9 ms·

It'll be interesting to see how it fairs against the Steam Deck. Given the option, I'd still take the Deck hands down because Linux + Valve customer support. I

It'll be interesting to see how it fairs against the Steam Deck. Given the option, I'd still take the Deck hands down because Linux + Valve customer support. I would dread the moment I have to try and contact Asus support.

branon 3y ago
It's decent competition for sure. Significantly higher spec versus Deck on paper but they are pushing the envelope for powerful x86 machines in this form factor. Seems like you can melt the battery extremely quickly if you try, since the Ally is a 1080p device. Seen benches around the 50 minute mark. Really no different than running Deck for 90 minutes playing Elden Ring at 800p. Ally works with Asus' proprietary eGPU enclosure, theoretically can expand horsepower even more. Again though only so much you can do with the form factor. I get using a dock but dedicated accessories seem like they'd provide diminishing returns versus conventional PC hardware. Especially at the price point. Base model Deck blows this thing out of the water value-wise.
- ElectricalUnion 3y ago
  The proprietary eGPU enclosure is a very big downside in my point of view - granted, AMD has bad support for thunderbolt, but it instead makes the gpd win choice of industry standard OCuLink port look like an awesome idea.
wlesieutre 3y ago
DO YOU WANT TO USE BING? HOW ABOUT NOW? OR MAYBE NOW? HAVE A NEW DESKTOP BING SEARCH BAR! Windows 11 on a small touchscreen sounds like an awful idea to me.
- nirav72 3y ago
  Any version of windows on a small screen is a bad idea. I had couple of windows mobile devices back in the day. (Early 2000s). Then a htc phone with windows mobile (2004) Really clunky. Microsoft should’ve realized then that windows should’ve stayed on the desktop.
  - int_19h 3y ago
    Early WinCE/WinMo devices were just taking the desktop UI concepts and transferring them to mobile with minimal tweaks to optimize it for pen (not even touch) input. But it doesn't mean that it has to be that way - if you've seen Windows Phone, and the later Win10 Mobile, those were actually designed from grounds up for small screens, and didn't have the problems you describe. The problem that still remained, and ultimately killed the platform, is the lack of third party apps also optimized for small screen and touch. These days, it doesn't matter how good the base UX is if the OS doesn't have a good YouTube app, for example.
    - Dalewyn 3y ago
      >if you've seen Windows Phone, and the later Win10 Mobile, those were actually designed from grounds up for small screens, and didn't have the problems you describe. Indeed. The flipside of Windows 8 Metro being fucking horrible on desktop is that it's awesome on actual tablets and other mobile devices. >The problem that still remained, and ultimately killed the platform, is the lack of third party apps also optimized for small screen and touch. These days, it doesn't matter how good the base UX is if the OS doesn't have a good YouTube app, for example. Windows's value lies with the Win32+x86 ecosystem, and every single iteration of Windows that failed to practically implement them (I'm looking at you Windows RT and Windows XP 64-bit Edition) has failed miserably to the surprise of noone except for Microsoft themselves. Win32 has singlehandedly slain and foiled every single one of Microsoft's plans for expansion. Everyone buys and runs Windows because we want to use our favorite Win32 programs from today to thirty years ago.
      - emodendroket 3y ago
        I don't think Metro was even that bad on desktops, more of a "bad because different" reaction in my view. Not saying it was perfect but it was a direction I think could have worked well.
      - int_19h 3y ago
        What was wrong with WinXP 64-bit? I don't recall any compat issues running that back in the 00s, at least beyond what was normal for 9x/NT era software running on 2K/XP.
- emodendroket 3y ago
