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ASUS has today formally revealed all about their handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally and it's releasing in June with a pretty competitive price. It runs Windows 11, so for the GamingOnLinux followers, it may not exactly be what you're after. However, with handheld PC gaming rising, especially with the Linux powered Steam Deck, it's good to keep an eye on the competition right?

Today they revealed the pricing after many leaks:

  • AMD Ryzen Z1 model: $599 - launching in Q3.
  • AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model: $699 - launching June 13th.

Picture source - ASUS YouTube

Goes without saying really but I will anyway: I will be sticking to the Steam Deck and desktop Linux. Just because something new comes along, doesn't mean I'm going to instantly jump towards it. Not everyone has money to burn every time something a bit more powerful comes along.

IGN already have a review of it up and it sounds overall like a good device, with battery life also not long when playing bigger games like the Steam Deck. They do make a point that the initial experience with Windows 11 and ASUS Armoury Crate being a nuisance.

It will definitely be interesting to watch how this will affect the Steam Deck though. Competition is absolutely good! It benefits everyone and it pushes all sides to do better. Plus, the more companies that show there's a demand for handheld gaming like this, the better the future will be for it, including a potential Steam Deck 2.

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Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Hardware, Misc
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Mohandevir May 13, 2023
Quoting: elmapulbut now with this competition, droping the price should be an priority.

Not saying it's not an idea. I was just saying that there is another solution: offer something that Asus doesn't. Better storage and better battery on the same Steam Deck APU may be easier to do (hardware refresh, not a Steam Deck 2). Keep the same price tags, but offer more per tier. 2230 nvmes are becoming more affordable.

Anyway, I trust Valve in keeping an eye on the situation. Who knows, it might bring more people on Steam and the handheld market without really hurting the Steam Deck sales. Some Windows fanboys decided to pass on the Steam Deck. They might be more interested in the Ally. For Valve, it would be a win/win. Remember the EGS threat? Valve just got out of it stronger and kept on course.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 13 May 2023 at 7:13 pm UTC
slaapliedje May 13, 2023
Quoting: elmapul
Quoting: slaapliedjeOn the bright side you can already install different joysticks yourself. The Oled screen is what I would want. Battery life all depends on what games you play on it.

they have an special sensor on the stick that detect your finger presece, i doubt we can find one on the market with that feature + the hall sensor.
im not sure if i gonna use that feature though.
https://a.co/d/fAbjCQJ

Sure, you likely lose whatever functionality the touch sensors give you.

Edit: they do support the touch sensor, you just have to use a soldering iron durin install.


Last edited by slaapliedje on 13 May 2023 at 7:50 pm UTC
elmapul May 14, 2023
Quoting: PeciskErrrr, it clearly was not. They lost to Apple and Google. Microsoft just dropped their mouse and keyboard production. I don't expect them also having follow up to XBOX Series S/X. They are prepping for big fight of "AI supremacy" (whatever marketing nonsense it means).
what i mean is that they killed the netbook form facotr, their strategy was to kill linux adoption that were hapening thanks to netbooks, they suceed at it by killing the entire form factor , it was not their original goal but did the job anyway.
fortunatelly the same didnt happened in tablets and phones, but im not completely satisfied with the apple/google duopoly either.
i wished for android the same we have for linux desktop, tons of options, and while oems have their branding and we have custom roms, the brand customization often sacrifice user choice (you cant uninstall those apps) and the custom roms may not work if you dont have all the drivers or if an app rely on google play services.



Quoting: PeciskEdit: I will throw other responses to your posts if you don't mind :)
i do mind i like to talk to wall =P... of course i dont mind, lol.



Quoting: PeciskBrazil (I understand you live there) is special case, it has very expensive tariffs for both hardware and software. That's why no one sells there. Not really Valve's fault not wanting to touch that.
i know the strugle, but as much as i care about the deck, its useless for me if i cant access it.

