more powerful than a similar priced laptop and more flexible.

bergheim 4y ago
you.. carry a monitor? how is a steam deck, a keyboard and a monitor better than just having a laptop? also how does the monitor survive this, do you put in in the original box? and if so, how big is your luggage? :)
- WastingMyTime89 4y ago
  Not OP but I guess they carry a portable monitor to use as a second screen for their work laptop. A usb-c powered 13inches portable monitor looks mostly like a tablet. It's very easy to bring with you.
  - elmerfud 4y ago
    I use a 15" 4k one, but yes exactly that, light portal, super thin, detachable full sized keyboard on it and slip cover carrying case. Great as a second screen or to use the deck in desktop mode... Plus on airplane I can just use the deck as is to game and pass the time
    - codetrotter 4y ago
      What model is your portable monitor? Do you have any pictures of what it looks like all set up on a table with the Steam Deck, the monitor and your keyboard? And also a picture of what it looks like all folded together? And also a picture of what it looks like when packed into a bag? Sorry for the tall ask. But I’ve been thinking about maybe buying a Steam Deck for a while. So these kinds of pictures would be most helpful. I often carry my work laptop and my personal laptop with me. Tried an iPad Pro for a little while for personal things but decided the iPad Pro was not worth it for me at the time so I returned it. Might also try using an iPad Pro again in the future.
      - royletron 4y ago
        I use this guy. https://www.lg.com/uk/laptops/lg-16mq70 https://www.lg.com/uk/laptops/lg-16mq70 Although it's usb c only I found this guy: https://amzn.eu/d/9NTNCcc https://amzn.eu/d/9NTNCcc Which hooks to the steamdeck-docks hdmi and usb (for power). The screen is just a big iPad in terms of size. The dock is like a very lightweight dongle and then whatever you go for for protection of the steam deck. I have a pretty standard rucksack bag that I can happily cram all of this (along with a 13inch mbp) nuphy air and wireless mouse with. It's the best for work trips because the screen does both work mode and then serious gaming mode.
      - elmerfud 4y ago
        The one I bought was this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07LGRK3J5?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07LGRK3J5?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_... And a generic case https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08MXGHP6K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08MXGHP6K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_... It looks like it's not available now but there's several Chinese brands that look like they sell the same thing. I was worried about it at first but I figure with Amazon prime coverage and credit card protection, if it lasted through those coverages of 90 days it will last for a few years if properly cared for. I don't have any pictures of it setup. I didn't get the official dock for the deck. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BKHBM1N9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BKHBM1N9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_... When setup the dock tucks neatly behind the monitor so it looks like just a monitor keyboard thing.
- NikolaNovak 4y ago
  I think op meant they were carrying a portable tablet like monitor anyway (not a 27inch monitor and stand :).
  - bombcar 4y ago
    Yep, it's really great. I would buy the latest iPad in a hot minute it if had a way to be an external monitor (the software-based sidecar is 'ok' but not the same thing).
- exitb 4y ago
  I don't think the OP carries the monitor with them, but it's just an option at home. Kind of like you can plug Switch at home and get a TV-based console - you can plug the Deck and get a computer.
  - BoorishBears 4y ago
    I'm pretty sure they carry a monitor. Portable monitors are a thing
    - exitb 4y ago
      Oh yeah, saw their comment now, that it's a portable monitor. But I guess the point still stands - this could be a sole computer for many people, if they just attach it to a regular desktop setup.
- poisonborz 4y ago
  See ThinkVision M15 or Arzopa Portable Monitor as an example for a portable monitor. Comes with a case that doubles as a stand, it's +1kg in your backpack but is great when you are at a desk. I also don't understand how he would work on his lap/when no desk is available though.
- zumzumzum 4y ago
  It's not, the steamdeck subreddit is full of these people. But I think the Steam Deck overall is much more attractive than a gaming laptop, and once you get a Deck, you don't want to then reinvest into a laptop powerful enough to compete, and so you end up with weird setups like this.
Semaphor 4y ago
> Always preferred the laptop, probably because with having a game thing I always needed my laptop. What about the GameBoy (my first and last handheld console)? From what I remember, Laptops back then were not really a thing.
thefz 4y ago
> For the first few months I didn't do much with it. Kind of shrugged and continued to use my laptop... Same for me, I did never realize before that I wanted to play Grindstone while laying on the couch just being in the company of my SO, semi-watching the same TV show as she is, instead of being in another room.
- jgerman 4y ago
  That was the selling point for me. The Steam Deck lives next to my chair in the den so when I want to play a game I'm up in the family room with everyone else. It's super convenient. We actually have two, one for me and one for my son (though he has a gaming laptop and tends to use that). I've docked the deck and played games just fine on it as well, no regrets here, I love the thing.
karmakaze 4y ago
This sounds near-ideal for my uses also. The only change would be using a BigScreen Beyond[0] VR headset (or similar) to replace the bulky monitor. [0] https://www.bigscreenvr.com/ https://www.bigscreenvr.com/

bergheim 4y ago

you.. carry a monitor? how is a steam deck, a keyboard and a monitor better than just having a laptop? also how does the monitor survive this, do you put in in the original box? and if so, how big is your luggage? :)

