Steam deck operating system question

[hiyall]

I understand that we currently don't know too much about the steam deck but if people do end up installing windows 10 or windows 11 to use instead of steamOS then how would windows updates work? Would the steam deck be readily available to take security updates and such from Microsoft or how would this work?

[Omega]

All computers of the same architecture download the same updates. The Steam Deck will download the same Windows updates as your laptop and desktop computer do.

[Haruspex]

Updates would work exactly the same as on your PC.

The Steam Deck is a PC.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

It just uses normal windows 10 or 11 if you would install it.
Nothing special about it. As valve said. It's an open system, basically just a normal pc, but in small and with build in controller.
But the only problem would be driver updates.
The steam deck uses it's own custom chip by amd. yes it is based off their older zen 2 cpus and it has an rdna2 gpu, so the stock windows drivers should just work fine. But I don't know if amd will provide drivers for the steam deck under windows.
So we can't exactly say how good or stable stock windows drivers are for gaming.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I would suggest though, NOT to install Windows OS on it. It will take up way too much space.
If you end up disliking the Steam OS 3.x then wipe that and install another full Linux distro of choice; like Mint, Ubuntu, Kbuntu, Pop_OS; etc...

Putting Windows is going to leave you with next to nothing for free space; it will be slow, bloated and just give you a bad impression of the device, when its the OS that is the problem.

Plus who wants to have to fool with Driver Updates and such on a mobile gaming device. Linux will handle all of that for you.

[His Majesty's strawberry cart]

well I don<treaklly want full-blown windows but would be great if someone helprd me with a launcher, Jim Raynor or some-one...wherever he is

[Si]

The OS will find the updates. Windows installed on the device will connect to Microsoft servers for updates, whereas SteamOS would connect to Valve repos for updates.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

What you mean Full blown Windows?
There is no other kind. They killed off Windows Mobile and Windows 10X. Now you just install/run Win10 or 11 and they all have the same features. If you want it to be more like a mobile device you can change settings to reflect that such as turning on Tablet Mode and setting the Windows Apps setting to only allow Microsoft Store Apps; things like that. There are plenty of ways to free up space that the OS would take up though. I share that with folks on this forum all the time. Since the default Windows Settings are fairly dumb and just all wrong amd require changing anyways. But another reason for my WinOS space saving suggestions is for SSD users since every device comes with at least one SSD now.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

I would suggest though, NOT to install Windows OS on it. It will take up way too much space.
If you end up disliking the Steam OS 3.x then wipe that and install another full Linux distro of choice; like Mint, Ubuntu, Kbuntu, Pop_OS; etc...

Putting Windows is going to leave you with next to nothing for free space; it will be slow, bloated and just give you a bad impression of the device, when its the OS that is the problem.

Plus who wants to have to fool with Driver Updates and such on a mobile gaming device. Linux will handle all of that for you.

Not to mention that neat features like game suspending only works under SteamOS. Also Valve has done a lot of work specifically optimizing the OS for the hardware, so Windows bloat aside performance will likely just be better under SteamOS as well.

Even if you're dead-set on installing Windows, I strongly recommend giving the default SteamOS an honest try first. I think people have FOMO that SteamOS won't run games they are hoping it will run. I believe these people will be very pleasantly surprised with what SteamOS on the Steam Deck is capable of.

[AD]

I guess it would get updates like any other Windows computer. I mean, it's essentially a PC so it should work like one. Doubt Windows update will be the problem, but I can see issues with Windows not being optimized for the hardware (at least not as optimized as Steam OS, which really should be as optimized as it gets). Think people have pointed out that there might be issues with the screen size, but I don't know if that's true. That said I have heard Valve is talking with Microsoft about Windows 11 support, so maybe the issues will be resolved.

[iceman1980]

SteamOS 3.0 will use Arch Linux. NOT Windows

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

I would suggest though, NOT to install Windows OS on it. It will take up way too much space.
If you end up disliking the Steam OS 3.x then wipe that and install another full Linux distro of choice; like Mint, Ubuntu, Kbuntu, Pop_OS; etc...

Putting Windows is going to leave you with next to nothing for free space; it will be slow, bloated and just give you a bad impression of the device, when its the OS that is the problem.

Plus who wants to have to fool with Driver Updates and such on a mobile gaming device. Linux will handle all of that for you.

Not to mention that neat features like game suspending only works under SteamOS. Also Valve has done a lot of work specifically optimizing the OS for the hardware, so Windows bloat aside performance will likely just be better under SteamOS as well.

Even if you're dead-set on installing Windows, I strongly recommend giving the default SteamOS an honest try first. I think people have FOMO that SteamOS won't run games they are hoping it will run. I believe these people will be very pleasantly surprised with what SteamOS on the Steam Deck is capable of.

You can already see which games run on Linux on protondb.
The performance should really be fine. Good cpu. Good ram (as you said steamOS will be very optimized).
The only real problem would be the gpu but given that the steamdeck is about 720p res.
Its gonna be alright

[AD]

Originally posted by Product ∏:

SteamOS 3.0 will use Arch Linux. NOT Windows

IIRC Valve has stated several times it's an open platform and I think they are even talking to Microsoft about Windows 11 compatibility. It will still run Steam OS rather then Windows, but it seems Valve want people to have the option of installing Windows if they want.

Personally I do hope people give Steam OS a chance (and that it's as good as it seems so far), but they should have the choice.

[Agent]

Steam deck is a gimmick. Buy a new phone instead. I recommend the Google Pixel 4a, good camera, battery, and performance. Only drawback really is the plastic build and no water proofing.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

Originally posted by Rock Head:

Steam deck is a gimmick. Buy a new phone instead. I recommend the Google Pixel 4a, good camera, battery, and performance. Only drawback really is the plastic build and no water proofing.

You could also argue that a new expensive phone is a gimmick.

[Agent]

Originally posted by Felix:

Originally posted by Rock Head:

Steam deck is a gimmick. Buy a new phone instead. I recommend the Google Pixel 4a, good camera, battery, and performance. Only drawback really is the plastic build and no water proofing.

You could also argue that a new expensive phone is a gimmick.

Not at all. That pixel 4a will get you great photos for Tinder, provide you with a portable pc that can be stored in your pocket. A battery that will last all day and snappy performance.