Quoting: PeciskI don't see reason for price drop for SD, because they are not selling it for profit. They might do some reshuffling of versions and having two models instead of three, with corrected price tags.
maybe they should quit the 64GB model altogheter and make the 256 be de minimum and increase the maximum, but that would have an side effect..
i really wished that AAA developers would make an lightweight version of their games, low res textures etc to target the64GB model... or modders, killing it would kill that possibility. (not that its ever going to happen)

Quoting: PeciskThey are still selling on brand. Steam is much bigger than ASUS is.
maybe among pc gamers but not with the general public, especially people who came from consoles and are entering pc gaming now.
Mohandevir May 15, 2023
https://www.pcgamer.com/handhelds-like-rog-ally-have-inspired-microsoft-to-bring-xbox-features-to-pc/

This is another good example of Microsoft being unable to be a leader. It never saw this coming. It just reacts when it feels threatened... One more reason to stick with Valve; They are the only ones able to kick Microsoft's butt into action!


Last edited by Mohandevir on 15 May 2023 at 6:20 pm UTC
Purple Library Guy May 15, 2023
Quoting: Mohandevirhttps://www.pcgamer.com/handhelds-like-rog-ally-have-inspired-microsoft-to-bring-xbox-features-to-pc/

This is another good example of Microsoft being unable to be a leader. It never saw this coming. It just reacts when it feels threatened... One more reason to stick with Valve; They are the only one able to kick Microsoft's butt into action!
Kind of impressive the way that article's writer managed to spend half the article talking about suspend/resume without ever admitting that the Ally running Windows does not have it but the Steam Deck does.
Mohandevir May 15, 2023
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: Mohandevirhttps://www.pcgamer.com/handhelds-like-rog-ally-have-inspired-microsoft-to-bring-xbox-features-to-pc/

This is another good example of Microsoft being unable to be a leader. It never saw this coming. It just reacts when it feels threatened... One more reason to stick with Valve; They are the only one able to kick Microsoft's butt into action!
Kind of impressive the way that article's writer managed to spend half the article talking about suspend/resume without ever admitting that the Ally running Windows does not have it but the Steam Deck does.

It feels like lots of paid reviews have been published, in the first days of official announcement. Since then, lots of critics, underlined the major flaws of the device (even hardware and heat issues, in some cases). In retrospect, if you want a good handheld experience, the Steam Deck is still king. If you want a mini pc or a laptop replacement (meaning docked or wired), the Asus Ally might be the deal. The batteries are barely usable on that thing. Who would have tought?! Duh!


Last edited by Mohandevir on 15 May 2023 at 6:22 pm UTC
Eike May 16, 2023
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Quoting: TheRiddick
Quoting: EikeAs usual... Linux is just more user friendly! :D

No it's not, but that is not the issue.

I'm sure you're aware it was said jokingly, but I have to add what just happened to me...

My printer is out of magenta ink and states it can only print black and white. From Windows, I couldn't print (having set everything to black and white), to the disappointment of my little ones. Today I tried it on Linux, and it just worked.

Yes, sometimes Linux is just more user friendly.
My little ones agree. ;)
slaapliedje May 16, 2023
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: TheRiddick
Quoting: EikeAs usual... Linux is just more user friendly! :D

No it's not, but that is not the issue.

I'm sure you're aware it was said jokingly, but I have to add what just happened to me...

My printer is out of magenta ink and states it can only print black and white. From Windows, I couldn't print (having set everything to black and white), to the disappointment of my little ones. Today I tried it on Linux, and it just worked.

Yes, sometimes Linux is just more user friendly.
My little ones agree. ;)
Printing in Linux is, and has been for many years, far superior to both macOS and Windows.

Though funny story, I bought a printer that supports printing on CDs with labels. It wasn't natively supported by cups at the time, so I ended up buying TurboPrint. TurboPrint now crashes my Laserjet. Like full on causes it to reboot if I try to print with it. Cups works perfectly with it though...

Edit: To clarify; two different printers, the one is an inkjet I bought for printing on CDs is a Canon IPX200 (or something like that), the other is an All in One HP Laserjet/scanner/copier.


Last edited by slaapliedje on 16 May 2023 at 6:08 pm UTC
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