WastingMyTime89 4y ago
Not OP but I guess they carry a portable monitor to use as a second screen for their work laptop. A usb-c powered 13inches portable monitor looks mostly like a tablet. It's very easy to bring with you.
- elmerfud 4y ago
  I use a 15" 4k one, but yes exactly that, light portal, super thin, detachable full sized keyboard on it and slip cover carrying case. Great as a second screen or to use the deck in desktop mode... Plus on airplane I can just use the deck as is to game and pass the time
  - codetrotter 4y ago
    What model is your portable monitor? Do you have any pictures of what it looks like all set up on a table with the Steam Deck, the monitor and your keyboard? And also a picture of what it looks like all folded together? And also a picture of what it looks like when packed into a bag? Sorry for the tall ask. But I’ve been thinking about maybe buying a Steam Deck for a while. So these kinds of pictures would be most helpful. I often carry my work laptop and my personal laptop with me. Tried an iPad Pro for a little while for personal things but decided the iPad Pro was not worth it for me at the time so I returned it. Might also try using an iPad Pro again in the future.
    - royletron 4y ago
      I use this guy. https://www.lg.com/uk/laptops/lg-16mq70 https://www.lg.com/uk/laptops/lg-16mq70 Although it's usb c only I found this guy: https://amzn.eu/d/9NTNCcc https://amzn.eu/d/9NTNCcc Which hooks to the steamdeck-docks hdmi and usb (for power). The screen is just a big iPad in terms of size. The dock is like a very lightweight dongle and then whatever you go for for protection of the steam deck. I have a pretty standard rucksack bag that I can happily cram all of this (along with a 13inch mbp) nuphy air and wireless mouse with. It's the best for work trips because the screen does both work mode and then serious gaming mode.
    - elmerfud 4y ago
      The one I bought was this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07LGRK3J5?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07LGRK3J5?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_... And a generic case https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08MXGHP6K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08MXGHP6K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_... It looks like it's not available now but there's several Chinese brands that look like they sell the same thing. I was worried about it at first but I figure with Amazon prime coverage and credit card protection, if it lasted through those coverages of 90 days it will last for a few years if properly cared for. I don't have any pictures of it setup. I didn't get the official dock for the deck. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BKHBM1N9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BKHBM1N9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_... When setup the dock tucks neatly behind the monitor so it looks like just a monitor keyboard thing.
NikolaNovak 4y ago
I think op meant they were carrying a portable tablet like monitor anyway (not a 27inch monitor and stand :).
- bombcar 4y ago
  Yep, it's really great. I would buy the latest iPad in a hot minute it if had a way to be an external monitor (the software-based sidecar is 'ok' but not the same thing).
exitb 4y ago
I don't think the OP carries the monitor with them, but it's just an option at home. Kind of like you can plug Switch at home and get a TV-based console - you can plug the Deck and get a computer.
- BoorishBears 4y ago
  I'm pretty sure they carry a monitor. Portable monitors are a thing
  - exitb 4y ago
    Oh yeah, saw their comment now, that it's a portable monitor. But I guess the point still stands - this could be a sole computer for many people, if they just attach it to a regular desktop setup.
poisonborz 4y ago
See ThinkVision M15 or Arzopa Portable Monitor as an example for a portable monitor. Comes with a case that doubles as a stand, it's +1kg in your backpack but is great when you are at a desk. I also don't understand how he would work on his lap/when no desk is available though.
zumzumzum 4y ago
It's not, the steamdeck subreddit is full of these people. But I think the Steam Deck overall is much more attractive than a gaming laptop, and once you get a Deck, you don't want to then reinvest into a laptop powerful enough to compete, and so you end up with weird setups like this.

Semaphor 4y ago

> Always preferred the laptop, probably because with having a game thing I always needed my laptop. What about the GameBoy (my first and last handheld console)? From what I remember, Laptops back then were not really a thing.

thefz 4y ago

> For the first few months I didn't do much with it. Kind of shrugged and continued to use my laptop... Same for me, I did never realize before that I wanted to play Grindstone while laying on the couch just being in the company of my SO, semi-watching the same TV show as she is, instead of being in another room.

jgerman 4y ago
That was the selling point for me. The Steam Deck lives next to my chair in the den so when I want to play a game I'm up in the family room with everyone else. It's super convenient. We actually have two, one for me and one for my son (though he has a gaming laptop and tends to use that). I've docked the deck and played games just fine on it as well, no regrets here, I love the thing.

karmakaze 4y ago

This sounds near-ideal for my uses also. The only change would be using a BigScreen Beyond[0] VR headset (or similar) to replace the bulky monitor. [0] https://www.bigscreenvr.com/ https://www.bigscreenvr.com/