  > Windows 11 on a small touchscreen sounds like an awful idea to me. If only Microsoft had come up with a new kind of UI that was suited for use on touchscreens... oh well.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    Some of their employees did. https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/microsoft-experiment-adds-handheld-mode-gaming-ui-to-windows-11-for-steam-deck-like-devices https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/micr...
    - emodendroket 3y ago
      I was thinking of Metro.
- amoss 3y ago
  Would you like some toast? Some nice hot crisp brown buttered toast. No? How about a muffin then? Nothing? You know the last time you had toast. 18 days ago, 11.36, Tuesday 3rd, two rounds. I mean, what's the point in buying a toaster with artificial intelligence if you don't like toast. I mean, this is my job. This is cruel, just cruel.
  - askiiart 3y ago
    So that's what ended up happening to Wheatley in robot hell.
nerdix 3y ago
Now is the time for Valve to release the Arch based SteamOS 3.0 officially so that it can be easily installed on non-SteamDeck hardware. Proton was the missing piece that makes Steam Machines viable. Valve should be making SteamOS 3.0 available to hardware companies like ASUS. The Ally should have been a SteamOS device, IMO.
- dgunay 3y ago
  There are options like HoloISO or Nobara, but I agree it would be great to have an official image for other manufacturers to use.
- rjzzleep 3y ago
  It's not up to Valve. GPD Win4 is an amazing little device with slide out keyboard 32 GB Ram and LTE that runs SteamOS. It's much faster than my current laptop and would make a fine replacement. ASUS is getting a little bit better with their Linux support, but Zenfones for example were great little devices with atrocious software support. https://gpd.hk/gpdwin4 https://gpd.hk/gpdwin4
  - windexh8er 3y ago
    And the new GPD Win Max (2023) looks fantastic as well. It's spec'd up to a Ryzen 7840U and maxed out you can run 64GB of DDR5 and has PCIE 4.0. It's even got the new Oculink port. https://www.gpd.hk/gpdwinmax2 https://www.gpd.hk/gpdwinmax2
    - chx 3y ago
      This is not the same category of machines, it's too big.
    - rjzzleep 3y ago
      This is a fantastic machine, thanks for sharing. 64GB with Oculink looks phenomenal. I had a one mix at some point, but repairability was basically "get insurance money if it breaks", but for the performance and the form factor I might just switch back.
op00to 3y ago
XBox GamePass Ultimate is the best value in gaming right now. None of these work on the steam deck (obviously). I hate windows, but with a voracious game consuming kid I cant find a better way to spend my money.
- ribosometronome 3y ago
  XCloud functions pretty well and is included. Otherwise, you can install/dual boot into Windows if you are so inclined to get game pass, can't you?
- LegitShady 3y ago
  all the kids I know want or have a nintendo switch. Basically all the steam deck owners are 30+ year old men with disposable income.
  - Gigachad 3y ago
    Because the Nintendo switch is an out of the box great experience you can easily buy at retail stores. While the steam deck is an expensive tinkerers device that’s usually sold out.
    - LegitShady 3y ago
      I have a steam deck and haven't really tinkered with it (aside from installing a 1tb SSD to replace the 64gb memory it came with). I would not call it expensive, though. Mostly I play steam games I already own, although I have picked up a a double handful of inexpensive platformers during various steam sales. I suppose if you're trying to get it to run the latest and greatest games that may require some tinkering, although it seems like an increasing contingent of games seem to be launching steam deck aimed updated and setting configuration. I would guess my relatively anccient desktop i7-7600k and gtx 1080 is still a more capable gaming PC but doesn't fit as nicely in my backpack or in bed.
      - Gigachad 3y ago
viraptor 3y ago
I think LTT did a decent early review/comparison here https://youtu.be/qLVgr29NMA0 https://youtu.be/qLVgr29NMA0 (Keeping in mind it's still super early version)
nindalf 3y ago
