Steam OS was garbage, now it’s amazing!

[Space Junkie]

The experience on the Steam Deck using Steam OS is garbage.
From navigating the buggy store front where only some games load to the unresponsive touchscreen keyboard, with games audio cutting out mid game and the only way to fix it, is by restarting the system. Not to mention desktop mode, could Valve have made it more frustrating to use? Using the Steam Deck is becoming a chore. I've been a Steam fan boy for over 14 years and don't buy my games anywhere else, it's SO unfortunate that Steam OS is such a mess, I'm strongly considering selling my Deck and purchasing, either the new AyaNeo or the OXP with AMD's 6800U. Valve, get your ♥♥♥♥ together or the competition will pull the rug from under your feet! I thought I'd never say this, but Windows is better in every use case.


(04/28/2024) EDIT: Since my original post. I have owned many gaming handheld pcs, OXP and Rog Ally and it’s safe to say, Steam OS has come on leaps and bounds since its release. Gaming on Linux is the clear winner and Steam OS is the best choice for a seamless gaming experience. Windows 10/11 on the other hand is the exact opposite. On my desktop it’s fine, but for my gaming handheld, Steam OS is my preferred choice.

[Lord Bidón]

If SteamOS is such an horrid experience for you, try and install Windows on the Deck before go and selling it. If you find it a better experience, it might not be necessary to sell anything.

[Cpuccino]

Although I agree that steamos needs a lot more work, especially with the extremely janky virtual keyboard, the sluggish ui, and the poor experience while on desktop mode, as someone who has an Aya neo, I'd say that it's still a much better exp than windows on this form factor.

Basically Deck + SteamOS > Deck + Windows > Aya Neo

[Space Junkie]

Originally posted by Cpuccino:

Although I agree that steamos needs a lot more work, especially with the extremely janky virtual keyboard, the sluggish ui, and the poor experience while on desktop mode, as someone who has an Aya neo, I'd say that it's still a much better exp than windows on this form factor.

Basically Deck + SteamOS > Deck + Windows > Aya Neo

I agree with you, the Steam Deck (when it works) is a better experience than other handhelds. I've used the AyaNeo and own an original OXP myself, and though it runs Win10, I use Steam's big picture mode all the time, it's still a lot more functional AND most importantly, I can multi task.

[Haruspex]

I respectfully disagree.

Though it does feel a bit like it's a work in progress. I suspect us Steam veterans are basically beta-testing so the normies can have a nicer experience out of the box. I'm okay with that.

[THE DEATH]

The true is that Valve has hurry to get ready Steam Deck for users, because they cannot wait any more.
And you cannot expect games that are for other OS to run perfectly with Linux.
Where are other OS that can do this?
And this will be get better over time. Deck is the first handled from Valve, and still is much better than any other and cheaper too.

[Cpuccino]

Originally posted by Space Junkie:

Originally posted by Cpuccino:

Although I agree that steamos needs a lot more work, especially with the extremely janky virtual keyboard, the sluggish ui, and the poor experience while on desktop mode, as someone who has an Aya neo, I'd say that it's still a much better exp than windows on this form factor.

Basically Deck + SteamOS > Deck + Windows > Aya Neo

I agree with you, the Steam Deck (when it works) is a better experience than other handhelds. I've used the AyaNeo and own an original OXP myself, and though it runs Win10, I use Steam's big picture mode all the time, it's still a lot more functional AND most importantly, I can multi task.

One other advantage of steamos is the fact that you can do sleep. Not saying you can't put your device to sleep on a windows handheld + big picture, but they tend to be extremely buggy, most of the time your game **WILL** crash, and it takes ages for it to start from sleep again.

The only advantage of windows handheld is the compatability. In which case you can just use windows on the deck if that's what you prefer. The price is also another thing that the deck wins on straight up.

All in all though, I agree with some of your points, and I really hope that valve does fix these issues soon. Especially since regular people trying out desktop mode will straight up just refund the thing if these bugs pops up.

