Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.
YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show   Direct Link
The 'SMACH Z' [Kickstarter] is a promising device and I'm quite excited to see how this all turns out, the promise of taking my Steam library easily on the go sounds fun.

They are no longer using SteamOS, but their own Linux-based "SMACH Z OS", although it will still be a mostly normal Linux distribution since it will run Linux games and Steam.

What bugs me, is that they "recommend" their Linux OS, but all their benchmarks in the video and noted on the Kickstarter were done on Windows. That tells me a lot about their confidence in showing how it will run games if people don't use Windows. As sad as that is, we know most games run a bit slower on Linux right now, so it's not really surprising. The real issue here, is that Windows support is a stretch-goal, meaning all of the benchmark/performance information is useless unless they hit that goal.

They are looking for at least €250,000 and they already have €186,194 at time of writing, so it looks like they will easily hit their main goal with 31 days still to go.

Specifications:
CPU: AMD Merlin Falcon RX-421BD (12-15w) SoC at 2.1 GHz
Cores: 4/4
iGPU: Radeon R7 at 800 MHz
RAM: 4GB (SMACH Z) || 8GB (SMACH Z PRO) DDR4 2133 MHz
HD: 64GB (SMACH Z) || 128GB (SMACH Z PRO)
Screen: 6” FULL HD (1920x1080). Capacitive touch-screen.
Battery: 5 hours of gaming.
MicroSD Card Slot.
USB 3.0 type C.
HDMI video output connection.
Wi-Fi connectivity 5.0 Ghz. 4G LTE mobile network connectivity (PRO model only)
Bluetooth connectivity.
Front-camera 1.3-megapixels (PRO model only)

Will you be backing it? It's far too risky for me to even consider it. I may pick one up if it turns out well enough. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
24 comments
Page: «2/3»
  Go to:

Salvatos Oct 19, 2016
Not something I would get myself since I'm not big on portable gaming, but it's always nice to see more options enter the Linux gaming space. It would be nice, though, if they maintained their own catalog of games the device will actually be able to run.

Quoting: GuestI'd be interested in the possibility to use Steam in-home streaming with this. Is that working on Linux yet (as a host)? That would be pretty cool.
Yes, sometimes I lie on the couch and stream games from my Linux desktop on my Linux laptop.
Purple Library Guy Oct 19, 2016
Quoting: Mountain ManI won't be backing - I'm against "crowd funding" on general principle
I haven't really thought through my position on crowd funding, since I don't have a ton of spare funds to be part of a crowd with. So, genuinely wondering, not snarking--what general principle? And, against its existence or against getting involved?


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 19 October 2016 at 6:54 pm UTC
TheGZeus Oct 19, 2016
Considering that I use a PS4 I can't say I'm terribly opposed to a proprietary OS sequestered on a dedicated device.

Radeon graphics support is so much more limited on Linux atm.
If Mesa and the drivers catch up I'd switch in a minute, regardless of the crazy stuff I'd have to do get Wine stuff to work with the "steam controller" built into it.

Is there a price shown for the actual release version? That could be either more or less than the backer price.

I could get a better experience switching my Vita to my USA account (Been using it for imports).


Last edited by TheGZeus on 19 October 2016 at 5:52 pm UTC
1mHfoksd1Z Oct 19, 2016
Another thing that bother me are the aesthetics and the layout... it does not seem very comfortable and easy to handle to me... and it generally just looks like a retro device IMO.
ElectricPrism Oct 19, 2016
Quoting: TheGZeusRadeon graphics support is so much more limited on Linux atm.
If Mesa and the drivers catch up I'd switch in a minute, regardless of the crazy stuff I'd have to do get Wine stuff to work with the "steam controller" built into it.

Mesa and RX 480 is working great for me. Replaced GTX 970 and am happier.

If they put the new RX APU inside this I think it'd be a winner but I don't think it's out yet.
Guest Oct 19, 2016
Crowd funding.. or in words as it typically end up .. Pyramid scheme.
Mountain Man Oct 19, 2016
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: Mountain ManI won't be backing - I'm against "crowd funding" on general principle
I haven't really thought through my position on crowd funding, since I don't have a ton of spare funds to be part of a crowd with. So, genuinely wondering, not snarking--what general principle? And, against its existence or against getting involved?
Basically, crowd funding puts 100% of the risk on the customer while the customer gets nothing substantial in return. It's free money for the developer with zero accountability. We've seen this countless times with developers backing out of promises, releasing clearly unfinished games, or simply abandoning a project. It's a bad idea that needs to go away.
ProfessorKaos64 Oct 20, 2016
I'll load SteamOS on ot anyway.
Salvatos Oct 20, 2016
Quoting: meggermanCrowd funding.. or in words as it typically end up .. Pyramid scheme.
I don't think a pyramid scheme means what you think it means.
kazriko Oct 20, 2016
For the kind of games I play, it'll probably be just fine. The price though is a bit steep compared to my current portable system, the PSVita. Though, I don't know if Sony will be releasing another portable console, so this may be my only chance to do pocketable gaming in the future. (Since the NX probably will be too big to pocket.)
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.