This review compares the Ally with the Deck - https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review Brief summary - more recent APU so if you're plugged in to power, the Ally can play games at higher settings. If you're not plugged in, reviewers found that the minimum power draw is high so your battery life is worse (both have the same battery capacity). The best case scenario for the Ally is 4 hours while it's closer to 7 for the Deck. On the software side, the Deck benefits from a large community of folks creating control mappings for older games. Windows handicaps the Ally - it's just clunky to use in this form factor.
- prmoustache 3y ago
  On the other hand...playing 7h straights sounds crazy to me. OK you can do more than playing with these devices, like using them as regular travelling computers with bt keyboard+trackpad combo but still, there is a lot of chance that after 2-3 hours you should be able to find a power outlet and take a pause in your gaming.
  - eptcyka 3y ago
    What about long flights or train rides?
    - prmoustache 3y ago
      You usually have access to power in long flights between continents and national train lines. But you don't want to play that long on a portable device anyway, position is just terrible for your posture/neck and I don't think it is really healthy. What you want is alterning occupations: video games, reading, sleeping, drawing, card games, listening to music, making music, chatting, eating, moving in the main aisle, etc.
    - mrWiz 3y ago
      The planes used for long flights typically have power outlets, in my experience. Trains too but my experience is more limited there.
pjmlp 3y ago
Unless Valve ups their game, this will be the 2nd coming of netbooks, when Windows XP licenses became free for OEMs shipping netbooks. After all, most of the games being played on Steam Deck do so via Proton, no need for emulating[0] an OS when the real deal is available. [0] - Yes I know that Proton technically isn't really an emulator.
- sph 3y ago
  Eh, I'm not so sure. Gamers like Valve more than they like Microsoft. Linux is free as well, and runs 99% of games you want to play on a handheld pretty well. It's not going to be that 1% that love Gamepass or really want the Windows UI on a gaming device to overthrow the Deck. Lastly, first mover advantage. The Deck was very well received, Valve have just to eventually upgrade the hardware in a Steam Deck 2, and it'll sell like hot cakes again.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    > Gamers like Valve more than they like Microsoft. Thanks for making me laugh. How is that whole Year of Desktop Linux going? Had SteamDeck not been released wihtout Windows and DirectX "emulation", the usual 2% folks would be the ones using it.
    - christophilus 3y ago
      It's all anecdotal, but yeah. I'm a gamer and I like Valve more than Microsoft. By a wide, wide margin.
      - robertlagrant 3y ago
        Same. For sure. Any pure player whose existence depends on gaming (or whatever) is going to be preferable to a behemoth like Microsoft who can promote infinite agenda-ridden VPs who disappoint customers, but because the losses are survivable they keep doing it. MS has been like this for a long time. Just ask all the PlaysForSure music owners.
izacus 3y ago
I think the big difference is software and software support - Deck has a dedicated LinuxOS and game developers explicitly tweak and target games for it. It has great configurability support for controllers, good store ratings for compatibility and a big community that automatically provides controller configurations for the games. ASUS runs normal Windows which doesn't seem to behave all that well on such a small screened device so that's going to be a massive compromise.
- fendy3002 3y ago
  I think everyone simply ignore or forget how performance-demanded the windows is. Using win 10 on hdd brings the hdd perf on system monitor to 100% half of the time, while it's normally operating on Linux. No wonder deck is simply more power-saving and optimized.
marricks 3y ago
https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review The Verge at least found it's battery life claims lackluster and windows a real impediment to mobile gaming. But for emulators... yeah I' imagine it'd be quite good if you don't mind a lower battery life.