[YouTube/MizawOwO]

Steam OS is not Garbage. It is actually amazing cause games run faster because of this OS. Yes it is buggy some times and you need to learn how to use it but it's nothing complicated. First of all this is a new device and they are updating it very often. Second of all all reviews are telling you that this device is for people that aren't afraid of bugs and learning new OS and for people that like to sit down and tinker with the device. This is basically device for people that know what they are doing. This device is not for people that just want to turn off the brain and boot up a random game and just have fun. So maybe this device isn't for you. But don't call it garbage just because it isn't for you. Steam Deck is Amazing and I'm having a blast with it :)

[XalucardX85]

A year later and it's still garbage. If you want a console like experience it's Ok-is. If you want a proper portable PC it's straight trash. Everything is more of a hassle than it needs to be to work properly and the performance difference is almost none existent.

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by XalucardX85:

A year later and it's still garbage. If you want a console like experience it's Ok-is. If you want a proper portable PC it's straight trash. Everything is more of a hassle than it needs to be to work properly and the performance difference is almost none existent.

it's literally an OS for console-like experience. SteamOS was never made to be used for portable PCs, install a proper linux distro for that.

[[EW] Mitsie]

Valve have messed up internally I think. Instead of relying on the community to test and report games that work / great on deck and then have a small team just verifying the community, they have made it internal.

I've put my non working games and games that work on deck into collections. The numbers that are Great on Deck / Playable have barely moved in 2 years.

There is games that have worked great on deck for the past two years still listed as unplayable. And games listed as Playable that no longer work.

Valve think a small team will be able to test 50,000 games? And keep their playability status up to date? Impossible!

There is more games being added to the store than is actually being tested by "Valve Testing"

Then they have a small team working on updating Steam OS, so silly things like Marking your SD card as the default has been broken for months, plus things like audio cut outs has been broken for over a year.

This thing is the biggest selling device from Valve and they are putting no effort into it. If it sells millions of units, they should hire more developers..

[Anubis]

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

Originally posted by XalucardX85:

A year later and it's still garbage. If you want a console like experience it's Ok-is. If you want a proper portable PC it's straight trash. Everything is more of a hassle than it needs to be to work properly and the performance difference is almost none existent.

it's literally an OS for console-like experience. SteamOS was never made to be used for portable PCs, install a proper linux distro for that.

It even says, and i quote "Console-like Experience" on the store page for the Steam Deck lol

[XalucardX85]

2024 and SteamOS is still a buggy pile of ♥♥♥♥

[CaseyWerewolf]

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

Originally posted by XalucardX85:

A year later and it's still garbage. If you want a console like experience it's Ok-is. If you want a proper portable PC it's straight trash. Everything is more of a hassle than it needs to be to work properly and the performance difference is almost none existent.

it's literally an OS for console-like experience. SteamOS was never made to be used for portable PCs, install a proper linux distro for that.

frankly, what on earth does this have to do with the extreme amount of bugs and basic ui design flaws everwhere. i swear you can't go one thread on here without most shallow black-and-white thinking that never even begins to analyze the individual factors that make up the topic, just surface-level gluing together of concepts

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by HardDiskDog:

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

it's literally an OS for console-like experience. SteamOS was never made to be used for portable PCs, install a proper linux distro for that.

frankly, what on earth does this have to do with the extreme amount of bugs and basic ui design flaws everwhere. i swear you can't go one thread on here without most shallow black-and-white thinking that never even begins to analyze the individual factors that make up the topic, just surface-level gluing together of concepts

What's the problem? They claimed that it's ok as a console experience, and I explained that SteamOS is created for the console experience. You can't make a dishwasher drive you home.

[xShaggs420x]

steam deck is a POS it dont install games have a great network but it continues to have issues with the network I'm so appalled by this POS I just SMASHED it everywhere because I dont care about TRASH. I'm even going to send this back to them in pieces!