branon 3y ago

It's decent competition for sure. Significantly higher spec versus Deck on paper but they are pushing the envelope for powerful x86 machines in this form factor. Seems like you can melt the battery extremely quickly if you try, since the Ally is a 1080p device. Seen benches around the 50 minute mark. Really no different than running Deck for 90 minutes playing Elden Ring at 800p. Ally works with Asus' proprietary eGPU enclosure, theoretically can expand horsepower even more. Again though only so much you can do with the form factor. I get using a dock but dedicated accessories seem like they'd provide diminishing returns versus conventional PC hardware. Especially at the price point. Base model Deck blows this thing out of the water value-wise.

ElectricalUnion 3y ago
The proprietary eGPU enclosure is a very big downside in my point of view - granted, AMD has bad support for thunderbolt, but it instead makes the gpd win choice of industry standard OCuLink port look like an awesome idea.

wlesieutre 3y ago

DO YOU WANT TO USE BING? HOW ABOUT NOW? OR MAYBE NOW? HAVE A NEW DESKTOP BING SEARCH BAR! Windows 11 on a small touchscreen sounds like an awful idea to me.

nirav72 3y ago
Any version of windows on a small screen is a bad idea. I had couple of windows mobile devices back in the day. (Early 2000s). Then a htc phone with windows mobile (2004) Really clunky. Microsoft should’ve realized then that windows should’ve stayed on the desktop.
- int_19h 3y ago
  Early WinCE/WinMo devices were just taking the desktop UI concepts and transferring them to mobile with minimal tweaks to optimize it for pen (not even touch) input. But it doesn't mean that it has to be that way - if you've seen Windows Phone, and the later Win10 Mobile, those were actually designed from grounds up for small screens, and didn't have the problems you describe. The problem that still remained, and ultimately killed the platform, is the lack of third party apps also optimized for small screen and touch. These days, it doesn't matter how good the base UX is if the OS doesn't have a good YouTube app, for example.
  - Dalewyn 3y ago
    >if you've seen Windows Phone, and the later Win10 Mobile, those were actually designed from grounds up for small screens, and didn't have the problems you describe. Indeed. The flipside of Windows 8 Metro being fucking horrible on desktop is that it's awesome on actual tablets and other mobile devices. >The problem that still remained, and ultimately killed the platform, is the lack of third party apps also optimized for small screen and touch. These days, it doesn't matter how good the base UX is if the OS doesn't have a good YouTube app, for example. Windows's value lies with the Win32+x86 ecosystem, and every single iteration of Windows that failed to practically implement them (I'm looking at you Windows RT and Windows XP 64-bit Edition) has failed miserably to the surprise of noone except for Microsoft themselves. Win32 has singlehandedly slain and foiled every single one of Microsoft's plans for expansion. Everyone buys and runs Windows because we want to use our favorite Win32 programs from today to thirty years ago.
    - emodendroket 3y ago
      I don't think Metro was even that bad on desktops, more of a "bad because different" reaction in my view. Not saying it was perfect but it was a direction I think could have worked well.
    - int_19h 3y ago
      What was wrong with WinXP 64-bit? I don't recall any compat issues running that back in the 00s, at least beyond what was normal for 9x/NT era software running on 2K/XP.
emodendroket 3y ago
> Windows 11 on a small touchscreen sounds like an awful idea to me. If only Microsoft had come up with a new kind of UI that was suited for use on touchscreens... oh well.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Some of their employees did. https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/microsoft-experiment-adds-handheld-mode-gaming-ui-to-windows-11-for-steam-deck-like-devices https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/micr...
  - emodendroket 3y ago
    I was thinking of Metro.
amoss 3y ago
Would you like some toast? Some nice hot crisp brown buttered toast. No? How about a muffin then? Nothing? You know the last time you had toast. 18 days ago, 11.36, Tuesday 3rd, two rounds. I mean, what's the point in buying a toaster with artificial intelligence if you don't like toast. I mean, this is my job. This is cruel, just cruel.
- askiiart 3y ago
  So that's what ended up happening to Wheatley in robot hell.

nerdix 3y ago

Now is the time for Valve to release the Arch based SteamOS 3.0 officially so that it can be easily installed on non-SteamDeck hardware. Proton was the missing piece that makes Steam Machines viable. Valve should be making SteamOS 3.0 available to hardware companies like ASUS. The Ally should have been a SteamOS device, IMO.

dgunay 3y ago
There are options like HoloISO or Nobara, but I agree it would be great to have an official image for other manufacturers to use.
rjzzleep 3y ago
It's not up to Valve. GPD Win4 is an amazing little device with slide out keyboard 32 GB Ram and LTE that runs SteamOS. It's much faster than my current laptop and would make a fine replacement. ASUS is getting a little bit better with their Linux support, but Zenfones for example were great little devices with atrocious software support. https://gpd.hk/gpdwin4 https://gpd.hk/gpdwin4
- windexh8er 3y ago
  And the new GPD Win Max (2023) looks fantastic as well. It's spec'd up to a Ryzen 7840U and maxed out you can run 64GB of DDR5 and has PCIE 4.0. It's even got the new Oculink port. https://www.gpd.hk/gpdwinmax2 https://www.gpd.hk/gpdwinmax2
  - chx 3y ago
    This is not the same category of machines, it's too big.
  - rjzzleep 3y ago
    This is a fantastic machine, thanks for sharing. 64GB with Oculink looks phenomenal. I had a one mix at some point, but repairability was basically "get insurance money if it breaks", but for the performance and the form factor I might just switch back.

op00to 3y ago

XBox GamePass Ultimate is the best value in gaming right now. None of these work on the steam deck (obviously). I hate windows, but with a voracious game consuming kid I cant find a better way to spend my money.

ribosometronome 3y ago
XCloud functions pretty well and is included. Otherwise, you can install/dual boot into Windows if you are so inclined to get game pass, can't you?
LegitShady 3y ago
all the kids I know want or have a nintendo switch. Basically all the steam deck owners are 30+ year old men with disposable income.
- Gigachad 3y ago
  Because the Nintendo switch is an out of the box great experience you can easily buy at retail stores. While the steam deck is an expensive tinkerers device that’s usually sold out.
  - LegitShady 3y ago
    I have a steam deck and haven't really tinkered with it (aside from installing a 1tb SSD to replace the 64gb memory it came with). I would not call it expensive, though. Mostly I play steam games I already own, although I have picked up a a double handful of inexpensive platformers during various steam sales. I suppose if you're trying to get it to run the latest and greatest games that may require some tinkering, although it seems like an increasing contingent of games seem to be launching steam deck aimed updated and setting configuration. I would guess my relatively anccient desktop i7-7600k and gtx 1080 is still a more capable gaming PC but doesn't fit as nicely in my backpack or in bed.
    - Gigachad 3y ago

viraptor 3y ago

I think LTT did a decent early review/comparison here https://youtu.be/qLVgr29NMA0 https://youtu.be/qLVgr29NMA0 (Keeping in mind it's still super early version)

nindalf 3y ago

This review compares the Ally with the Deck - https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review Brief summary - more recent APU so if you're plugged in to power, the Ally can play games at higher settings. If you're not plugged in, reviewers found that the minimum power draw is high so your battery life is worse (both have the same battery capacity). The best case scenario for the Ally is 4 hours while it's closer to 7 for the Deck. On the software side, the Deck benefits from a large community of folks creating control mappings for older games. Windows handicaps the Ally - it's just clunky to use in this form factor.

prmoustache 3y ago
On the other hand...playing 7h straights sounds crazy to me. OK you can do more than playing with these devices, like using them as regular travelling computers with bt keyboard+trackpad combo but still, there is a lot of chance that after 2-3 hours you should be able to find a power outlet and take a pause in your gaming.
- eptcyka 3y ago
  What about long flights or train rides?
  - prmoustache 3y ago
    You usually have access to power in long flights between continents and national train lines. But you don't want to play that long on a portable device anyway, position is just terrible for your posture/neck and I don't think it is really healthy. What you want is alterning occupations: video games, reading, sleeping, drawing, card games, listening to music, making music, chatting, eating, moving in the main aisle, etc.
  - mrWiz 3y ago
    The planes used for long flights typically have power outlets, in my experience. Trains too but my experience is more limited there.

pjmlp 3y ago

Unless Valve ups their game, this will be the 2nd coming of netbooks, when Windows XP licenses became free for OEMs shipping netbooks. After all, most of the games being played on Steam Deck do so via Proton, no need for emulating[0] an OS when the real deal is available. [0] - Yes I know that Proton technically isn't really an emulator.

sph 3y ago
Eh, I'm not so sure. Gamers like Valve more than they like Microsoft. Linux is free as well, and runs 99% of games you want to play on a handheld pretty well. It's not going to be that 1% that love Gamepass or really want the Windows UI on a gaming device to overthrow the Deck. Lastly, first mover advantage. The Deck was very well received, Valve have just to eventually upgrade the hardware in a Steam Deck 2, and it'll sell like hot cakes again.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  > Gamers like Valve more than they like Microsoft. Thanks for making me laugh. How is that whole Year of Desktop Linux going? Had SteamDeck not been released wihtout Windows and DirectX "emulation", the usual 2% folks would be the ones using it.
  - christophilus 3y ago
    It's all anecdotal, but yeah. I'm a gamer and I like Valve more than Microsoft. By a wide, wide margin.
    - robertlagrant 3y ago
      Same. For sure. Any pure player whose existence depends on gaming (or whatever) is going to be preferable to a behemoth like Microsoft who can promote infinite agenda-ridden VPs who disappoint customers, but because the losses are survivable they keep doing it. MS has been like this for a long time. Just ask all the PlaysForSure music owners.

izacus 3y ago

I think the big difference is software and software support - Deck has a dedicated LinuxOS and game developers explicitly tweak and target games for it. It has great configurability support for controllers, good store ratings for compatibility and a big community that automatically provides controller configurations for the games. ASUS runs normal Windows which doesn't seem to behave all that well on such a small screened device so that's going to be a massive compromise.

fendy3002 3y ago
I think everyone simply ignore or forget how performance-demanded the windows is. Using win 10 on hdd brings the hdd perf on system monitor to 100% half of the time, while it's normally operating on Linux. No wonder deck is simply more power-saving and optimized.

marricks 3y ago

https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review https://www.theverge.com/23719210/asus-rog-ally-review The Verge at least found it's battery life claims lackluster and windows a real impediment to mobile gaming. But for emulators... yeah I' imagine it'd be quite good if you don't mind a lower battery life.